2026 General Election: November 3, 2026. New info launches early October.
Habekah Cannon
Party:
Democrat
Incumbent:
No
Age:
33
Previous experience in elected office:
None
Occupation:
Attorney; former assistant public defender in Mecklenburg County
Description:
Cannon’s top issues focus on fairness, impartiality, access to justice, efficiency in court proceedings and strengthening community trust in the legal system. On her campaign website, she states that her judicial philosophy is guided by fairness, integrity and respect for every person who enters the courtroom, emphasizing that barriers to justice should be removed so all individuals can navigate the legal system with dignity. Cannon was asked to leave her job at the public defender's office after a series of arrests following protests against police brutality in 2020. She then launched an "abolitionist" law firm. She is endorsed by the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Charlotte Muslim Caucus and the Charlotte-Metrolina Labor and Council. She has an “excellent” rating from the LGBTQ+ Democrats of Mecklenburg County.
Other personal:
Cannon is a native of Goldsboro. She has a background in missionary work in South Africa. Cannon earned a Criminal Justice degree from Hampton University and a JD from North Carolina Central University School of Law.
The Election Hub Questionnaire
Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).
33, Hampton University-Undergrad, North Carolina Central University School of Law, Managing Attorney of the Law Office Habekah B. Cannon, PLLC
Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share your previous experience in elected office that would be relevant to voters.
I am running to bring fairness and impartiality to every decision, dignity and respect to every person who enters the courtroom, and integrity and consistency to the application of the law.
Tell us 1-2 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.
I have tried complex and contested cases and represented clients with successful outcomes. I have provided pro bono legal services throughout North Carolina, including Know Your Rights presentations, will clinics, and expungement services, in partnership with the North Carolina National Conference of Black Lawyers. Through this work, I have remained committed to expanding access to justice and serving communities in need.
What endorsements from any notable North Carolina organizations or people have you received?
Black Political Caucus
Charlotte Muslim Caucus
Charlotte-Metrolina Labor and Council, and
An excellent rating from the LGBTQ+ Democrats of Mecklenburg County.
How long have you lived in the region/district where you are running for office?
9 years
Tell us something unexpected about yourself that voters may be interested to know.
Service is my passion. I served as a child missionary with my parents in South Africa for eight years, where my commitment to helping others first began. That early experience shaped my dedication to service and continues to guide my work in the law and in the community.
Questionnaire from Path to Permanency (a nonprofit supporting children in foster care)
What is the extent of your professional and/or personal experience handling child welfare cases?
During law school, I served as a Guardian ad Litem and have since represented parents in abuse and neglect court.
What specific actions will you take as a district court judge to reduce the length of foster care cases and ensure children achieve permanency within federally recommended timeframes?
As a district court judge, I will actively manage foster care cases to prevent unnecessary delays and keep children on a path to timely permanency. I will enforce statutory timelines, limit continuances to good cause, and ensure that every hearing moves the case forward. Having served as a Guardian ad Litem during law school and represented parents in abuse and neglect court, I understand how delays harm children and families. I will focus early on identifying barriers to reunification or permanency, require clear and realistic case plans, and ensure timely entry of orders so progress is not stalled. My priority will always be protecting due process while keeping the child’s sense of time at the center of every decision.
How familiar are you with the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) timelines, and how will you ensure accountability among the court, parent defenders, and child welfare agencies in meeting those time limits while also engaging with community resources and NCJFCJ-supported initiatives—such as frequent family time and family finding—to improve permanency outcomes for foster children?
I am familiar with ASFA timelines and the court’s role in ensuring foster care cases move toward timely, safe permanency. As a district court judge, I would actively manage these cases, limit continuances to good cause, and hold the court, attorneys, and child welfare agencies accountable through clear expectations and timely orders.
How do you view the role of a district court judge in ensuring timely permanency for children in foster care within Mecklenburg County's child welfare system?
I view the district court judge as the central point of accountability in ensuring timely permanency for children in foster care. The judge sets expectations, enforces statutory timelines, and ensures that every hearing moves the case toward a safe and permanent outcome. In Mecklenburg County, that means actively managing cases, limiting unnecessary continuances, requiring clear and realistic case plans, and ensuring timely entry of orders so progress is not stalled.