2026 General Election: November 3, 2026. New info launches early October.
Craig Collins
Party:
Republican
Incumbent:
No
Age:
54
Previous experience in elected office:
North Carolina Superior Court Judge; District Court Judge (2016-24)
Occupation:
Superior Court Judge (Gaston County)
Description:
Collins was appointed to a district court judgeship in 2016 and elected to superior court in 2024. He says he prosecuted thousands of criminal cases on behalf of North Carolina as an assistant district attorney in Gaston County and that he presided over "countless trials" in criminal, traffic, juvenile and civil courts. He describes himself as a Christian and on his website says, "Conservative judges matter now more than ever."
Other personal:
Collins was formerly a trustee for Gaston College. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a JD from Villanova University.