Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 17

One candidate is tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Paige McThenia. Candidate information follows official Mecklenburg County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Paige McThenia (Democratic) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 17. Voters across Mecklenburg County vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. North Carolina judicial races have been partisan since the 2018 court reorganization. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026).

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Paige McThenia, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

North Carolina › Mecklenburg County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 17

Paige McThenia

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Paige McThenia is a District Court Judge for District 26, Seat 17, in Mecklenburg County, appointed to the bench by Governor Mike Easley in March 2008 and re-elected in November 2022, per North Carolina Digital Collections. She earned a B.A. from Evergreen State College in 1989 and a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2000, and worked as an assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County from 2004 to 2008, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 18

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 17 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 17 election in North Carolina?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Mecklenburg County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Mecklenburg County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Mecklenburg County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Mecklenburg County ballot

42 tracked races in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 19 North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 20 North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 21 See all 42 Mecklenburg County races

Candidate profiles

Paige McThenia, full profile Official North Carolina election office