Wayne County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 9, Seat 1

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 9, Seat 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Roy A. Dawson and Sonya Davis. Candidate information follows official Wayne County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Roy A. Dawson (Republican) and Sonya Davis (Democratic) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 9, Seat 1. Voters across Greene, Lenoir and Wayne 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.

North Carolina › Wayne County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 9, Seat 1

Roy A. Dawson

Republican

Top priorities

Make the courtroom a place where people are heard and treated with dignity
Prioritize preparation, fairness and humility in judicial decision-making
Improve court accessibility and consistency in proceedings

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Roy A. Dawson is a trial attorney who has practiced in the 9th Judicial District since 2014, splitting his caseload between criminal and family law, and opened his own Kinston practice, the Law Offices of Roy A. Dawson, P.A., in 2021, per his campaign site. Before law school he worked in manufacturing, die casting, restaurants and food distribution; he earned an associate degree from Alamance Community College and his law degree from UNC School of Law, where he volunteered with the Innocence Project.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Sonya Davis

Democratic

Biography

Sonya Davis was appointed to the District 9 (Greene, Lenoir, Wayne) district court bench by Governor Josh Stein in 2025, filling the vacancy left by Judge Beth Heath's retirement, per the Office of the Governor. She previously operated her own law practice in Kinston focused on domestic law, real estate transactions and criminal defense, after earning her bachelor's and law degrees from North Carolina Central University. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Sonya Davis.

Next on your ballotWayne County Board of Commissioners At-Large (Unexpired)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 9, Seat 1 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 9, 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Wayne County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court Wayne County Sheriff District Attorney, Prosecutorial District 9 (Greene, Lenoir, Wayne)See all 13 Wayne County races

Candidate profiles

Roy A. Dawson, full profile Sonya Davis, full profile Official North Carolina election office