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North Carolina primary voters went to the polls Tuesday, March 15, and in the weeks preceding to select their choices for their political parties’ standard bearers in the November general elections for every office from county commissioner and school board to governor and president.
(A separate article examines the presidential election results.)
Attorney General Roy Cooper of Raleigh won the governor’s primary on the Democratic side, earning the chance to challenge Gov. Patrick McCrory of Charlotte, who easily won the Republican primary. Results from Western North Carolina counties were similar to those statewide on each side.
Former state Rep. Deborah K. Ross of Raleigh won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and will face incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of Winston-Salem, who also cruised to an easy victory. WNC voters favored both winners.
Local races were especially fiercely contested, with the possibility of a winner being difficult to determine in a Jackson County school board race and a Graham County commissioners’ race, among others. Those races could be decided after the local boards of elections canvass the results, making final decisions on provision and challenged ballots and reviewing write-in votes that possibly should be awarded to candidates who appeared on the ballot. If the total remains too close after that, a recount could be triggered in some contests.
All available results are noted below, organized by statewide non-judicial offices, judicial offices, federal and state legislative offices and local offices. The location given is each candidate’s postal address by residence, according to voter registration. Candidates have been known to promote different or multiple addresses but can only be registered at one address legally. Each candidate’s party affiliation is also listed, although in the case of nonpartisan offices, those did not appear on the ballot; nonpartisan contests are noted as such.
As results come in, no winner will be declared until it seems apparent that this person will prevail. At that point, an asterisk (*) will appear next to the winning candidate’s name. Vote totals are what has been tabulated so far. Totals may be updated further after a winner is declared, but unless that was done prematurely the results should not change. Some office were not contested in the primary for one or more parties and so are only listed for those cases in which candidates appeared on the March 15 ballot. None of the nonpartisan judicial races affecting WNC had more than two candidates, so none of those are included here.
The form of each candidate’s name that appears is based primarily on their voter registration, but also on the alternative name they may have used on the ballot, which will appear in quotes in most cases, following the pattern of Jonathan “Jon” Q. Public.
Congressional results are not included because the U.S. House of Representatives races included on the March 15 ballot have been voided by court action and new districts have been created. Candidates for a new June 7 congressional primary will begin filing in the next few days. There will also be a June 7 primary for a N.C. Supreme Court seat after a state court invalidated a change to court election procedures that the General Assembly approved last year. As a result, no seats for those offices are included below.
Vote totals with top candidates getting less than 40 percent of the vote, or proportionately less in races where voters pick more than one candidate, would normally trigger a second primary but will not this year. All candidates with a plurality will win due to a rule change made to accommodate the extra congressional primary.
Statewide Non-Judicial Offices
Governor (2709 of 2709 precincts)
Kenneth “Ken” Bridgeforth Spaulding, D-Durham, 319,381 (31.23%)
*Roy Asberry Cooper III, D-Raleigh, 703,141 (68.77%)
Clyde Robert Brawley Jr., R-Mooresville, 112,624 (10.59%)
Charles Kenneth Moss, R-Randleman, 81,315 (7.65%)
*Patrick “Pat” L. McCrory, R-Charlotte (incumbent), 869,114 (81.76%)
Lieutenant Governor (2709 of 2709 precincts)
Diana Holly Jones, D-Asheville, 278,080 (28.76%)
*Linda D. Coleman, D-Knightdale, 494,433 (51.13%)
Robert Earl Wilson, D-Cary, 101,458 (10.49%)
Ronald L. Newton, D-Newton, 93,057 (9.62%)
Secretary of State (2709 of 2709 precincts)
Abraham Joseph “A.J.” Daoud, R-Pilot Mountain, 309,210 (38.43%)
*Michael Salvatore LaPaglia, R-Durham, 495,380 (61.57%)
Attorney General (2375 of 2709 precincts)
*Joshua “Josh” H. Stein, D-Raleigh, 452,405 (54.05%)
Marcus Whittman Williams, D-Lumberton, 384,680 (45.95%)
*Eldon “Buck” Sharpe Newton III, R-Wilson, 448,314 (55.14%)
James “Jim” Roderick O’Neill, R-Winston-Salem, 364,695 (44.86%)
Commissioner of Agriculture (2375 of 2709)
