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Alan Ziegler Thornburg
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Alan Z. Thornburg is the Democratic incumbent judge for North Carolina Superior Court Judge District 40 Seat 02, seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election 12. He has served on the Superior Court bench continuously since his January 2009 appointment; his current term runs through December 31, 2026 1.
Background and education
Thornburg received a B.A. in history from Davidson College in 1989 and a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1996 1.
Office history
Governor Mike Easley appointed Thornburg to the 28th Judicial District Superior Court (Eighth Division) in January 2009 1. He won election to a full term in November 2010, defeating Kate Dreher with 52.24% of the vote 1. In 2018, the North Carolina General Assembly's House Bill 717 restructured the state's superior court divisions, absorbing Thornburg's Eighth Division seat into the Fifth Division effective January 1, 2019 1. He was re-elected without opposition in November 2018, receiving 84,617 votes 1. He now files for the Superior Court seat covering Buncombe County, listed in the state's 2026 candidate filing as District 40 Seat 02 — the same continuously-held seat Ballotpedia's most recent substantive update still labels District 28, reflecting judicial-district renumbering since his last contested election 12.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
North Carolina — campaign finance
- State, county, and municipal candidates — all in one system — NC State Board of Elections — Committee Search. Search by last name “Thornburg”.
North Carolina — statement of economic interest
- Required for state-elected and many local officials — NC State Ethics Commission — Statement of Economic Interest Search. Search by last name “Thornburg”.