{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Claudia C. Croom","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nClaudia C. Croom is the Clerk of Superior Court for Wake County, North Carolina. She was appointed to this position on January 3, 2026, by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Paul C. Ridgeway, replacing Blair Williams. She is running in the November 3, 2026 general election against Republican challenger Joe Teague Jr.\n\n## Background and education\nCroom earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1996.\n\n## Career\nCroom maintained a private law practice for approximately 10 years, specializing in criminal defense, social security disability, personal injury, and DMV hearings. She then served as a Civil Magistrate Judge for more than 17 years, presiding over thousands of small claims cases, before her appointment as Clerk of Superior Court.\n\n## Family\nCroom has been married to Special Superior Court Judge Craig Croom for more than 29 years.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Claudia Croom \u2013 Wake County Clerk of Court](https://www.claudiacroom.com/)","firstname":"Claudia","lastname":"Croom","middlename":"C","suffix":null,"token":"d518683cded47de9"},"token":"UaPGWHoyi5CjHzCE"},{"candidatename":"Joe E. Teague, Jr.","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Joe E. Teague\u202fJr. is the Republican candidate for Wake County Clerk of Superior Court in the 2026 general election. The Clerk\u2019s office is the chief administrative arm of the Superior Court, responsible for maintaining court records, managing case filings, collecting fees, and overseeing the court\u2019s budget and personnel. The role requires strong organizational skills, knowledge of court procedures, and a commitment to public service and transparency.\n\nBorn October\u202f30,\u202f1946, Teague is a lifelong North Carolina resident whose family traces its roots in the state back to before the Battle of Alamance. He works as a professional engineer and holds the Certified Professional Manager (CM) credential, which he cites as evidence of a \u201clifetime of experience\u201d in administration and management. His campaign materials list his occupation, mailing address (P.O. Box\u202f10014, Raleigh,\u202fNC\u202f27605), home phone (919\u2011847\u20118372), and email ([email\u00a0protected]) [11].\n\nTeague\u2019s qualifications for the clerkship center on his managerial background. He describes himself as a \u201cCertified Professional Manager\u201d and emphasizes his ability to simplify court processes, improve online systems, and make the clerk\u2019s office more responsive to pro\u202fse litigants. He argues that the clerk should act as an advocate for the people, ensuring cases are resolved efficiently and affordably while preserving constitutional rights, such as the right to a jury trial [11].\n\nIn addressing court staffing, Teague calls for \u201cbetter hiring\u201d and suggests that additional personnel would improve service delivery. He also proposes modernizing the court\u2019s computer interface, expanding secure online case access, and making administrative procedures more intuitive for self\u2011represented parties [11].\n\nPolitically, Teague identifies as a registered Republican, describing himself as a \u201cFrederick\u202fDouglas Republican.\u201d He maintains that voters should decide whether a clerk\u2019s political philosophy matters, emphasizing that the office should serve all citizens regardless of party affiliation [11].\n\nTeague differentiates himself from other candidates by highlighting his deep North Carolina heritage, professional engineering background, managerial credentials, and personal faith and family values. He stresses that the clerk\u2019s work impacts everyday life\u2014from traffic citations to serious legal matters\u2014and that a competent, approachable clerk can help citizens navigate the justice system effectively [11].\n\n## Sources\n- [11] [Joe Teague, Jr.](https://indyweek.com/news/politics/elections/joe-teague-jr/)","firstname":"Joe","lastname":"Teague","middlename":"E","suffix":"JR","token":"0865375396daf43c"},"token":"jbnu2MNZd2iHkB4M"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":null,"o.office":"clerk_of_superior_court","office":"clerk_of_superior_court","officedescription":"In North Carolina, the clerk of superior court keeps the records of the trial courts and also serves as an ex-officio judge of probate and over estates, guardianships, and certain special proceedings. It is both a records office and a judicial one.","officequalities":"- Records management for the trial courts, in conformity with North Carolina procedure and the orders of the judges.\n- Judicial responsibility over probate, estates, guardianships, and special proceedings \u2014 the clerk decides these matters.\n- Financial controls for collecting and disbursing court costs, fines, estate funds, and trust funds, with public accountability.\n- Supervision of a clerical staff handling high case volume and frequent statutory deadlines.\n- Attention to legal detail and sensitivity with a public often dealing with death or incapacity.\n- Administrative reliability \u2014 the office's filings are legally binding and its records are evidence.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Clerk of Superior Court","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Wake County Clerk Of Superior Court"}