Rutherford County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 3

One candidate is tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ellen M. Shelley. Candidate information follows official Rutherford County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Ellen M. Shelley (Republican) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 3. Voters across McDowell and Rutherford 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, Ellen M. Shelley, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

North Carolina › Rutherford County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 3

Ellen M. Shelley

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Ellen M. Shelley currently serves as a District Court Judge for District 41, covering Rutherford and McDowell counties, appointed by Governor Roy Cooper on April 1, 2019, per the North Carolina Judicial Branch directory. Shelley earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina and a J.D. from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law before becoming a partner at Evans & Shelley, and she was re-elected to the bench in 2022. Her judgeellenshelley.com site still shows a 2022 primary countdown and copyright date, so it is not linked. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 3 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 3 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 Rutherford 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 Rutherford County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Rutherford County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

North Carolina House District 111 North Carolina House District 113 North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 1 See all 6 Rutherford County races

Candidate profiles

Ellen M. Shelley, full profile Official North Carolina election office