Wilson County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 3

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Tia Hudgins Taylor and Mark Osterhout. Candidate information follows official Wilson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Tia Hudgins Taylor (Democratic) and Mark Osterhout (Republican) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 3. Voters across Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. This seat covers the remainder of an unexpired term. 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, Tia Hudgins Taylor, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Wilson County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 3

Tia Hudgins Taylor

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Tia Hudgins Taylor is a district court judge for District 8, serving Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties, appointed by Governor Josh Stein to complete the remainder of Judge William Solomon's term, per the North Carolina Governor's office. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Queens University of Charlotte and her Juris Doctorate from Elon University School of Law, and most recently worked as an associate attorney at Lassiter and Sperati, PLLC, per the Rocky Mount Telegram. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Mark Osterhout

Republican

Biography

Mark Osterhout is a candidate for District Court Judge for the Eighth Judicial District serving Nash, Wilson and Edgecombe counties, per his campaign site. Osterhout graduated from Belmont Abbey College and Campbell University School of Law and began his legal career in 1996 with the Pitt County District Attorney's Office, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 6

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 3 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 8, 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 Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Wilson County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

North Carolina Senate District 4 North Carolina House District 24 North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 8B, Seat 1 See all 7 Wilson County races

Candidate profiles

Tia Hudgins Taylor, full profile Mark Osterhout, full profile Official North Carolina election office