David Lee Churchill

Current office and 2026 campaign

David Lee Churchill has served as Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court since May 2025, when Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Stuart Albright appointed him to succeed Lisa Johnson-Tonkins, who was elevated to a Superior Court judgeship ¹. Churchill is the Democratic candidate for a full term in the office in 2026. He defeated fellow Democrat Cinnamon Hunter in the March 3, 2026 primary, 60.2% to 39.8% ²; the Republican primary for the seat was canceled for lack of a candidate, leaving Churchill unopposed on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot ². He filed for the race on December 1, 2025, the first day of the candidate filing period ³.

Background and education

Churchill is originally from Lockport, New York. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from The College of Wooster and a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law ¹⁴.

Career

Churchill previously served as Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court for four terms, from 1998 to 2014, before losing the 2014 Democratic primary for the seat to then-Assistant District Attorney Lisa Johnson-Tonkins, 62% to 38% ¹. After leaving the clerk's office, Churchill worked as an assistant public defender and, most recently before his 2025 reappointment, as an assistant district attorney ¹.

Office history

Churchill was Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court from 1998 to 2014 (four terms), then lost the 2014 Democratic primary to Lisa Johnson-Tonkins ¹. He returned to the office by judicial appointment in April 2025, taking over when Johnson-Tonkins was sworn in as a Superior Court judge in May 2025 ¹.

Family

Churchill lives with his wife in Greensboro, per his campaign platform page ⁴.

Sources