2014 North Carolina judicial elections

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Elections in North Carolina
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Four justices of the seven-member North Carolina Supreme Court and four judges of the 15-member North Carolina Court of Appeals were elected by North Carolina voters on November 4, 2014, concurrently with other state elections. Terms for seats on each court are eight years.

Assessing the election results,

Politifact writer Louis Jacobson noted that Supreme Court races in North Carolina and other states yielded "better-than-average results" for Democrats, who otherwise suffered heavy defeats across the country. "In a series of hotly contested North Carolina contests, two Democratic-leaning judges [Ervin and Hudson] prevailed, one Democrat [Beasley] was leading in a very close race, and one Republican [Chief Justice Martin] was re-elected," Jacobson wrote.[1] At the Court of Appeals level, two Democrats, Lucy Inman and Mark Davis, and one Republican, John Tyson, were elected in contested races, while another Republican, Donna Stroud, was re-elected without opposition.[2]

North Carolina ranked second among all states in total spending on judicial election campaigns in 2014.[3][4]

Supreme Court

2014 North Carolina Supreme Court elections
← 2012 November 4, 2014 (2014-11-4) 2016 →
4 seats of the
Supreme Court of North Carolina
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 4 3
Seats won 1 3
Seat change Steady Steady

Chief Justice

2014 North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice election
← 2006 November 4, 2014 (2014-11-4) 2020 →
 
Candidate Mark Martin Ola Lewis
Popular vote 1,754,799 674,232
Percentage 72.24% 27.76%
Chief Justice
before election

Mark Martin
Republican

Elected
Chief Justice

Mark Martin
Republican

Chief Justice

2006 to an eight-year term. Governor Pat McCrory appointed senior Associate Justice Mark Martin to occupy the Chief Justice position in the interim. Chief Justice Martin ran for the Chief Justice position for a full eight-year term. Martin was challenged in the general election by fellow Republican Ola Lewis, a Superior Court Judge.[5]

Candidates

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Mark
Martin 		Ola
Lewis 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[8] September 11–14, 2014 1,266 (LV) ± 2.8% 16% 7% — 77%

Results

2014 North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Mark Martin (incumbent) 1,754,799 72.24%
Nonpartisan
 Ola M. Lewis 674,232 27.76%
Total votes 2,429,031 100.0%
Republican hold

Associate Justice (Martin seat)

2014 North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice (Martin seat) election
← 2006 November 4, 2014 (2014-11-4) 2022 →
 
Candidate Sam Ervin
Bob Hunter
Popular vote 1,324,261 1,193,492
Percentage 52.60% 47.40%
Associate Justice
before election

Robert N. Hunter, Jr.

Republican

Elected
Associate Justice

Sam J. Ervin IV
Democratic

Governor McCrory appointed

Robert N. Hunter, Jr., a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, to the seat previously held by Mark Martin after his elevation to Chief Justice.[10] Justice Hunter ran for a full eight-year term, and was challenged by his colleague on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, Sam Ervin
, who narrowly lost a race for Associate Justice in 2012.

Candidates

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Sam J.
Ervin IV 		Robert N.
Hunter, Jr. 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[8] September 11–14, 2014 1,266 (LV) ±  2.8% 21% 13% — 66%

Results

2024 North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice (Martin seat) election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Sam Ervin 1,324,261 52.60%
Nonpartisan
Robert N. Hunter, Jr.
(incumbent) 		1,193,492 47.40%
Total votes 2,517,753 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

Associate Justice (Hudson seat)

2014 North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice (Hudson seat) election
← 2006 November 4, 2014 (2014-11-4) 2022 →
 
Candidate Robin Hudson
Eric Levinson
Popular vote 1,283,478 1,163,022
Percentage 52.46% 47.54%
Associate Justice
before election

Robin Hudson
Democratic

Elected
Associate Justice

Robin Hudson
Democratic

Justice Robin E. Hudson ran for re-election to a second term.[13] Notably, Hudson was the only incumbent challenged by more than 1 candidate, triggering a primary election, where the top two candidates advanced to the general election.[14]

