(The Center Square) – Incumbent Democratic Justice Anita Earls has won a second eight-year term to the North Carolina Supreme Court, turning back Republican former state Rep. Sarah Stevens.

With all precincts in, Earls won 58.9%-41.2%. Democrats had won just 10 of 42 statewide races this decade before Tuesday. They also won three state Court of Appeals races.

Earls, who shared in January a breast cancer diagnosis and for which she had surgery during the holidays, has held a significant fundraising edge throughout the campaign. Polling was roughly even until the final month when Earls gained separation.

Earls, a Seattle native now living in Durham, was a founder of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice before winning election to the Supreme Court in 2018. Stevens, of Mount Airy, resigned from the North Carolina House of Representatives effective June 16 to focus on her campaign, having served District 90’s Surry and Wilkes counties in the northwestern region of the state along the Virginia border.

Earls, in rulings, is active in the protection of civil rights and systemic equity. She defends constitutional rights.

Stevens, a family law attorney by trade with 17 years in the House, is billed as applying the law neutrally as written.

The race was pivotal to shape the 2028 ballot. Republicans are in five of seven seats, and the ballot in two years will have the chief justice seat and seats 2 and 4. Occupying those spots, respectively, are Republicans Paul Newby, Phil Berger Jr. and Tamara Barringer.

Berger plans to finish his term, then seek the chief justice seat Newby will have to vacate because of mandatory retirement age.

With Earls’ win, Democrats need two of three wins rather than a sweep in 2028 to gain a 4-3 majority. Justice Allison Riggs, winner 184 days after Election Day in 2024, is the other Democrat on the bench.

It was just eight years ago when Democrat Michael Morgan's win turned the Supreme Court majority to Democrats 4-3 just as former Gov. Roy Cooper stepped into the governor’s office. The courtroom was called upon several times when the Democrat disagreed with a General Assembly sporting GOP majority in each chamber.

Democrats held a 6-1 edge going into the 2020 election. In that one Democrats lost all three state Supreme Court races – Newby won one to elevate to chief justice, and Barringer and Berger joined the court. Democrats' advantage was still 4-3.

In 2022, Republicans won both races to gain a 5-2 majority.

In the Court of Appeals races:

• Seat 1: Democrat John Arrowood defeated Republican Michael Byrne 56.8%-43.2%.

• Seat 2: Democrat Toby Sampson defeated Republican George Bell 56.8%-43.2%.

• Seat 3: Democrat Christine Marie Walczyk defeated Republican Craig Collins 57.1%-42.9%.