ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Senior Assistant District Attorney Katie Kurdys announced Wednesday that she will run for Buncombe County District Attorney in 2026, pledging to bring a trauma-informed approach to prosecution and to eliminate the office’s case backlog.

Kurdys, a Democrat, has served as a prosecutor for more than a decade, including eight years in Buncombe County. She has handled hundreds of high-level felony cases, including murder, rape and human trafficking, and has secured multiple convictions in jury trials on first- and second-degree murder and first-degree rape.

“This is about delivering justice with skill and compassion,” Kurdys said in a statement. “Our community deserves a district attorney who understands the complexities of trauma, has the courtroom and criminal law experience to handle our most difficult cases, and the vision to make our criminal justice system work better for everyone.”

A graduate of the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, Kurdys has also worked as a civil defense attorney and in district attorney offices across four jurisdictions. She says her experience has given her insight into needed reforms, including expanding diversion programs for non-violent offenders and providing trauma-based training for all assistant district attorneys.

Her work has earned recognition from the Asheville Police Department, which awarded her a Unit Citation for her role in the Missing Person and Welfare Check Initiative launched after Hurricane Helene in 2024. Officials credit the program with saving seven lives.

Survivors have also credited Kurdys with reviving stalled cases. In one 2022 cold-case rape investigation, she found a DNA match, pursued charges and secured a plea agreement on multiple offenses, according to the survivor, who asked not to be named.

“Katie Kurdys got justice for me when others had given up,” the survivor said. “Katie re-read the investigatory file and found that there was a DNA match. Then she talked to me and told me she was going to get justice for me, and she did. Her resolve in getting justice for myself and my kids reignited my hope in the justice system.”

The offender entered into a negotiated plea on charges of rape, battery of an unborn child and intimidating a witness.

“To me, this is how I fulfill the oath I took to ensure the fair and impartial application of the law and to protect the rights of individuals,” Kurdys said.

Kurdys said she will prioritize addressing juvenile gun violence, improving victim input in plea deals and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to address child abuse and sexual violence. She also plans to lobby local and state leaders for prevention and intervention programs.

Her platform, she says, emphasizes the victim’s role in plea negotiations. Her decade of prosecutorial experience includes specialized training in investigating and prosecuting high-level violent crimes, including homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence and gang violence, as well as in drug trafficking, vehicular homicide and white-collar crimes.

Before becoming a lawyer, Kurdys worked her way up to executive chef in multimillion-dollar restaurants by age 25, managing teams of 50. She lives in southwest Asheville with her dog, Blue, and is active with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina.

The Democratic primary is set for March 3, 2026. Kurdys said she will hold community listening sessions this fall. More information is available here.