Justice Anita Earls appears to have clinched a commanding early‑vote lead in her bid for a second eight‑year term on North Carolina’s highest court.
Key points
- Early results show Anita Earls leading with 61.5% of the vote against Sarah Stevens.
- The court’s 5‑2 Republican majority will stay unchanged until the 2028 elections.
- Democrats view Earls’ reelection as a step toward potentially retaking the court in 2028.
- Redistricting decisions by the Supreme Court continue to shape North Carolina’s political landscape.
Statewide early voting and roughly one‑third of Election Day precincts reported that Democratic Justice Anita Earls has 61.5% of the vote, while Republican challenger Sarah Stevens trails at 38.5%, according to WRAL’s tally on November 3, 2026. The results remain subject to certification before Earls can be sworn in for another eight‑year term.
Even if the count holds, the court’s current 5‑2 Republican majority will persist until the 2028 election cycle, when three seats—currently held by Republicans—will be up for grabs. Analysts note that flipping just two of those seats could hand the Democrats control of the Supreme Court for the first time since 2022.
Early vote count shows a decisive lead for Earls
Earls, a former civil‑rights attorney known for voting‑rights advocacy, spoke alongside Governor Roy Cooper at a post‑primary event, urging Democrats to maintain momentum. Former President Barack Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder publicly congratulated her, highlighting the court’s role in shaping redistricting outcomes that affect both state and national politics.
Redistricting looms as a key battleground; Republican majorities on the court have historically allowed the GOP‑controlled legislature to draw maps that favor their candidates, while Democratic majorities have often struck down maps deemed unconstitutional. National political groups have poured tens of millions into North Carolina’s Supreme Court races because of this influence.
Implications for the court’s partisan balance
Earls’ tenure has not been without controversy. She has faced criticism from Republican Chief Justice Paul Newby and a now‑dropped investigation by the Judicial Standards Commission after she raised concerns about diversity and bias training on the bench. She remains the only Black justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court and one of two Black judges among the state’s 22 appellate courts.
Reader questions
When will the election results be officially certified?
Certification will occur after all precincts report and the state’s election board reviews the totals, as indicated by WRAL’s note that the results are still pending formal certification.
What does Earls’ victory mean for the current composition of the Supreme Court?
Even if certified, Earls’ win does not alter the existing 5‑2 Republican majority; the balance will remain the same until the next set of seats is contested in 2028.
How could the 2028 elections change the court’s partisan balance?
Three seats will be up for election in 2028, all currently held by Republicans. If Democrats win at least two of those seats, they could gain a majority on the court for the first time since 2022.
Source: wral.com
