Municipal elections in Durham County, North Carolina (2026)
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| 2026 Durham County elections |
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| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: December 19, 2025 & July 6, 2026 |
| Primary election: March 3, 2026 General election: November 3, 2026 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Clerk of superior court, district attorney, sheriff, soil and water district board, district court judges, and superior court judges |
| Total seats up: 13 |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2026 |
Durham County, North Carolina, is holding general elections for clerk of superior court, district attorney, sheriff, soil and water district board, district court judges, and superior court judges on November 3, 2026. A primary is scheduled for March 3, 2026. A primary runoff will be held on May 12, 2026, if necessary. The filing deadline for this election was December 19, 2025, and the filing deadline for the soil and water conservation district is July 6, 2026.
Elections
Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.
Offices up for election in 2026:
Clerk of superior court
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Durham County Clerk of Superior Court
Incumbent Aminah Thompson and A. Beverly Ellis-Maclin are running in the Democratic primary for Durham County Clerk of Superior Court on March 3, 2026.
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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District attorney
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Carolina 16th Prosecutorial District Attorney
Incumbent Satana Deberry and Jonathan Wilson are running in the Democratic primary for North Carolina 16th Prosecutorial District Attorney on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Satana Deberry | |
| Jonathan Wilson | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Sheriff
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Durham County Sheriff
Incumbent Clarence Birkhead and Johnny Hawkins are running in the Democratic primary for Durham County Sheriff on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Clarence Birkhead | |
| Johnny Hawkins | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Judicial offices
District Court
Seat 1
General election
General election for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 1
Incumbent Dave Hall is running in the general election for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 1 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Dave Hall (D) | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Dave Hall advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 1.
Seat 2
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 2
Incumbent Doretta Walker and Keith Bishop are running in the Democratic primary for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 2 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Doretta Walker | |
| Keith Bishop | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Seat 3
General election
General election for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 3
Incumbent Kevin Jones is running in the general election for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 3 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Kevin Jones (D) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kevin Jones advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 3.
Seat 4
General election
General election for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 4
Incumbent Dorothy Hairston Mitchell is running in the general election for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 4 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Dorothy Hairston Mitchell (D) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Dorothy Hairston Mitchell advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 4.
Seat 5
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 5
Incumbent Clayton Jones and Christy Hamilton Malott are running in the Democratic primary for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 5 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Clayton Jones | ||
| Christy Hamilton Malott | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Seat 6
General election
General election for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 6
Incumbent Amanda Maris is running in the general election for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 6 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Amanda Maris (D) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Amanda Maris advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina District Court District 16 Seat 6.
Superior Court
16 B, seat 2
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Carolina 1st Superior Court Division Judicial District 16B Seat 2
Ameshia Cooper Chester and Myra Griffin are running in the Democratic primary for North Carolina 1st Superior Court Division Judicial District 16B Seat 2 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Ameshia Cooper Chester | ||
| Myra Griffin | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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16 B, seat 3
General election
General election for North Carolina 1st Superior Court Division Judicial District 16B Seat 3
Incumbent Josephine Kerr Davis is running in the general election for North Carolina 1st Superior Court Division Judicial District 16B Seat 3 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Josephine Kerr Davis (D) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Josephine Kerr Davis advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina 1st Superior Court Division Judicial District 16B Seat 3.
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About the county
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Durham County, North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|
| Durham County | North Carolina | |
| Population | 324,833 | 10,439,388 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 287 | 48,623 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 50.9% | 67.6% |
| Black/African American | 35.6% | 21.4% |
| Asian | 5% | 3% |
| Native American | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Other (single race) | 3.3% | 3.2% |
| Multiple | 5% | 3.6% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 13.6% | 9.5% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 89.6% | 88.5% |
| College graduation rate | 49.5% | 32% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $62,812 | $56,642 |
| Persons below poverty level | 13.5% | 14% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
See also
| Durham County, North Carolina | North Carolina | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
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External links
Footnotes
