Buncombe, Asheville full list of primary candidates 2026

Courtney Virginia Booth was born in West Virginia. She attended Salem college and has a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. 

Courtney is an assistant public defender. She works at the Buncombe County Public Defender's Office, where she has been for 17 years.

Courtney is an assistant public defender at the Buncombe County Public Defender's Office.

Courtney Virginia Booth's campaign for North Carolina District Attorney, District 40 is her first entry into politics.

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Courtney ran for North Carolina's District 40 District Attorney seat in 2022, but lost.

Has worked as an assistant public defender for 20 years.

- Has worked as an assistant public defender for 20 years.

Legal Experience

Supports alternatives to incarceration for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Supports mental health treatment as an alternative to incarceration.

Supports protecting immigrant community members from federal immigration enforcement.

Supports prosecuting federal agents who violate local laws.

Opposes mandatory minimum sentencing and habitual felony enhancements for non-violent offenses.

- Opposes seeking the death penalty.
- Supports alternatives to incarceration for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Supports mental health treatment as an alternative to incarceration.
- Supports protecting immigrant community members from federal immigration enforcement.
- Supports prosecuting federal agents who violate local laws.
- Opposes mandatory minimum sentencing and habitual felony enhancements for non-violent offenses.

Public Safety

As of January 2, 2026, Courtney Virginia Booth’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Consumer Protection

Courtney Virginia Booth

Courtney was born in West Virginia. She attended Salem college, and has a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. 

Courtney is an assistant public defender, a career that provides legal counsel and representation to juveniles and criminal defendants who are unable to hire an attorney. She works at the Buncombe County Public Defender's Office, where she has been for around 20 years. 

Courtney Virginia Booth's ran for North Carolina's District 40 District Attorney seat in 2022, but ultimately lost. 

- Courtney has worked as an assistant public defender for around 20 years.

As of January 2, 2026, Courtney Virginia Booth did not have a website or any information online.

Matthew Tomas

Buket Urgen

Katie Kurdys has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and a law degree from Campbell University. She lives in southwest Asheville with her dog, Blue.

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Katie Kurdys announces bid for Buncombe County District Attorney ...

Katie Kurdys has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and a law degree from Campbell University. 

Katie is an assistant district attorney in Buncombe County.

Katie is currently a senior assistant district attorney for the State of North Carolina. Previously, she has worked as an assistant district attorney general for the State of Tennessee Third Judicial District and assistant district attorney for the State of North Carolina.

Katie is currently a Buncombe County prosecutor.

Katie Kurdys' campaign for  District Attorney in Prosecutorial District 40 is her first run for public office.

As an assistant district attorney, prosecuted cases of murder, rape, and human trafficking.

As an assistant district attorney for eight years, prosecutes cases of murder, rape, and human trafficking.

- As an assistant district attorney for eight years, prosecutes cases of murder, rape, and human trafficking.

Said, "I will work to increase community confidence in our ability to hold perpetrators accountable... I will also lobby county commissioners and legislators to fund effective prevention and intervention programs."

Supports "fund[ing] effective prevention and intervention programs."

Plans to "eliminate the case backlog that harms both survivors and defendants," continue conviction review processes, advocate for appropriate bond conditions, expand diversion and second chances for non-violent offenders and make sure all assistant district attorneys have trauma-based and procedural training.

Plans to "eliminate the case backlog that harms both survivors and defendants," continue conviction review processes, advocate for appropriate bond conditions.

Supports trauma-informed justice, saying that "every person involved or impacted by a violent crime is exposed to psychological trauma."

Supports gun control "to keep guns out of hands of juveniles."

- Supports "fund[ing] effective prevention and intervention programs."
- Plans to "eliminate the case backlog that harms both survivors and defendants," continue conviction review processes, advocate for appropriate bond conditions.
- Supports trauma-informed justice, saying that "every person involved or impacted by a violent crime is exposed to psychological trauma."
- Supports gun control "to keep guns out of hands of juveniles."

As of January 2, 2026, Katie Kurdys’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Katie Kurdys

- As an assistant district attorney, prosecuted cases of murder, rape, and human trafficking.

As of January 2, 2026, Katie Kurdys did not have a website or any information online.

Martin Moore (North Carolina) - Ballotpedia

Martin has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Martin is an attorney and mediator at his own law firm. He previously worked as a public defender in Buncombe County, representing adult and juvenile clients in district and superior courts and supervising new attorneys. He also worked as a litigation attorney at one of Western North Carolina’s largest law firms, handling commercial, employment and land use cases in state, federal and appellate courts.

Buncombe County Commissioner Martin Moore announces ...

Candidate Info - Martin Moore - Wake County Democratic Party

Our Interview with Court of Appeals Candidate Martin Moore - FLIP NC

Martin is an attorney and mediator at his own law firm. He previously worked as a public defender in Buncombe County and as a litigator.

Martin Moore is currently a member of the Buncombe County Commission. He was elected in 2022 and has served one term. He previously ran for Seat 15 judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2024 but did not win.

Served as a public defender in Buncombe County, representing adult and juvenile clients in district and superior courts, and held a supervisory role mentoring new attorneys.

Served as a public defender in Buncombe County, representing adult and juvenile clients in court and also supervising new attorneys.

As a litigator, has both appellate and trial experience in complex civil cases in state and federal courts, and has served as a mediator for employment, real estate, and business disputes, with a background as a public defender.

Worked as an attorney at a firm, handling commercial, employment, and land use cases in court.

- Served as a public defender in Buncombe County, representing adult and juvenile clients in court and also supervising new attorneys.
- Worked as an attorney at a firm, handling commercial, employment, and land use cases in court.

For Candidate Martin Moore on Issue public-safety: Plans to prioritize prosecuting domestic violence and gun crime cases to address violent crime in the community.

Plans to prioritize prosecuting domestic violence and gun violence.

Plans to build trust in the  community by "engag[ing] directly with residents, faith leaders, and grassroots organizations" and "build[ing] meaningful relationships with local law enforcement.".

Supports reducing racial disparities "in charging, plea offers, and sentencing".

Wants to utilize diversion programs to keep non-violent offenders out of jail and in treatment programs.

- Plans to prioritize prosecuting domestic violence and gun violence.
- Plans to build trust in the  community by "engag[ing] directly with residents, faith leaders, and grassroots organizations" and "build[ing] meaningful relationships with local law enforcement.".
- Supports reducing racial disparities "in charging, plea offers, and sentencing".
- Wants to utilize diversion programs to keep non-violent offenders out of jail and in treatment programs.

As of January 2, 2026, Martin Moore’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Martin Moore

Martin is an attorney and mediator at his own law firm. He previously worked as a public defender in Buncombe County and a litigator.

- Served as a public defender in Buncombe County, representing adult and juvenile clients in district and superior courts and also supervising new attorneys.
- Worked as a litigation attorney at one of Western North Carolina’s largest law firms, handling commercial, employment and land use cases in state, federal and appellate courts. 

- Worked as a litigation attorney at one of Western North Carolina’s largest law firms, handling commercial, employment and land use cases in state, federal and appellate courts. 

- Plans to prioritize prosecuting domestic violence and gun violence.

As of January 2, 2026, Martin Moore did not have a website or any information online.

- The district attorney prosecutes all criminal cases filed in District and Superior Courts.
- They advise local law enforcement on which cases to pursue and how to collect proper evidence for those cases.
- The district attorney may institute court proceedings on behalf of the State, its agencies, or its citizens in any and all public interest matters. This means they play an important role in keeping the public safe.
The district attorney is elected for a four-year term in partisan elections. 

North Carolina District Attorney, District 40, Democratic Primary

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