Democratic candidates vie for state Court of Appeals in 2026 midterms
Good morning and welcome to Under the Dome. I’m Sophia Bailly — welcome to Friday.
First up, on the heels of an unprecedented and contentious North Carolina Supreme Court election, candidates are already entering the race for the state’s Court of Appeals in 2026.
2026 COURT RACE ALREADY UNDERWAY
Raleigh attorney James Whalen, a Democrat who most recently defended Justice Allison Riggs’ election victory in court, announced his candidacy for Court of Appeals seat three on Wednesday.
“I’ve protected our rights in the Department of Justice and private practice,” Whalen said in a press release. “... Now, I’m running for the North Carolina Court of Appeals to stop abuses of power, uphold our rights, and build a brighter future for our state.”
His announcement comes months after incumbent Judge Allegra Collins, a Democrat, said she would not seek reelection.
Whalen isn’t the only Democrat running for Collins’ seat. Christine Walczyk, a Wake County District Court judge, has also announced her candidacy for the position.
Walczyk, who has served as a judge for 18 years, has already racked up endorsements from a variety of former judges, including former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley.
As Democrats look to the midterms, defending the few state-level judicial seats they hold is a top priority. They only hold three seats on the 15-member Court of Appeals – all of which are up for grabs in 2026.
Justice Anita Earls, one of two Democrats on the state Supreme Court, will also run to defend her seat next year.
— Kyle Ingram
HOUSE REPUBLICAN ANNOUNCES HE WON’T SEEK REELECTION
Rep. Mark Brody, a Monroe Republican who has served in the North Carolina House since 2013, announced he won’t run for reelection next year.
Brody, who is currently serving his seventh term in the House and represents Union and Anson counties, said he decided not to run for another term to spend more time helping his wife, Lisa, who he said has been facing health challenges in recent months.
In a statement Wednesday, Brody said he plans to serve the remainder of his term, which ends in December 2026. He said serving his constituents “has been one of the greatest honors of my life” and said he was “deeply grateful to the voters who placed their trust in me and allowed me to represent them in Raleigh.”
Brody told The News & Observer in an email one of his proudest accomplishments from his time in office was “to play an active part in the transition of North Carolina from an over-taxed, over-regulated and unfriendly business environment to being one of the top new business destinations in the nation many years over.” As part of that, he cited the GOP’s efforts to lower taxes, cut unnecessary regulations, improve the state’s infrastructure, and create budget surpluses.
He said he was also proud to have worked on legislation to standardize development regulations and require uniform building inspections in the construction industry, support law enforcement, protect gun rights, and prohibit transgender athletes from playing in women’s sports.
House Speaker Destin Hall told The N&O Brody “is one of the finest men I know.”
“He has served his district and our state honorably for over a decade, and is a seasoned and experienced voice in our caucus,” Hall said in a statement. “I wish him well in his retirement.”
— Avi Bajpai
WHAT ELSE WE’RE WORKING ON
- The IRS ruled this week that churches and other religious nonprofits can make political donations – and keep their tax-exempt status. The Charlotte Observer’s Abby Pender explains how North Carolina could be impacted. Some local religious leaders fear mounting pressure to take political positions; others say that already happens.
- U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis has decided to leave the chamber’s whip team, where he has held a position since 2017, The N&O’s D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia reports. Tillis opposed President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which preceded his decision to not seek reelection.
- The state’s only freestanding children’s hospital is set to be built in Apex, The N&O’s Richard Stradling and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi report. NC Children’s Health is a product of Duke Health and UNC Health’s partnership. The project, which was announced in January, is expected to bring 8,000 jobs to the state. The 230-acre location was confirmed Thursday.
- And, for the third time in four years North Carolina has ranked No. 1 in CNBC’s annual listing of best states for business in the U.S. Last year, Virginia narrowly pushed North Carolina to second place. But here we are — back on top. The N&O’s Brian Gordon has the story.
Today’s newsletter was by Sophia Bailly, Kyle Ingram and Avi Bajpai. Check your inbox Sunday for more #ncpol.
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