{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Paige McThenia","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Paige B. McThenia is the incumbent Democratic judge for North Carolina District Court, District 26 Seat 17, and is seeking re\u2011election in the November 3, 2026 general election. District Court judges in North Carolina preside over civil cases involving claims up to $25,000, misdemeanor criminal matters, family law issues, and other limited\u2011jurisdiction matters. Judges must be licensed attorneys admitted to the North Carolina State Bar, reside in the judicial district they serve, and be elected to four\u2011year terms by voters in the district. The office also requires judges to manage courtroom administration, issue rulings, and, in many cases, facilitate mediation and settlement discussions.[1]\n\nMcThenia earned a Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College in 1989, a master\u2019s degree in English literature from Boston University in 1995, and a Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee University School of Law in 2000. She was admitted to the North Carolina Bar that same year, beginning a legal career that combined prosecution, private practice, and judicial service.[1]\n\nFrom 2004 to 2008 she served as an assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County, where she prosecuted criminal cases on behalf of the state. Prior to that, she worked in private practice (2000\u20112004), handling civil and criminal matters for individual and business clients. In 2008 she was elected to the District Court bench for the 26th Judicial District and has been re\u2011elected in every subsequent cycle (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022). Her tenure includes handling a broad docket of family, civil, and criminal cases, and she has been listed as a certified mediator with the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission, indicating involvement in court\u2011based mediation programs.[1][3]\n\nElection history shows McThenia has run unopposed in several cycles, securing 100\u202f% of the vote in 2014, 2018, and 2022, with vote totals ranging from 34,251 to 269,168. The Democratic primary for the 2026 race was cancelled, allowing her to advance automatically to the November ballot, where she will face any Republican or independent challengers that may qualify.[1]\n\nAs a judge, McThenia\u2019s responsibilities include interpreting state law, managing trial proceedings, issuing judgments, and ensuring fair access to justice for residents of Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas within District 26. Her background as a prosecutor and private attorney provides experience on both sides of the courtroom, and her mediator certification reflects a commitment to alternative dispute resolution methods that can reduce litigation costs and foster settlement.\n\nMcThenia\u2019s education and career trajectory illustrate a long\u2011standing involvement in North Carolina\u2019s legal system, from law school graduate to practicing attorney, prosecutor, and now a decade\u2011plus of judicial service. Her continued candidacy for the 2026 election underscores a desire to maintain her role on the bench and to continue applying her legal expertise to serve the public.\n\n**Key facts**: \n- Current office: Judge, North Carolina District Court, District 26 Seat\u202f17 (term ends Dec\u202f31\u202f2026). \n- Education: Evergreen State College (B.A., 1989); Boston University (M.A., 1995); Washington & Lee University School of Law (J.D., 2000). \n- Career: Assistant District Attorney (2004\u20112008); Private practice attorney (2000\u20112004); District Court Judge (2008\u2011present). \n- Elections: Re\u2011elected 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022; running again 2026. \n- Additional role: Certified mediator with the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission.[1][3]\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Paige B. McThenia - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paige_B._McThenia)\n- [3] [Paige Mcthenia | North Carolina Judicial Branch](https://www.ncdrc.gov/judicial-directory/paige-mcthenia)\n- [9] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [11] [See the full list of candidates running in North Carolina's ...](https://www.facebook.com/thecharlotteobserver/posts/see-the-full-list-of-candidates-running-in-north-carolinas-2026-electionsread-mo/1306299098202723/)","firstname":"Paige","lastname":"Mcthenia","middlename":"Barns","suffix":null,"token":"6a4e9e97bcaf7d82"},"token":"RVoxYIHGwl7USOwC"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":null,"o.office":"district_court_judge","office":"district_court_judge","officedescription":"In North Carolina, a district court judge presides over the high-volume lower trial court \u2014 misdemeanors, smaller civil cases, and most family and juvenile matters (custody, support, domestic violence, abuse/neglect). Many litigants appear without lawyers.","officequalities":"- Judge of a high-volume district court \u2014 misdemeanors, smaller civil cases, and family and juvenile matters, often with unrepresented parties.\n- Judicial temperament: the willingness to listen, deliberate, and apply the law dispassionately to people whose lives are deeply affected by the outcome.\n- Impartiality and ethics under the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct, including recusal when conflicts arise.\n- Working knowledge of family, juvenile, and criminal procedure and the precedent that controls.\n- Efficient management of a heavy docket while honoring due process.\n- Accessibility and clarity for the many who appear without counsel.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"District Court Judge","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Nc District Court Judge District 26 Seat 17"}