At least 22 Latino candidates have filed to run for local, state, and federal offices in the North Carolina elections on November 3, 2026.
Within this group of candidates, Amalia Mercedes Restucha, the Democratic candidate for district court judge in Wake County, is among them. District 10D, Seat 2.
Mercedes Restucha faces in the November 3 elections to Republican candidate J. Brian Ratledge.
As part of the initiative, 'Your Vote is Power' , Enlace Latino NC We have sent questionnaires to these Latino candidates covering races for the federal House of Representatives, both state houses, district judges, sheriffs, county commissioners, and school boards.
The goal is to provide our readers with information about who they are, why they decided to run, what their priorities are, and what they propose for the communities they seek to represent.
Political affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: electmercedes.com
About Amalia Mercedes Restucha
She is the mother and daughter of Argentine and Uruguayan immigrants who owned a small business.
She attended elementary school in Raleigh and earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism, with a minor in Public Relations, and a second major in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
After several years of working in a United States Congressional office, he obtained his law degree from Central North Carolina University.
She began her legal career in the private sector, practicing in the areas of criminal defense and affirmative immigration. Later, she worked at Disability Rights North Carolina, a nonprofit organization that provides representation to people with disabilities.
She later joined the North Carolina Department of Justice, where she served as an attorney responsible for representing the Division of Child Development and Early Childhood Education. During her time with the department, she participated in criminal justice reform initiatives, represented the Attorney General on the Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic and Latino Affairs and on the North Carolina Financial Education Council. She also practiced law in criminal appeals and consumer protection litigation.
In addition to her professional experience, she has served on the boards of directors of Uniting NC and El Pueblo. She also served on the Raleigh Human Relations Commission and the North Carolina State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Below are the complete questions and answers from the questionnaire conducted by Enlace Latino NC :
Why did you decide to apply for this position, and what are the main experiences or qualities that you believe prepare you to perform it?
I ran for office after spending my entire life in environments where I heard that "we need more people to run for public office."
One day, while representing the Attorney General's office at a statewide meeting of community organizations and leaders, I found myself telling a group of young Latinos that "we need more people to run for office" and to share our experience of growing up in immigrant families.
At that moment, it was like a lightbulb went off. I realized that I had the network of contacts and the resources necessary to apply, and that, given my professional experience, the position of district judge made the most sense.
My professional experience has prepared me for this role. I have represented both plaintiffs and defendants, practiced in both criminal and civil matters, and appeared before all levels of the North Carolina courts. I believe this experience will allow me to bring a fresh perspective and make balanced decisions from the bench.
What do you consider to be the three main issues or challenges that you will have to address in this position and why?
- Lack of education, or incorrect information, about judicial procedures and requirements established by law.
- Incorporate practices that allow me to work as efficiently as possible, taking into account the large number of cases handled by the courts.
- Social injustices that generate economic and legal disadvantages, especially for people who do not have a lawyer or who may be going through mental health difficulties or problems related to substance use.
If elected, what do you hope to achieve during your term in office and how would you evaluate whether your administration was successful?
I hope I can say that all the people who appeared before me were treated with respect and felt heard, even when my decision was not favorable to their position.
I would evaluate the success of my administration based on whether, at the end of this term, people feel I did a good job and re-elect me for the position.
You may be interested: Amalia Mercedes Restucha: Democratic candidate for judge in Wake County for District 10D, Seat 2
The Latino population continues to grow in North Carolina. Given the specific responsibilities of the position you are seeking, how do you plan to address the needs and concerns of Latino communities, including those facing language barriers or limited access to public institutions?
I'm fortunate that my parents understood from the beginning how important it was for me to be bilingual in Spanish and English. At the same time, I recognize that there are many dialects of Spanish and indigenous languages that I won't understand, including those spoken by immigrants from non-Latin American countries.
I would ensure that anyone in my court who needs an interpreter has one before proceeding with any conversation, procedure, or hearing. I would also inform those appearing before me about any free legal aid services that may be available to them if they are pursuing their case without legal representation.
Always within the framework of state and federal laws, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the presence of federal law enforcement officers does not interfere with the administration of justice, so that all people—and especially victims—feel safe when going to court to assert their rights.
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