The results for North Carolina’s 2024 primary election are in. Voters took the polls Tuesday to cast their final ballots for which party candidates they wanted to see proceed to the general elections in November.
North Carolina holds semi-closed primaries, which means that citizens can only vote in the primaries associated with their registered political parties. Individuals previously unaffiliated with a party can choose which primary to participate in.
If no candidate receives at least 30% of the vote, a runoff election can be requested in writing.
North Carolina held primary elections on the same day as 14 other states, a day known as “Super Tuesday” where 36% of Republican delegates for the presidential primary were at stake.
The polls closed at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and with 99.32% precincts reporting, here is how the votes tallied up for North Carolina’s statewide candidates, as well as candidates running for local Durham offices with all county precincts reporting:
Joseph Biden (D) and Donald Trump (R) win presidential primaries
Incumbent President Joseph Biden, who faced no opposition on the state’s ballot, won the Democratic primary with 87.32% of the vote. Biden faced a campaign to vote “No Preference” in protest of his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, earning “No Preference” 12.68% of the vote. The Associated Press called the race at 7:38 p.m.
Former President Donald Trump also swept the Republican primary as expected with 73.81% of the vote. Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador and former governor of South Carolina, won 23.37% of the vote. The Associated Press called the race at 8 p.m.
“No Preference” had the highest vote share for the Libertarian Party presidential primary at 40.47%. Chase Oliver had the second highest with 13.32% among 10 total candidates in the field.
Haley is the remaining sole challenger to Trump for the Republican nomination, after other major candidates including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out following the Iowa caucus in January. Biden and Trump’s likely victory in their respective presidential primaries sets the country up for a rematch of the 2020 presidential election.
In the days leading up to Tuesday’s elections, both Trump and Haley visited the state. Trump held a “Get Out The Vote Rally” in Greensboro on Saturday afternoon, speaking about his campaign priorities and touting his record as president. Haley stopped by Charlotte on Friday and spoke in Raleigh on Saturday, speaking at the latter about her policy platform and criticizing Trump on a variety of topics.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who the Biden campaign is using to help mobilize voters, visited Durham on Friday to discuss economic growth on Black Wall Street and announce $32 million in funding for historically underserved small businesses in the state. Her visit was met by pro-Palestinian protestors who decried Harris and Biden’s policies in Gaza, charging them with “complicity in genocide.”
Josh Stein (D), Mark Robinson (R) and Mike Ross (L) win gubernatorial primaries
Two of North Carolina’s top government officials will be facing off this November for the state’s highest office. Attorney General Josh Stein won the Democratic primary for governor with 69.66%, while Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson won the Republican primary for governor with 64.81%. The Associated Press called the races at 8:02 p.m. and 8:01 p.m, respectively.
In the Democratic primary, Michael Morgan, Trinity ‘76 and former associate justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, trailed Stein with 14.30% of the vote. Chrelle Booker had 6.67%, Marcus Williams had 5.69% and Gary Foxx had 3.67%.
In the Republican primary, NC State Treasurer Dale Folwell and lawyer Bill Graham won 19.20% and 15.99% of the vote, respectively.
Mike Ross won the Libertarian gubernatorial primary with 59.42% of the vote. He defeated Shannon Bray, who had 40.58% of the vote and was previously the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022.
Stein ran on a platform focused on defending reproductive rights, enacting gun safety reform, defending children’s rights for an adequate public education and raising the minimum wage. He was endorsed by NC Gov. Roy Cooper, noting that “he’s driven by a steadfast commitment to the people of our great state, [which is] why he’ll work to invest in students and public schools, quality health care for hardworking people, and better jobs that make life more affordable for the middle class.”
Robinson’s platform is centered on education, hoping to inform parents on their children’s curricula, expand apprenticeship programs and ensure school safety. Robinson has recently come under fire for homophobic statements, in which he stated that the LGBTQ+ community conflicted with his Christian faith. Robinson has also drawn criticism for previous antisemitic comments.
Rachel Hunt (D) and Hal Weatherman (R) win lieutenant gubernatorial primaries
State Sen. Rachel Hunt won the Democratic primary for the state’s second-highest office with 70.41% of the vote. Her father, Jim Hunt, was a former lieutenant governor himself and the longest-serving governor in the state’s history.
Ben Clark won 16.44%. Mark H. Robinson, not to be confused with current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, won 13.15% of the vote.
Hal Weatherman, who was chief of staff to former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, won the Republican primary for his former boss’s position with 19.61% of the vote.
11 candidates were vying to be the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. Only Jim O’Neill (15.86%), Deanna Ballard (14.99%), Seth Woodall (11.02%) and Sam Page (10.26%) surpassed double digits.
Jeff Jackson (D) wins NC attorney general primary, Dan Bishop (R) unopposed
North Carolina will have the choice between two congressmen to be their next N.C. attorney general, a pivotal office that heads the state’s Department of Justice and represents state agencies in legal matters.
