Politics

Magistrate Abe Hudson wins close judge race

By Amy McCraw, Published: May 18, 2022

In a close race for a new district court judge seat, Magistrate Abe Hudson appears to have prevailed over Assistant District Attorney Jason R. Hayes.

“It’s a great honor the people in the three counties placed in me and I don’t take it lightly,” Hudson said shortly after Hayes called him to concede the election.
With all 57 precincts reporting, Hudson earned 11,709 votes or 51.33 percent to Hayes’ 11,101 votes or 48.67 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results.
Hudson will not face a challenger in the general election.
He said he planned to continue working as a magistrate for the next several months before taking office. Hudson also plans to use the time before taking office to begin the process of adapting to the job of a district court judge. Hudson said he hopes to work with some sitting judges in the district to begin the learning process.
In its 2021 session, the state legislature created a new District Court judgeship for the District 29B, which includes Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.
Hudson, 42, currently serves as a magistrate in Henderson County. He has also worked as an attorney in Wake and Mecklenburg counties. Hudson also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Hudson and his wife, Jessica, have three young daughters, Violet, Iris and Aster. They live in Etowah.
Hayes, 49, is the supervising Assistant District Attorney in Transylvania and Polk counties.