Asheville Attorneys Jim Mills, Ben Scales File for Buncombe Judgeship Primary

Two Asheville-based attorneys filed Feb. 25 to run in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for Buncombe County’s newest district court judgeship, according to reporting that identified the candidates as James (Jim) Mills and Ben Scales. Both men are described as longtime local lawyers who say they bring courtroom experience to the contest.

The filings came just six days before the March 3 primary, compressing the window for voters to learn about the candidates and for each campaign to organize outreach across Buncombe County precincts. With ballots set for March 3, the six-day interval between filing and primary is a tight timeline for candidate forums, mailed materials, or voter-targeted advertising within Asheville and the surrounding county.

James (Jim) Mills and Ben Scales enter the race as members of the local legal community. Reporting identifies both men as Asheville attorneys with established practices in Buncombe County; each has framed the campaign around bringing courtroom experience to the new judgeship. No quoted statements from either candidate were provided in the reporting.

The March 3, 2026 Democratic primary will determine the party’s nominee for the county’s newest district court judgeship, a seat added to the Buncombe judiciary roster. The outcome will shape who advances as the Democratic candidate in the contest for the new district court position and will affect the composition of judges handling district court matters in Buncombe County.