U.S. Rep Jeff Jackson, a former state senator widely known for his large social media following, won a tight race for the Democratic nomination against Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry. Jackson won 54.89% of the vote, while Deberry took 33.07%. Tim Dunn trailed with 12.04% of the vote.
The Democratic primary attracted media attention after it was revealed that a Washington-based super PAC that appeared to have ties to Republicans was spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to boost Deberry’s campaign. Jackson called the scheme a “mass deception operation,” while Deberry said to “not be distracted.”
Because no one ran against U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop for the Republican nomination, the GOP primary for the office was canceled. A former state senator and state representative, Bishop was the lead author of North Carolina’s controversial “bathroom bill” which prohibited transgender people from using public restrooms other than those of their biological sex. In Congress, he is a member of the Freedom Caucus.
Eric Blankenburg (R) wins House NC-04 primary, Valerie Foushee (D) unopposed
Technology consultant Eric Blankenburg defeated Mahesh Ganorkar in the Republican primary to represent North Carolina’s 4th district, which includes Durham, in Congress. Blankenburg won 70.41% of the vote, while Ganorkar trailed with 29.59%. The Associated Press called the race at 10:10 p.m.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee will be the Democratic nominee. The primary was canceled as she ran unopposed. In December, Foushee signed a letter to Biden calling for a bilateral ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Guy Mueilleur, a board-certified master arborist and former three-time candidate for N.C. House, will be the Libertarian nominee after the primary was canceled due to lack of opposition. Mueilleur was previously an instructor at Duke.
Other statewide elections
NC Commissioner of Insurance Democratic Primary: Natasha Marcus
Natasha Marcus: 77.63%
David Wheeler: 22.37%
NC Commissioner of Insurance Republican Primary: Mike Causey
Mike Causey: 60.49%
Andrew Marcus: 21.95%
C. Robert Brawley: 17.56%
NC Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary: Mo Green
Mo Green: 65.93%
C.R. Katie Eddings: 24.84%
Kenon Crumble: 9.23%
NC Superintendent of Public Instruction Republican Primary: Michele Morrow
Michele Morrow: 52.05%
Catherine Truitt: 47.95%
NC Treasurer Democratic Primary: Wesley Harris
Wesley Harris:: 66.64%
Gabe Esparaza: 33.36%
NC Treasurer Republican Primary: Brad Briner
Brad Briner: 39.99%
Rachel Johnson: 34.58%
A.J. Daoud: 25.43%
NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 6 Democratic Primary: Allison Riggs
Allison Riggs: 69.11%
Lora Cubbage: 30.89%
NC Auditor Republican Primary: Jack Clark (run-off eligible)
Jack Clark: 23.28%
Dave Boliek: 22.16%
Charles Dingee: 18.53%
Jeff Tarte: 14.97%
Tony Street: 11.18%
Jim Kee: 9.88%
NC Commissioner of Agriculture Republican Primary: Steve Troxler
Steve Troxier: 69.22%
Bear Hammonds: 30.78%
NC Commissioner of Labor Republican Primary: Luke Farley
Luke Farley: 36.82%
Jon Hardister: 28.13%
Chuck Stanley: 21.62%
Travis Wilson: 13.42%
NC Secretary of State Republican Primary: Chad Brown
Chad Brown: 43.22%
Christine Villaverde: 30.00%
Jesse Thomas: 26.78%
Local Durham elections
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 15 Republican Primary: Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman: 62.31%
Hunter Murphy: 37.69%
NC State Senate District 22 Democratic Primary: Sophia Chitlik
Sophia Chitlik: 57.55%
Mike Woodard: 42.45%
Durham County Board of Commissioners Democratic Primary: Wendy Jacobs, Nida Allam, Michelle Burton, Mike Lee, Stephen Valentine
Wendy Jacobs: 15.23%
Nida Allam: 14.17%
Michelle Burton: 13.32%
Mike Lee: 13.12%
Stephen Valentine: 9.55%
Brenda Howerton: 9.09%
Nimasheena Burns: 7.80%
Jovonia Lewis: 7.33%
Frederick Davis: 7.02%
Renee Vaughan: 2.31%
Daryl Payton: 1.06%
Durham County Board of Education At-Large Nonpartisan Primary: Joy Harrell
Joy Harrell: 88.33%
Atrayus Goode: 10.56%
Write-In (Miscellaneous): 1.11%
Durham County Board of Education Consolidated District A Nonpartisan Primary: Wendell Tabb
Wendell Tabb: 98.68%
Write-In (Miscellaneous): 1.32%
Durham County Board of Education Consolidated District B Nonpartisan Primary:
Millicent Rogers: 96.43%
Write-In (Miscellaneous): 3.57%
Durham County Board of Education District 03:
Jessica Carda-Auten: 98.20%
Write-In (Miscellaneous): 1.80%
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Jazper Lu is a Trinity senior and centennial/elections editor for The Chronicle's 120th volume. He was previously managing editor for Volume 119.