Faris Carnell Dixon JR

Faris C. Dixon Jr. is a Democratic candidate on the November 3, 2026 North Carolina ballot; the specific office for which he is running has not been identified in the available sources. In prior elections Dixon has sought judicial and prosecutorial positions, most recently the North Carolina 3rd Prosecutorial District Attorney seat in the 2022 general election, where he appeared on the ballot as the Democratic nominee ².

Dixon was born and raised in eastern North Carolina, graduating from Goldsboro High School in 1985. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Duke University in 1989 and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 1992 ¹¹⁰. He is married to Arcina Barfield and has two children, one of whom is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

His legal career spans more than 25 years. Early roles included work for Lumbee River Legal Services (1992‑1995) and as a prosecutor in the Robeson County District Attorney’s Office (1995‑1997) ¹. He then served as a public defender in Pitt County (1997‑2001) before joining the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office, where he worked from 2001 onward, eventually becoming an assistant district attorney. Since leaving the DA’s office he has practiced as a private‑practice defense attorney ¹¹⁰.

Dixon has twice run for judicial office in Pitt County’s 3A Judicial District. In 2012 he sought the seat of retiring Judge Charles M. Vincent and was defeated by Brian DeSoto, receiving 47.39 % of the vote ¹. He again ran in 2014, winning the Democratic primary with 38.8 % but losing the general election to incumbent Judge Lee F. Teague, earning 47.8 % of the vote ¹. The North Carolina Bar Association’s 2012 judicial candidate survey gave him an overall rating of 4.35 out of 5, with high marks for integrity, fairness, and professionalism ¹.

In 2022 Dixon was the Democratic nominee for the 3rd Prosecutorial District Attorney, appearing on the general‑election ballot on November 8, 2022 ². His campaign emphasizes reforming Pitt County’s criminal‑justice system, establishing a Conviction Integrity Unit, and ensuring fair treatment regardless of race, religion, gender, or immigration status. Endorsements have included the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys and support from the Color of Change PAC, which highlights his platform to address racial disparities in incarceration rates in Pitt County ⁷¹⁰.

While the exact office Dixon seeks in 2026 is not specified, his extensive experience as a prosecutor, public defender, and private‑practice attorney, combined with prior candidacies for judicial and district‑attorney positions, positions him as a candidate familiar with the legal and electoral requirements of North Carolina’s judicial and prosecutorial offices.

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