Cabarrus County voters will see a familiar name on the ballot for District Court judge, but the votes will count for someone new.

The Cabarrus County Republican Party appointed Jennifer Taylor, the county's chief assistant district attorney, as its nominee for District Court Judge, District 25, Seat 4. The party's executive committee voted Monday, Oct. 26, to place Taylor on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, filling the vacancy left by Judge Brent Cloninger's death, according to a press release the party posted on Facebook.

The Cabarrus Compass first reported the appointment.

Cloninger, a Cabarrus County native first elected to the bench in 2010, died Oct. 18 at age 62. He had been reelected three times and was a sitting District 25 judge at the time of his death, according to his obituary published in the Independent Tribune.

Because ballots have already been printed, Cloninger's name will still appear. Under North Carolina General Statute § 163-165.3, votes cast for Cloninger will count for Taylor when the State Board of Elections certifies the results at the state canvass on Nov. 24, the party's press release stated.

Who is Jennifer Taylor?

Taylor has worked at the Cabarrus County District Attorney's Office for 15 years, according to the party's press release. She supervises 20 to 25 attorneys and staff, manages a caseload of more than 500 cases and oversees prosecutions involving homicides, violent offenses and financial crimes.

She also serves on the Cabarrus County Human Trafficking Task Force and the Project Safe Neighborhoods Executive Board, the release stated.

Cabarrus County Republican Chairman Jim Quick said the decision came after multiple attorneys expressed interest in the seat. Quick said in the press release that the committee was "honored to nominate Jennifer Taylor as the best qualified to serve our community as the next Cabarrus County District Court Judge."

Taylor said in the release that she looks forward to serving as a judge after 15 years as a prosecutor.

What voters need to know

Cloninger's current term ends Dec. 31. The winner of the Nov. 3 election would begin a new term in January 2027. Gov. Stein may separately appoint a judge to serve out the remainder of Cloninger's current term if the Cabarrus County Bar Association submits recommendations, the party's release stated.

Early voting in North Carolina runs through Saturday, Oct. 31. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.