Stanly County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 28, Seat 1

One candidate is tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 28, Seat 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Phillip Cornett. Candidate information follows official Stanly County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Phillip Cornett (Republican) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 28, Seat 1. Voters across Montgomery and Stanly counties vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. State law limits who may run for this seat to a resident of Stanly County, but every voter in the district still elects it. 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, Phillip Cornett, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

North Carolina › Stanly County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 28, Seat 1

Phillip Cornett

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Phillip Cornett is a District Court Judge for the district serving Montgomery and Stanly counties, appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge William Tucker, per the North Carolina Judicial Branch. A Norwood, North Carolina native, he holds a J.D. from Elon University School of Law, a B.A. from Western Carolina University, and an Associate in Science degree from Stanly Community College. At the time of his appointment he served as Assistant District Attorney for Prosecutorial Districts 28 and 16C, and previously worked in private practice and as a judicial clerk on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, per the Stanly News Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 28, Seat 2

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 28, Seat 1 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 28, 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 Stanly 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 Stanly 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 Stanly County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Stanly County ballot

5 tracked races in Stanly 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 28, Seat 3 North Carolina Senate District 33 North Carolina House District 67 See all 5 Stanly County races

Candidate profiles

Phillip Cornett, full profile Official North Carolina election office