Who is running for District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 16 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in District Court Judge.
Judges may not promise how they would rule, so we show experience and record instead of issue positions.
Matt Newton
Democrat · IncumbentDistrict Court Judge, District 26, Seat 16 (Mecklenburg County)
Matt Newton has been a Mecklenburg County district court judge since January 2023, hearing domestic violence, criminal and family law cases23. He was previously managing partner of the Charlotte law firm Newton and Arroyo, chaired the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017, and served two terms on the Charlotte City Council representing District 5 after his first election in 201723. He is unopposed on the November 2026 ballot in this partisan race1.
- District Court Judge, 26th Judicial District, since January 1, 2023; has sat in domestic violence, criminal and family law courts23
- Attorney and managing partner, Newton and Arroyo, PLLC; general counsel and board member of National Action Network-Charlotte; committee member of the Charlotte chapter of the ACLU2
- Charlotte City Council member, District 5, first elected 2017 and served two terms; chair of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party, 2015 to 201723
- Bachelor's degree, University of North Carolina Wilmington; J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law2
- Elected without opposition on November 8, 2022, and took office January 1, 20232. Both 2026 primaries were canceled and he is unopposed in November21.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.