In three of the four races, incumbents were re-elected to their seats, but incumbent Court of Appeals Judge Cressie Thigpen (who had never been elected but rather was appointed to fill a vacancy on the court) was defeated by Chris Dillon.
N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Sam J. Ervin IV challenged Newby in the general election.
[2] Newby won his second eight-year term on the North Carolina Supreme Court by taking 51.9 percent of the vote and defeating Ervin.
[6] Justice at Stake estimated that total spending by Newby, Ervin, and outside groups in this contest surpassed $4.4 million, breaking North Carolina records for spending in judicial elections.
He was challenged by attorney/bank executive Chris Dillon, who ran for a seat on the Court of Appeals in 2010.