Jerry Reginald Tillett

Jerry R. Tillett is a retired senior resident Superior Court judge who is the Republican nominee for North Carolina State Senate District 1 in the November 3, 2026 general election. The state Senate is the upper chamber of the General Assembly; senators draft, debate, and vote on state laws, approve the budget, and represent the interests of their districts. Tillett’s campaign emphasizes restoring accountability, supporting coastal communities, and putting working people ahead of political insiders.

Tillett earned both his bachelor’s degree in history and English and his J.D. from Wake Forest University, graduating from law school in 1983 ¹⁹. After a brief stint at a large Winston‑Salem firm, he returned to Dare County and became a partner at Merrell, Tillett & Barnes, handling a broad civil and criminal practice that included extensive real‑estate work ¹⁵⁹. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives, where he was appointed chief of staff and chief legal counsel to the Senate President Pro Tempore, drafting legislation and managing committee work ⁹¹⁵.

In 1993 Governor Jim Martin appointed Tillett as one of two special Superior Court judges for the state; he was later selected as the resident Superior Court judge for Judicial District 1 and was repeatedly elected, most recently unopposed in 2010 and with 100 % of the vote in 2018 ¹⁹¹¹. Over more than three decades he presided in 86 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, handling capital murder, medical‑negligence, and other complex cases ⁹¹⁵. He also established and managed the Dare County Recovery Court for opioid addiction ⁹¹¹. In 2016 the Judicial Standards Commission issued a public reprimand for conduct related to a dispute with Kill Devil Hills officials ²⁰. Tillett retired from the bench on May 1, 2025 after more than 32 years of service ¹¹¹³.

Following retirement, Tillett announced his candidacy for the open Senate District 1 seat—vacated by Rep. Bobby Hanig, who is running for Congress—by filing paperwork in September 2025 and holding a series of fundraisers and community events in early 2026 ⁷¹³¹⁶. He won the Republican primary on March 3, 2026 with 37.9 % of the vote, defeating Jay Lane, Dave Forsythe, and Cole Johnson ¹¹⁴. The primary was marked by allegations that an audio recording captured Tillett using a racial slur; he denied the claim and filed a defamation lawsuit ¹⁴.

Tillett’s platform stresses pro‑business policies, support for fishermen and farmers, a balanced‑budget approach, and a strong defense of the Second Amendment ¹⁶¹³. He cites his judicial experience, knowledge of the district’s 11‑county geography, and his long‑standing community involvement—including leadership roles with the College of the Albemarle Board of Trustees, the Dare County Tourism Board, and the Farm Bureau—as qualifications for legislative service ⁹¹⁵. He also emphasizes his Christian faith and “God, family, and country” values ¹³¹⁶.

If elected, Tillett would bring a three‑decade judicial perspective to the Senate, leveraging his experience in law, public policy, and regional economic development to shape legislation affecting North Carolina’s coastal and rural communities.

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