RALEIGH, N.C. – In an early release of the statewide June Civitas Poll, results indicate the gap in the Supreme Court race is continuing to close. Attorney Anita Earls is now tied with Justice Barbara Jackson, the incumbent. Thirty-five percent of likely voters have stated they will vote for Earls, endorsed by the Democratic Party. Justice Barbara Jackson, the incumbent who was recently endorsed by the Republican party, has also garnered 35 percent of likely voter support. The May Civitas Poll found Jackson with a 5 point lead over Earls.
In this election year, all judicial races are partisan.
Perhaps most surprising was the increase in undecided voters, which went from 18% in the February Civitas Poll to 29% in June.
“This race has tightened dramatically since the beginning of the year,” said Civitas President Donald Bryson. “The summer will be a critical time for both campaigns and political parties to activate on this race, which could seal power for a progressive majority on the state’s highest court.”
The exact text of the poll, which was in the field June 7 and 9-10, reads:
If the election for North Carolina Supreme Court were being held today and you had to make a choice, for whom would you vote? Barbara Jackson, the Republican, or Anita Earls, the Democrat?
35% Barbara Jackson
35% Anita Earls
29% Undecided
1% Refused
Since Civitas began polling this race, Justice Barbara Jackson’s favorability has declined by 8 points, whereas Anita Earls has climbed 4 points. The number of undecided voters has seen the largest increase, moving from 18 percent in February to 29 percent in June.
2/18 5/18 6/18
43% 41% 35% Barbara Jackson
31% 36% 35% Anita Earls
18% 22% 29% Undecided
3% 1% 1% Refused
Complete crosstabs for this question can be found here.
This poll surveyed 600 likely 2018 voters (35% cell phones) with a margin of error of +/- 4.00%.
Founded in 2005, the Civitas Institute is a Raleigh, NC-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization that fights to remove barriers to freedom so that all North Carolinians can enjoy a better life.
