{"biography":"Craig Robert Collins is the Republican candidate for North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat\u202f3 in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. The Republican primary for the seat was cancelled, so Collins advanced automatically to the ballot where he will face Democrat Christine\u202fWalczyk.\n\nCollins earned a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994 and a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 1997\u202f[1]. He began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Gaston County, serving from 1997 to 2006 and prosecuting thousands of criminal cases on behalf of the state\u202f[4][11]. After leaving the DA\u2019s office, he opened the Law Office of Craig Collins, operating the private practice from 2007 until 2016\u202f[1].\n\nIn 2016 Collins was appointed a North Carolina District Court judge for District\u202f27A, a position he has held through at least the end of 2026\u202f[6][1]. The campaign website also notes that he served as a District Court judge until 2024 and is now a Superior Court judge\u202f[4]. He has presided over a wide range of criminal, traffic, juvenile and civil matters, and describes himself as a \u201cconstitutional conservative\u201d who believes the Constitution\u2019s words have fixed meaning\u202f[11]. Collins is active in local Republican politics, having served as chairman of the party\u2019s 10th district\u202f[11].\n\nCollins has sought elected judicial office several times. In the May\u202f17,\u202f2022 Republican primary he ran for the North Carolina 27A Judicial District seat, competing against Ashley\u202fC.\u202fHyman\u202f[2]. He was the Republican candidate for the North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division, District\u202f38 Seat\u202f3, in the November\u202f5,\u202f2024 general election\u202f[3][6]. In each case he was listed as a Republican and received the party\u2019s endorsement to appear on the ballot.\n\nFor the 2026 Court of Appeals race, Collins is listed as the Republican nominee for Seat\u202f3. The seat is currently held by Democrat Allegra\u202fCollins, who is not seeking re\u2011election; the Democratic primary produced Christine\u202fWalczyk and James\u202fWhalen, with Walczyk advancing to the general election\u202f[1][12]. Collins\u2019s campaign emphasizes his extensive courtroom experience, his prosecutorial background, and his commitment to \u201cconstitutional conservatism.\u201d He also highlights his Christian faith and his leadership within the local GOP\u202f[11].\n\nCollins can be contacted via email at craig@votecraigcollins.com, a address provided on his Ballotpedia profile\u202f[1]. His campaign website, https://www.votecraigcollins.com/, offers additional information about his background and judicial philosophy.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Craig Collins - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Craig_Collins)\n- [2] [Craig Collins (North Carolina 27A Judicial District, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Craig_Collins_(North_Carolina_27A_Judicial_District,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [3] [Craig Collins (North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division District 38 Seat 3, North Carolina, candidate 2024) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Craig_Collins_(North_Carolina_5th_Superior_Court_Division_District_38_Seat_3,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2024))\n- [4] [Judge Craig Collins | Learn More](https://www.votecraigcollins.com/)\n- [6] [Craig Collins | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/craig-collins-94959c10-9477-40a4-95cf-015f3bd921d7)\n- [8] [Craig Collins - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/craig-collins?cycle=2024-election-cycle)\n- [11] [Gaston County: N.C. Superior Court Judge District 38 Seat 3 | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source](https://www.wfae.org/2024-10-18/gaston-county-n-c-superior-court-judge-district-38-seat-3)\n- [12] [Announcing the 2026 NC Judicial Slate! - Carolina Democracy](https://www.carolinademocracy.com/p/announcing-the-2026-nc-judicial-slate)","campaigns":[{"contest":"court_of_appeals_seat_03","county":"alamance","county_count":100,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"nc","title":"Nc Court Of Appeals Judge Seat 03"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Craig","fullname":"Craig Robert Collins","lastname":"Collins","middlename":"Robert","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"court_of_appeals_seat_03","contest_title":"Nc Court Of Appeals Judge Seat 03","county":"alamance","county_count":100,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"court_of_appeals","office_title":"Court of Appeals Judge","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"nc"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"court_of_appeals_seat_03","contest_title":"Nc Court Of Appeals Judge Seat 03","county":"alamance","county_count":100,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"court_of_appeals","office_title":"Court of Appeals Judge","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"nc"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"court_of_appeals","office_title":"Court of Appeals Judge","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Craig Robert Collins, a Republican District Court judge, is running for North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat\u202f3 in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"162f7f1e9387a48a"}