Primary election

Candidates
  • Jeanette Doran, chair of the North Carolina Division of Employment Security Board of Review[15]
  • Robin E. Hudson, incumbent Associate Justice
  • Mecklenburg County Superior Court (District 26C)[16]
Endorsements
Jeanette Doran

Organizations

Robin Hudson

Statewide officials

Labor unions

Organizations

Political parties

Newspapers and other media

Eric Levinson

Statewide officials

Organizations

  • NC Experience Conservative Judges (co-endorsement with Doran)[17]

Political parties

Results
Primary election results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Robin E. Hudson (incumbent) 381,836 42.56%
Nonpartisan
 		Eric L. Levinson 328,062 36.57%
Nonpartisan
 Jeanette Doran 187,273 20.87%
Total votes 897,171 100.0%

General election

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Robin E.
Hudson 		Eric
Levinson 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[8] September 11–14, 2014 1,266 (LV) ±  2.8% 18% 10% — 72%
Public Policy Polling[24] August 14–17, 2014 856 (LV) ± 3.4% 19% 11% — 71%
Results
2014 North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice (Hudson seat) election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Robin E. Hudson (incumbent) 1,283,478 52.46%
Nonpartisan
 Eric L. Levinson 1,163,022 47.54%
Total votes 2,446,500 100.0%
Democratic hold

Associate Justice (Beasley seat)

2014 North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice (Beasley seat) election
← 2006 November 4, 2014 (2014-11-4) 2020 →
 
Candidate Cheri Beasley Mike Robinson
Popular vote 1,239,763 1,234,353
Percentage 50.11% 49.89%
Associate Justice
before election

Cheri Beasley
Democratic

Elected
Associate Justice

Cheri Beasley
Democratic

Justice Cheri Beasley ran for a full term after she was appointed to the seat by former Governor Bev Perdue in 2012.[25]

Beasley won election to her first full term with 50.1 percent of the vote.[9] The margin was small enough that a recount would be allowed, if Robinson requested it.[26] He filed such a request for a recount on Nov. 17.[27] After the recount only added a net 17 votes to Robinson's total, he conceded and Beasley was declared the winner on Nov. 25.[28]

Candidates

  • Cheri Beasley, incumbent Associate Justice
  • Michael L. Robinson, private practice attorney[29]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Cheri
Beasley 		Mike
Robinson 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[8] September 11–14, 2014 1,266 (LV) ±  2.8% 13% 9% — 78%

Results

2014 North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice (Beasley seat) election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Cheri Beasley (incumbent) 1,239,763 50.11%
Nonpartisan
 Mike Robinson 1,234,353 49.89%
Total votes 2,474,116 100.0%
Democratic hold

Court of Appeals (Robert C. Hunter seat)

The seat held by Judge

Robert N. Hunter, Jr.) was on the ballot. Hunter announced on Aug. 14, 2013, that he would not seek re-election.[30]

Judges

Beverly Perdue. Prior to that, she was a trial lawyer. Judge Southern currently serves on the District Court bench for Stokes and Surry Counties. He was elected to that position in 2008 and in 2012. Prior to that, he served as an assistant district attorney in Stokes and Surry Counties.[31][32]

Inman won election to her first term on the North Carolina Court of Appeals with 51.9 percent of the vote.[9]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Lucy
Inman 		Bill
Southern 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[8] September 11–14, 2014 1,266 ± 2.8% 9% 8% — 83%

Results

North Carolina Court of Appeals seat election, 2014[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Lucy Inman 1,227,800 51.94%
Nonpartisan
 Bill Southern 1,136,268 48.06%
Total votes 2,364,068 100.00%

Court of Appeals (Stroud seat)

Judge Donna Stroud ran unopposed for re-election.[33]

Results

North Carolina Court of Appeals seat election, 2014[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Donna Stroud (incumbent) 1,801,800 100.00%
Total votes 1,801,800 100.00%

Court of Appeals (Davis seat)

Judge Mark A. Davis ran for a full term after serving out the remainder of Judge Cheri Beasley's unexpired term.[34] Beasley was appointed to the Supreme Court.

