{"biography":"**Benjamin Connor Scales JR won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for NC District Court, District 40 Seat 03 with 20,691 votes (51.4%) against James H. Mills (19,564 votes, 48.6%), advancing to the November 3, 2026 general election [12].**\n\nBen Scales is the Democratic candidate for the North Carolina District Court, District\u202f40, Seat\u202f3, in the 2026 general election scheduled for November\u202f3,\u202f2026. He qualified for the Democratic primary ballot on March\u202f3,\u202f2026, where he faced fellow Democrat James H.\u202fMills\u202f[1].\n\nThe office he seeks is a judicial seat on the North Carolina District Court. District Court judges are elected officials who preside over civil and criminal matters within their geographic district and serve four\u2011year terms. The position is filled by popular vote, and candidates must be licensed attorneys who reside in the district they wish to serve\u202f[1].\n\nPublicly available biographical details do not list Scales\u2019s education or early life. The Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, completed on January\u202f19,\u202f2026, provides the only personal background information, noting that he has practiced law in Buncombe County District Court since 2006, giving him \u201ca keen understanding of how the court works\u201d\u202f[1].\n\nIn his own words, Scales is running to \u201cuphold the Constitution, protect the rights of all, and interpret the law impartially without fear or favor.\u201d He emphasizes kindness, compassion, and thoughtful interpretation of the law for Buncombe County residents, citing his long\u2011term practice in the local district court as evidence of his qualifications\u202f[1]. He also stresses the emotional toll court proceedings can take on litigants and pledges to treat everyone\u2014defendants, plaintiffs, bailiffs, attorneys, and court staff\u2014with respect and kindness\u202f[1].\n\nFinancial disclosures filed with Transparency USA show that Scales\u2019s 2022\u20112023 campaign raised $1,225 in contributions and spent $15,681, with the majority of expenditures going to a media vendor (Meda Corporation) and signage. He also loaned his campaign a total of $17,777.75, indicating personal financial involvement in the race\u202f[11]. The top individual contributors included Alan Graf ($250) and Carol Peterson ($250)\u202f[11].\n\nBallotpedia does not list any endorsements for Scales in this election cycle\u202f[1]. No campaign website, email address, or telephone contact information is provided in the available sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Ben Scales (North Carolina District Court District 40 Seat 3, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Scales_(North_Carolina_District_Court_District_40_Seat_3,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n- [8] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [11] [Ben Scales - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/ben-scales)\n- [12] North Carolina State Board of Elections, March 3, 2026 primary election results (precinct-level canvass), published at dl.ncsbe.gov (https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip)","campaigns":[{"contest":"district_court_judge_dist_040_seat_03","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc District Court Judge District 40 Seat 03"},{"contest":"district_court_judge_dist_040_seat_03","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc District Court Judge District 40 Seat 03"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Benjamin","fullname":"Benjamin Connor Scales JR","lastname":"Scales","middlename":"Connor","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"district_court_judge_dist_040_seat_03","contest_title":"Nc District Court Judge District 40 Seat 03","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"district_court_judge","office_title":"District Court Judge","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"district_court_judge_dist_040_seat_03","contest_title":"Nc District Court Judge District 40 Seat 03","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"district_court_judge","office_title":"District Court Judge","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"district_court_judge_dist_040_seat_03","contest_title":"Nc District Court Judge District 40 Seat 03","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"district_court_judge","office_title":"District Court Judge","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"district_court_judge","office_title":"District Court Judge","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"suffix":"JR","summary":"Ben Scales is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina District Court District\u202f40 Seat\u202f3 in the 2026 election.","terms":[],"token":"310ff0382db46983"}