Three Democrats Vie to Replace Longtime Wake County District Attorney

The winner of the March 3 Democratic primary is expected to become the next top prosecutor in one of North Carolina's biggest counties.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Democrats Sherita Walton, Wiley Nickel, and Melanie Shekita are campaigning to become the next Wake County district attorney, replacing longtime DA Lorrin Freeman who is not seeking reelection. Whoever wins the March 3 Democratic primary is expected to hold the position, as Democrats heavily outnumber Republicans in the county and there are no registered candidates from other parties.

Why it matters

The next Wake County district attorney will face a number of challenges, including a backlog of nearly 6,000 low-level cases, managing an office of 80 prosecutors that has not grown at the same rate as the county's booming population, and navigating the role of mental health in violent crime cases.

The details

Walton, a former Wake County prosecutor who now works as an attorney for the Raleigh Police Department, is endorsed by the current DA and plans to create a violent crime unit and a mental health court if elected. Shekita, who has spent her entire career in the Wake DA's office, also wants to create a violent crimes task force and work to recruit and retain experienced prosecutors. Nickel, a former U.S. Congressman, says he would approach the job differently, focusing on tackling political corruption and securing more funding and resources for the office.

  • The Democratic primary election will be held on March 3, 2026.
  • The winner of the primary is expected to hold the position of Wake County district attorney.

The players

Sherita Walton

An attorney for the city of Raleigh who is a former assistant district attorney in Wake County and New York. She has the endorsement of the current Wake County district attorney, Lorrin Freeman.

Wiley Nickel

A former U.S. Congressman and state lawmaker who is now a defense lawyer. He is the highest-profile candidate in the race.

Melanie Shekita

An assistant district attorney who has spent almost three decades in the Wake County DA's office. She is endorsed by former Wake County DA Colon Willoughby.

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What they’re saying

“If there is a mental health concern, an issue, we need to make sure we're having resources and recommendations for what that looks like in the courthouse. ... Because ultimately, if we're not dealing with those issues, and people are going to continue to cycle, we have to address the behavior. We cannot always be reactive to what has happened, but we have to address the behavior.”

— Sherita Walton, Attorney for the city of Raleigh (WRAL)

“I've seen this county and this office grow throughout that 27 years. I'm uniquely connected with this community because I have grown up here, moved here in kindergarten, and feel that I know what's best to lead this office forward.”

— Melanie Shekita, Assistant District Attorney (WRAL)

“There's so much on the line right now for our state, for our country. I'm running for Wake County district attorney because the stakes for our community and our democracy have never been higher. This is a campaign about public safety. It's a campaign about tackling political corruption.”

— Wiley Nickel (WRAL)

What’s next

The winner of the March 3 Democratic primary will face no registered Republican or other party candidates in the general election, and is expected to become the next Wake County district attorney.

The takeaway

The race for Wake County district attorney highlights the importance of experienced prosecutors and their ability to address complex issues like mental health, violent crime, and political corruption in one of North Carolina's largest and fastest-growing counties.