SEAT 1
Republican Bryan Ray won the first of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Ray ran against Democratic incumbent Bryan Norris Jr. and won 53.40% of the vote.
Ray previously told Elon News Network he can bring a unique perspective to the bench coupled with empathy and understanding.
“I have a unique perspective, because a lot of family law attorneys don't run,” Ray said. “I've never been divorced, but I've had the woman that's facing infidelity, and I've had the husband that's had serious drug problems or I've had the client that's had four DWIs and now realize they need to go to rehab. So I've sat on this side of the bench and know what they're personally going through, so I think I can now apply that to the other side of the bench.”
SEAT 2
Democrat Larry Brown Jr. won the second of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Brown ran uncontested and won 100% of the votes.
Brown did not respond to Elon News Network’s requests for an interview.
SEAT 3
Republican Craig Turner won the third of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Turner ran against Democrat Doug Green and won 53.31% of the votes.
Though this is his first time running for a judgeship, Turner previously told Elon News Network he is drawing from both his experience in litigation — having served as a law court to two business court judges and assistant district attorney in Alamance County — and his experience as a county commissioner.
“The way that I approach that is the way that I would approach the work on the bench, which is to be prepared for meetings, to treat everybody who is in front of you with respect, but to also ask hard questions when needed to get to the heart of a matter,” Turner said. “That's how I would approach that job from the temperament perspective — is being prepared, holding folks accountable, but also treating everybody with respect regardless of what you're there to do. And that's how I've tried to be as a commissioner.”
For Elon students who may be eligible to vote for the first time and are not from Alamance County, Turner said he encourages voter turnout and emphasizes the importance of researching candidates.
“I would stress the importance of local elections, because it's so close to home,” Turner said. “And those decisions will be affecting Elon students while they're here and if they choose to remain in Alamance County. The huge headliners get all of the press, but really, you really can make an impact on local elections.”
SEAT 4
Democrat incumbent Kathryn Overby won reelection for the fourth of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Overby ran uncontested and won 100% of the votes.
Having been on the ballot in 2012, 2016, 2020 and now 2024, her only contested election took place in 2012.
“When I had a contested election … I had a really high rating from other lawyers that came before me as far as my integrity and my legal ability,” Overby previously told Elon News Network. “I think I bring something to the bench that only I can bring as a woman. I bring a mom's perspective, and I think that it's the fact that I haven't had any contested elections now in three cycles speaks a lot for the job that I'm doing.”
SEAT 5
Meredith Tuck Edwards. PHOTO CREDIT MEREDITH TUCK EDWARDS | FACEBOOK
Republican Meredith Tuck Edwards won the fifth of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Edwards ran against Democrat Natalie Jones and won 55.47% of the votes.
In response to her campaign for county clerk, Edwards said she tried to approach her role as a public official with empathy and compassion.
“No one ever comes to the clerk's office having a great day, right? It's always something really difficult in their lives,” Edwards previously told Elon News Network for her 2022 campaign. “We're responding with compassion. … I love being the clerk and I love the opportunities that it gives me to be able to advocate for better services for our citizens.”