The terms of two North Carolina Supreme Court justices, Robin Hudson (D) and Sam Ervin (D) are ending on December 31, 2022. For Seat 3, Lucy Inman (D) and Richard Dietz (R) will compete in a partisan general election on November 8, 2022. For Seat 5, three candidates, Trey Allen, Victoria Prince, and April Wood, competed in a Republican primary on May 17, 2022. Trey Allen, the winner of the Republican primary, will challenge incumbent Sam Ervin (D) in a partisan general election on November 8, 2022.
Kantar Media/CMAG: Estimated Total TV Spending: $3,026,750*
- Estimated spending by Trey Allen: $482,300
- Estimated spending by Lucy Inman: $822,990
- Estimated spending by Richard Dietz: $395,890
- Estimated spending by Stop Liberal Judges: $593,920
- Estimated spending by Sam Ervin: $291,200
- Estimated spending by North Carolina Families First: $264,580
- Estimated spending by North Carolina Chamber: $175,870
*Spending figures last updated November 7, 2022.
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October 30 – NC Ervin Warning
In this ad, a woman says, “Warning: ads claiming Justice Sam J. Ervin is soft on crime are grossly misleading. This distortion is far from the truth.”
Sponsor: Sam Ervin
Estimated Spending: $42,050
October 29 – NC NCFF 26 Years
In this ad, a voiceover says, “Justice Lucy Inman and Sam Ervin: 26 years of experience on the bench. Endorsed by law enforcement leaders and Republicans and Democrats alike.”
Sponsor: North Carolina Families First
Estimated Spending: $69,310
October 28 – NC Inman Open Seat
In this ad, Lucy Inman says, “There’s an open seat on North Carolina’s Supreme Court, and whoever fills it could be asked serious questions about personal freedoms. Like will women be allowed to buy contraceptives? Will our elections be free and fair? And will it be a crime for women to get abortions even in cases of rape or incest?”
Sponsor: Lucy Inman
Estimated Spending: $227,130
October 21 – NC Ervin Experience
In this ad, a voter says, “when Trey Allen uses the word conservative, it sounds to me like he has a political agenda. That’s something our courts shouldn’t have. I want someone with experience, someone like Sam Ervin who has more than ta decade of experience on the bench.”
Sponsor: Sam Ervin
Estimated Spending: $73,590
October 19 – NC Chamber Our Job
In this ad, a sheriff says, “Dietz and Allen get it. They don’t want to let criminals off easy.”
Sponsor: North Carolina Chamber
Estimated Spending: $175,870
October 18 – NC SLJ Up at Night
In this ad, a woman says, “a tough bipartisan law required lifetime GPS monitoring of these sexual predators, but judges Sam Ervin and Lucy Inman sided with the rapists and struck down the requirement.”
Sponsor: Stop Liberal Judges
Estimated Spending: $531,570
October 11 – NC Inman Colon
In this ad, Colon Willoughby, former Wake County District Attorney, says, “She’s fair, she’s independent, and most importantly she’ll always follow the law. So I hope you will join me in voting for Judge Lucy Inman.”
Sponsor: Lucy Inman
Estimated Spending: $258,430
October 11 – NC NCFF Personal Freedoms
In this ad, a voiceover says, “Our state supreme court should protect our personal freedoms. But that’s no guarantee with Richard Dietz and Trey Allen. Their extreme views could allow lawmakers to criminalize abortions, forcing women and girls to give birth.”
Sponsor: North Carolina Families First
Estimated Spending: $195,270
October 10 – NC Ervin Philosophy
In this ad, Sam Ervin says, “My judicial philosophy’s pretty simple. I start every case the same way: with a blank sheet of paper.”
Sponsor: Sam Ervin
Estimated Spending: $175,560
October 10 – NC SLJ Breaking News
In this ad, a voiceover says, “Democrat judges Inman and Ervin: not protecting our children” while text on the screen reads “DEMOCRAT JUDGES GIVE RAPISTS COURT WIN”
Sponsor: Stop Liberal Judges
Estimated Spending: $62,350
October 5 – NC Allen Integrity
This ad calls Trey Allen “the voice we need to protect our rights on the North Carolina Supreme Court."
Sponsor: Trey Allen
Estimated Spending: $303,080
September 28 – NC Dietz Difference
In this ad, a voiceover says, “Richard is one of our most accomplished judges, and we can all count on him to protect our constitutional rights.”
Sponsor: Richard Dietz
Estimated Spending: $395,890
September 27 – NC Inman Hats
In this ad, Lucy Inman says, “I was a lawyer for 18 years. I’ve presided in North Carolina courtrooms for over a decade. And through it all, I followed the law and ruled independently.”
Sponsor: Lucy Inman
Estimated Spending: $337,430
April 20 – NC Allen Service to our Country 15
This ad calls Trey Allen “the conservative leader we need for our Supreme Court” and points out that he served as a Marine and General Counsel for North Carolina courts.
Sponsor: Trey Allen
Estimated Spending: $179,220