District Court Judge Paul A. Holcombe also ran for this seat.[35] Paul Holcombe has been a District Court Judge for Johnston, Harnett and Lee Counties since January 2009.[36]

Davis won his first full term by taking 58.8 percent of the vote.[9]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Mark A.
Davis 		Paul A.
Holcombe 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[8] September 11–14, 2014 1,266 ± 2.8% 8% 7% — 85%

Results

North Carolina Court of Appeals seat election, 2014[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Mark A. Davis (incumbent) 1,354,647 58.77%
Nonpartisan
 Paul Holcombe 950,300 41.23%
Total votes 2,304,947 100.00%

Court of Appeals (John C. Martin seat)

On July 9, 2014, Chief Judge John C. Martin announced his retirement, effective August 1, 2014, creating another opening to be filled by voters in the general election. Because of the date of his retirement, no primary election was held for the seat.[37] Governor Pat McCrory appointed Judge Lisa Bell to hold the Martin seat for the remainder of the year, but she was not among the candidates who ran for a full term.[38]

Nineteen candidates filed for the special election.

John Arrowood of Charlotte,[40] Raleigh attorney Betsy Bunting, District Court Judge Lori G. Christian,[41] Raleigh bankruptcy attorney Jeffrey Cook, Raleigh Deputy Industrial Commissioner and former Court of Appeals staff lawyer J. Brad Donovan,[42] Hertford attorney Daniel Patrick Donahue, Raleigh attorney Sabra Faires,[43] former Superior Court judge Abe Jones, New Bern attorney Ann Kirby, Deputy Industrial Commissioner Keischa Lovelace,[44] Raleigh attorney Marty Martin, Haywood County trial attorney Hunter Murphy,[45]
Raleigh attorney Joseph "Jody" Newsome, Raleigh attorney Patricia "Tricia" Shields,[46] Raleigh attorney Elizabeth Davenport Scott, former Court of Appeals Judge John M. Tyson of Cumberland County,[47] Brunswick County District Court Judge Marion Warren, Greensboro attorney and former State Board of Elections member Chuck Winfree, and Yadkinville attorney Valerie Johnson Zachary.[48]

Judge Tyson won his second full term on the court with 23.9 percent of the vote.[9] Arrowood placed second with 14.4 percent. No other candidate took more than 10 percent of the vote.

Results

North Carolina Court of Appeals seat election, 2014[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		John M. Tyson 557,700 23.84%
Nonpartisan
 John S. Arrowood 336,839 14.40%
Nonpartisan
 Keischa Lovelace 226,159 9.67%
Nonpartisan
 Marion Warren 143,279 6.13%
Nonpartisan
 Elizabeth Davenport Scott 131,330 5.61%
Nonpartisan
 Marty Martin 120,281 5.14%
Nonpartisan
 Hunter Murphy 103,361 4.42%
Nonpartisan
 Paul Holcombe 96,468 4.12%
Nonpartisan
 Valerie Johnson Zachary 92,361 3.95%
Nonpartisan
 Lori G. Christian 88,819 3.80%
Nonpartisan
 Tricia Shields 79,357 3.39%
Nonpartisan
 Daniel Patrick Donahue 66,168 2.83%
Nonpartisan
 Abe Jones 59,712 2.55%
Nonpartisan
 Chuck Winfree 52,978 2.26%
Nonpartisan
 Jeffrey M. Cook 48,336 2.07%
Nonpartisan
 Jody Newsome 38,544 1.65%
Nonpartisan
 Betsy Bunting 36,163 1.55%
Nonpartisan
 Sabra Jean Faires 31,759 1.36%
Nonpartisan
 J. Brad Donovan 29,580 1.26%
Total votes 2,339,194 100.00%

