Theodoros Kazakos

Theodore (Ted) Kazakos is the incumbent judge for Seat 3 of the North Carolina 31st Judicial District Court. District Court judges in North Carolina preside over civil matters up to $25,000, misdemeanor criminal cases, family law issues, and conduct preliminary hearings for felony cases. Judges are elected to four‑year terms and must be licensed attorneys who reside in the district they serve. Kazakos began his current term on January 1, 2024, which runs through December 31, 2026, and he is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election. The Republican primary for the seat was cancelled, allowing him to advance automatically to the ballot ¹.

Kazakos has a long record on the North Carolina trial bench. He was first elected to the 21st Judicial District Court in 2014, winning the Republican primary with 46.7 % of the vote and defeating Democratic opponent Valene Franco in the November general with 57.3 % of the vote. He was re‑elected without opposition in 2018, receiving 100 % of the votes cast (74,904) after the primary was cancelled, and again in 2022, winning the general election with 100 % of the vote (76,351) as the sole candidate on the ballot ¹. In each of those cycles the Republican primary was cancelled, so he advanced unopposed.

Before his judicial service, Kazakos worked in the administrative arm of the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System (CJRS). Public salary records show he held an administrative position there from 2015 through 2017, earning $116,710 in 2017, which was slightly below the system’s average salary for that role ¹¹. The CJRS administers retirement benefits for North Carolina’s judges and judicial employees, giving Kazakos experience with the state’s judicial infrastructure beyond the courtroom.

As a district judge, Kazakos has been evaluated by the North Carolina Bar Association. In a 2014 survey of lawyers, he received an average rating of 3.95 for integrity and impartiality and 3.74 for legal ability, indicating a generally positive assessment from the legal community ¹. His continued re‑election without opposition suggests broad support within his district.

Kazakos is a member of the Republican Party and is listed on the ballot as the Republican candidate for the 31st Judicial District Court Seat 3 in the 2026 general election. No campaign website or public contact information (email or phone) is provided in the available sources.

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