Candidate
George Cooper Bell
RepublicanSuperior Court Judge, Judicial District 26C (Mecklenburg County)
George Bell has been a Mecklenburg County Superior Court judge since 2019, elected in 2018 to District 26C, and says he has presided over more than 100 felony jury trials254. Before the bench he ran the Bell and Bell Law Firm in Charlotte from 2006 to 2018, handling criminal and family law cases4. He faces Democratic incumbent Toby Hampson on November 3, 2026 in this partisan race13.
- Superior Court Judge, Mecklenburg County, Judicial District 26C, 2019 to present; he says he has presided over more than 100 felony jury trials42
- Owner, Bell and Bell Law Firm, P.C., 2006 to 2018, a criminal defense and family law practice; law clerk in Virginia, 2004 to 2005; admitted in Virginia and Tennessee in 2004 and North Carolina in 200642
- B.S., Cornell University, 2000; J.D., Regent University School of Law, 200324
- Elected to the Superior Court for District 26C on November 6, 2018, with 24,812 votes (46.9 percent) to 18,500 for Reggie E. McKnight and 9,595 for Howard L. Clark III, according to the State Board of Elections' official results, and took office in 201982. The 2026 Republican primary was canceled and he advanced to the general election31.
Record
- In his State Board of Elections candidate statement he emphasizes the rule of law, accountability for violent offenders and community safety2.
- Told The News and Observer in September 2026 that judges may advocate for changes in the law but must faithfully apply the law as enacted and avoid commenting on cases4.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.
Sources (8)
Every claim on this page links to one of these
- Candidate_Listing_2026.csv, 2026 general election candidate listNorth Carolina State Board of Elections
- Judicial Voter Guide: 2026 General Election (candidate-submitted biographies and statements)North Carolina State Board of Elections
- Toby Hampson (2026 race listing naming George Bell as the Republican nominee)Ballotpedia
- NC Court of Appeals judge and Mecklenburg challenger on judicial independence (September 29, 2026, The News and Observer, republished)The News and Observer via Yahoo News
- Who Emerged Victorious in the State Appellate Court Primaries? (March 2026)The Assembly
- Disciplinary Decisions and Orders by the Supreme Court and the Judicial Standards CommissionNorth Carolina Judicial Branch, Judicial Standards Commission
- North Carolina Judicial Candidate Forums, 2026 (video forums with PBS North Carolina)North Carolina Bar Association
- 2018 General Election precinct results file (results_pct_20181106), contest NC Superior Court Judge District 26C Seat 01North Carolina State Board of Elections