References

  1. ^ "Republicans' Election Night wave: It was big". Tampa Bay Times.
  2. ^ News & Observer
  3. ^ News & Observer, Oct. 29, 2015
  4. ^ "The New Politics of Judicial Elections, 2013-14". Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  5. ^ "GOP director responds to Ola Lewis' claim of 'political gamesmanship'". WECT. August 5, 2014.
  6. ^ News & Observer Under the Dome Morning Memo: Florida GOP governor takes N.C. Democrats approach
  7. ^ WWAY-TV
  8. ^ a b c d e f Public Policy Polling
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "11/04/2014 Official General Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  10. ^ "Justice Robert N. Hunter, Jr. to be Installed as 95th Associate Justice of Supreme Court on Friday". North Carolina Judicial Branch. September 24, 2014.
  11. ^ News & Observer Under the Dome: Judge Ervin will run again for Supreme Court
  12. ^ "NC Court of Appeals Judge Robert N. Hunter, Jr. files paperwork to run for NC Supreme Court". Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  13. ^ News & Observer: Hudson seeking re-election to NC Supreme Court
  14. WUNC
    .
  15. ^ Staff Report (February 26, 2014). "Snyder, Kryn enter NC Senate race". Salisbury Post.
  16. ^ Charlotte Observer Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ a b c d e Wood, Jesse (April 23, 2014). "Endorsements for Three Candidates for N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Race in the May Primary". High County Press.
  18. ^ a b c Jarvis, Craig (April 11, 2014). "Justice Hudson picks up high-profile endorsements". The News & Observer.
  19. ^ Blythe, Anne (April 29, 2014). "NC Supreme Court race sees outside money and negative ads". The Charlotte Observer.
  20. ^ a b c Jarvis, Craig (March 27, 2014). "Labor, lawyers, teachers endorse Justice Hudson". The News & Observer.
  21. ^ "How we see the appellate races". The Charlotte Observer. October 23, 2014. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014.
  22. NCGOP. Archived from the original
    on October 14, 2014.
  23. ^ "05/06/2014 Official Primary Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  24. ^ Public Policy Polling
  25. ^ News & Observer Under the Dome: Justice Beasley will run for her seat in 2014
  26. ^ News & Observer
  27. ^ News & Observer: NC Supreme Court candidate Mike Robinson, Senate hopeful Tom Bradshaw file for recounts
  28. ^ "Voting machine problems do not change election outcome". WRAL.com. November 25, 2014.
  29. ^ "NCBA, UNC-TV Present Forums". North Carolina Bar Association. September 18, 2014.
  30. ^ "Judge Robert C. Hunter to retire from NC Court of Appeals". August 14, 2013.
  31. ^ "News & Observer Under the Dome". Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  32. ^ News & Observer: Surry County judge announces appeals court candidacy
  33. ^ "NC State Board of Elections: Candidate filing list" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  34. ^ "Mark Davis will run to retain his seat on N.C. Court of Appeals". Greensboro News and Record.
  35. ^ "Official Candidate Filings, NC State Board of Elections" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  36. ^ "Johnston County | North Carolina Judicial Branch". www.nccourts.gov.
  37. ^ "The Associated Press". Archived from the original on July 26, 2014.
  38. ^ Governor McCrory Appoints Judge Lisa Bell to Court of Appeals
  39. ^ "19 candidates file for N.C. Court of Appeals seat; 5 file for Alamance Superior Court seat".
  40. ^ "Charlotte Observer". Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  41. ^ Judgepedia
  42. ^ News & Observer: Industrial Commission deputy will run for appeals court
  43. ^ News & Observer
  44. ^ "N.C. Industrial Commission Deputy Commissioners' Biographies". www.ic.nc.gov.
  45. ^ "Hunter Murphy webpage". HunterMurphyForJudge.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  46. ^ "Hedrick Gardner". Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  47. ^ "NCPoliticalNews.com | Judge John Tyson files as Candidate for Judge of Court of Appeals". Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  48. ^ "State Board of Elections: Special Judicial Candidate List" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
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