New Hanover County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Katherine Corpening and Chad Hogston. Candidate information follows official New Hanover County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Katherine Corpening (Democratic) and Chad Hogston (Republican) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4. Voters across New Hanover and Pender counties 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, Chad Hogston, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › New Hanover County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4

Katherine Corpening

Democratic

Top priorities

Fairness and accountability, with judges listening carefully and treating all people with dignity
Bringing real-world community experience to the bench

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Katherine Corpening is an Assistant Public Defender in New Hanover County with more than a decade of experience representing indigent clients, per her campaign site. She helped establish Community Empowerment Court, a treatment-focused alternative to incarceration, and is a Wilmington native and Wake Forest and Campbell Law graduate.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Chad Hogston

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Hogston has served 16 years on the district court bench and has 30 years of legal experience in New Hanover and Pender Counties, per the campaign site. Hogston grew up in Virginia, was the first in the family to attend college, and began legal practice in 1996, developing experience across a wide range of cases before becoming a judge. As a district court judge, Hogston hears criminal, family court, domestic violence, civil and mental health commitment matters.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotNew Hanover County Board of Commissioners

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4 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 New Hanover 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 New Hanover County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your New Hanover County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

New Hanover County Board of Education New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court New Hanover County Sheriff See all 16 New Hanover County races

Candidate profiles

Katherine Corpening, full profile Chad Hogston, full profile Official North Carolina election office