SALISBURY — A number of judges have filed with the State Board of Elections to retain their seats in the November elections, according to filing records.

Filing for the partisan races began June 18 and ends at noon Friday.

District Court Judges Beth Dixon, Kevin Eddinger and James Randolph had all filed for re-election as of Monday as well as Superior Court Judge Anna Mills Wagoner.

Officials with the Rowan County Board of Elections say District Court Judge Charlie Brown has indicated he plans to file this week as well.

Judicial officials must file to run for their seats in Raleigh.

No candidates have yet filed to run against the incumbents.

The N.C. General Assembly voted last fall to eliminate primaries for the more than 150 District Court and Superior Court seats, three seats on the Court of Appeals and one on the Supreme Court, the Associated Press has reported.

Republican leaders said the one-time cancellation would reduce confusion as lawmakers debate whether to redraw judicial districts or change how judges are chosen.

The law, which withstood a challenge by Democratic groups in court, says the top vote-getters will win each race, eliminating the need for majority support. Democrats contend that Republicans canceled the primaries to help GOP judicial candidates withstand a Democratic wave this fall by turning each race into a free-for-all.