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North Carolina Republican state Rep. Sarah Stevens said she will step down from the legislature next week to focus on her bid to unseat Democratic Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls.
Stevens submitted her resignation to the House Clerk’s Office on Tuesday, listing her last day in office as June 16. GOP leaders in Surry and Wilkes counties will select a replacement to serve out the remainder of her term this year.
“I leave the legislature with tremendous respect for the institution and confidence in its future,” Stevens wrote.
Her resignation comes as lawmakers aim to reach a budget deal next week. Once Republicans choose a replacement, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein will have a week to sign off on it, a largely procedural step. Dan Kiger, a retired Highway Patrol trooper, is the favorite to win the Republican-friendly seat in the November election.
Stevens, a Mount Airy native, has been a licensed attorney in North Carolina since 1986, specializing in family law.
Since joining the legislature in 2009, she’s climbed up the GOP ranks, serving as the second-highest ranking Republican from 2017 to 2024. After leaving leadership, she has chaired a judiciary committee and election law committee, where she has an outsize role in shaping voting laws and changes to the state’s court system.
Stevens was diagnosed with breast cancer two decades ago and again in August 2023. In March 2024, she completed her treatment.
In her letter, Stevens cited her race against Earls as her motivation for leaving the General Assembly. While it’s not uncommon for lawmakers to step down in the middle of a legislative session to pursue other opportunities, legislators have often held onto their positions while running for higher office.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to devote my full time and energy to my campaign for the North Carolina Supreme Court,” she wrote. “I believe this next step will allow me to continue serving the people of North Carolina and upholding the rule of law in a new capacity.”
