Rhonda L. Patterson-Wrighten is running as a Democrat for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 21. The seat covers Mecklenburg County, which includes Ballantyne.

Patterson-Wrighten has held the seat since January 2023, according to Ballotpedia. She is certified for the ballot in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Office sought: North Carolina District Court Judge, District 26, Seat 21
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in communication studies and romance languages, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2003); juris doctor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2006)
  • Campaign website: rpattersonforjudge.com

Experience and public service

Patterson-Wrighten began her legal career as an associate at Alston and Bird from 2006 to 2008, according to BallotReady profile data. She then worked as an associate at KL Gates from 2008 to 2011.

She opened The Patterson Law Office, PLLC, in 2011 and is listed as its owner, according to BallotReady. That firm remains active. She also has served as a principal and family law attorney at Offit Kurman & Horack, Talley, Pharr & Lowndes since 2020. She was an adjunct instructor at Johnson C. Smith University from 2014 to 2017.

Patterson-Wrighten lists affiliations with the North Carolina Bar Association, the Mecklenburg County Bar Association, the Council for Children's Rights, A Child's Place, the Leary Bar, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Mecklenburg County District Court Arbitrations Team, the Socrates Academy Board of Directors and the Mecklenburg County Domestic Bench Bar Committee, according to her campaign website.

On the issues

Judicial experience and family law

Patterson-Wrighten said on her campaign website that she has spent the last three years primarily in family and domestic violence courtrooms, both civil and criminal. She said she strives to preside with patience and to make legally sound decisions. She described herself as responsive, saying she manages her caseload and runs an efficient courtroom.

Criminal justice and public safety

Patterson-Wrighten said she holds people accountable when necessary and makes hard decisions in a way that is respectful and promotes positive change, according to her BallotReady candidate response. She also said voters should want a judge who is impartial and considers it a privilege to be in their service.

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026. This profile is based on publicly available information and the candidate's own statements. Patterson-Wrighten did not respond to the Ballantyne Beacon's questionnaire.