Justice Anita Earls Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Will Remain in N.C. Supreme Court Race

Overview

• Earls said a routine mammogram caught the cancer early, she had surgery over the holidays, and further treatment is scheduled this month with a positive prognosis.
• Earls emphasized she will continue serving on the North Carolina Supreme Court and maintain an active campaign during treatment.
• She is one of two Democrats on the seven‑member court, which currently has a 5-2 Republican majority.
• Republican state Rep. Sarah Stevens, who filed in late 2025, is expected to face Earls in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election, with no primaries for either candidate and a primary date set for March 3.
• The race is viewed as pivotal because a Stevens win would leave Democrats needing to sweep three Republican-held seats in 2028 to regain a 4-3 court majority.