Pitt County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 3, Seat 1

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 3, Seat 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Daniel Hines Entzminger and Watsi M. Sutton. Candidate information follows official Pitt County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Daniel Hines Entzminger (Republican) and Watsi M. Sutton (Democratic) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 3, Seat 1. Voters across Pitt 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, Daniel Hines Entzminger, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Pitt County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 3, Seat 1

Daniel Hines Entzminger

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Entzminger has served as a District Court Judge for judicial district 3 in Pitt County since being elected in 2018, presiding over criminal, family law, domestic violence, juvenile and involuntary commitment matters, per the campaign site. Before taking the bench, Entzminger practiced as a private attorney and owned a small business in Greenville for 15 years, and taught business law at Pitt Community College for 16 years. Entzminger is a graduate of Campbell University and has served on the Pitt County Board of Elections.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Watsi M. Sutton

Democratic

Biography

Watsi M. Sutton is a Greenville Democrat and the executive director of Koinonia Community Solutions in Winterville, per the Reflector. She has more than 25 years of legal experience as a private attorney, prosecutor and Legal Aid attorney, and holds a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Watsi M. Sutton.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 3, Seat 2

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 3, Seat 1 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 3, Seat 1 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 Pitt 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 Pitt County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Pitt County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

District Attorney, Prosecutorial District 3 (Pitt County)Pitt County Board of Commissioners, District 1 Pitt County Board of Commissioners, District 2 See all 21 Pitt County races

Candidate profiles

Daniel Hines Entzminger, full profile Watsi M. Sutton, full profile Official North Carolina election office