Andrew “Andy” John Stevens, R-Greensboro, 253,576 (30.99%)
*Steven “Steve” Wayne Troxler, R-Browns Summit (incumbent), 564,609 (69.01%)
Commissioner of Insurance (2375 of 2709)
Joseph “Joe” Robert McLaughlin, R-Jacksonville, 241,534 (32.90%)
*John Michael “Mike” Causey, R-Greensboro, 301,841 (41.12%)
Ronald “Ron” Leonard Pierce, R-Charlotte, 190,747 (24.98%)
Commissioner of Labor (2375 of 2709)
*Charles C. Meeker, D-Raleigh, 470,700 (57.14%)
Mazie Butler Ferguson, D-Greensboro, 353,052 (42.86%)
Superintendent of Public Instruction (2375 of 2709)
Henry Junior Pankey, D-Durham, 170,098 (19.92%)
*June St. Clair Atkinson, D-Raleigh (incumbent), 683,860 (80.08%)
Joel Wesley Sills, R-Dunn, 101,914 (13.87%)
*Mark Randall Johnson Jr., R-Winston-Salem, 392,370 (53.14%)
Rosemary Stein, R-Snow Camp, 240,322 (32.71%)
Treasurer (2375 of 2709)
*Daniel “Dan” Terry Blue III, D-Raleigh, 487,199 (58.61%)
Roger Ronal “Ron” Elmer Jr., D-Cary, 344,006 (41.39%)
Connect NC Public Improvement Bond referendum (2145 of 2709 precincts)
*Yes 1,154,123 (65.53%)
No 606,956 (34.47%)
Federal and state legislative offices affecting WNC
U.S. Senate (2709 of 2709 precincts)
Christia “Chris” Virdelle Rey, D-Spring Lake, 160,672 (16.49%)
*Deborah K. Ross, D-Raleigh, 607,764 (62.38%)
Ernest Tyrone Reeves, D-Greenville, 91,718 (9.41%)
Kevin Day Griffin, D-Durham, 114.201 (11.72%)
Gregory J. Brannon, R-Cary, 254,944 (25.15%)
Larry Howard Holmquist, R-Greensboro, 49,981 (4.94%)
Paul Michael Wright, R-Dudley, 85,892 (8.48%)
*Richard Mauze Burr, R-Winston-Salem (incumbent), 621,844 (61.41%)
N.C. Senate District 45 (83 of 83 precincts)
*Deanna Marie Ballard, R-Blowing Rock, 13,426 (52.96%)
Kenneth Arnold Boham, R-Lenoir, 11,923 (47.04%)
N.C. Senate District 47 (73 of 73 precincts)
*Mary Silvers Boyd, D-Marion, 8,892 (60.13%)
Timothy “Tim” Richard Murphy, D-Rutherfordton, 5,896 (39.87%)
N.C. Senate District 48 (62 of 63)
Dennis Grover Justice, R-Fletcher, 2,697 (9.95%)
*Charles “Chuck” Marion Edwards, R-Flat Rock, 15,165 (55.92%)
Lisa Carpenter Baldwin, R-Fletcher, 9,256 (34.13%)
N.C. House District 93 (37 of 37 precincts)
*Jonathan Christian Jordan, R-Crumpler (incumbent), 7,365 (73.95%)
Lewis “Lew” Bevin Hendricks, R-Boone, 2,594 (26.05%)
Ronald “Ronnie” David Marsh, D-Boone, 2,635 (27.18%)
*Percilla Sue Counts, D-Boone, 7,060 (72.82%)
N.C. House District 113 (32 of 32 precincts)
*Cody Hayden Henson, R-Brevard, 72,254 (65.89%)
Coty James Ferguson, R-Brevard, 3,756 (34.11%)
N.C. House District 115 (31 of 31 precincts)
*Frank Hannon Moretz, R-Fairview, 4,816 (58.93%)
Robert “Bob” David Chilmonik, R-Black Mountain, 3,356 (41.07%)
N.C. House District 118 (42 of 42 precincts)
Reese Aulton Steen, D-Mars Hill, 4,282 (41.93%)
*Rhonda Cole Schandevel, D-Canton, 5,930 (58.07%)
N.C. House District 119 (30 of 30 precincts)
Aaron Lee Littlefield, R-Cullowhee, 2,724 (40.87%)
*James Michael “Mike” Clampitt, R-Bryson City, 3,941 (59.13%)
N.C. House District 120 (44 of 44 precincts)
Elliott John Southworth, R-Murphy, 3,550 (26.15%)
*Harold Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, 10,028 (73.85%)
County-level offices
AVERY
County Commissioner (Vote for 3, 19 of 19 precincts)
Drema Darlene Hicks, R-Elk Park, 584 (5.97%)
Glenn Roy Johnson, R-Newland, 1,238 (12.65%)
*Martha Jaynes Hicks, R-Elk Park (incumbent), 1,718 (17.55%)
Maxine Laws, R-Elk Park (incumbent), 1,274 (13.01%)
Robert “Reo” Benjamin Griffith, R-Minneapolis (incumbent), 1,396 (14.26%)
*Samuel Timothy “Tim” Phillips, R-Newland, 1,887 (19.27%)
*Wood “Woodie” Hall Young Jr., R-Newland, 1,693 (17.29%)
County School Board (Nonpartisan, Vote for 3, 19 of 19 precincts)
*John Lemuel Greene Jr., R-Newland (incumbent), 2,888 (31.64%)
*Kathey Ann Aldridge, R-Newland (incumbent), 2,872 (31.47%)
*Richard Keith Tutterow, D-Newland (incumbent), 2,646 (28.99%)
Write-in (Miscellaneous), 721 (7.90%)
BUNCOMBE
Board of Commissioners Chair (80 of 80 precincts)
Chad Nickloas Nesbitt, R-Leicester, 9,634 (39.89%)
*Miranda Vinzant DeBruhl, R-Leicester, 14,515 (60.11%)
County Commissioner, District 1 (41 of 41 precincts)
Gordon Dean Smith, D-Asheville, 8,166 (38.67%)
Isaac Franklin Coleman Jr., D-Asheville, 3,692 (17.48%)
*Jasmine Elizabeth Beach-Ferrara, D-Asheville, 9,259 (43.85%)
County Commissioner, District 2 (31 of 31 precincts)
Jordan Scott Burchette, R-Fairview, 3,631 (42.11%)
*Michael “Mike” Vernon Fryar, R-Fairview (incumbent), 4,991 (57.89%)
Lawrence “Larry” F. Dodson, D-Weaverville, 3,080 (24.38%)
Matthew “Matt” Caswell Kern, D-Asheville, 3,250 (25.81%)
*Nancy Nehls Nelson, D-Weaverville, 4,037 (32.05%)
Scott J. Bissinger, D-Fletcher, Buncombe County, 2,237 (17.76%)
CHEROKEE
Board of Education, District I (Vote for 2, 16 of 16 precincts)
Andrew Deluna, R-Andrews, 933 (13.71%)
*Jeff Edward Tatham, R-Andrews, 2,906 (42.70%)
*Timothy “Tim” Brian West, R-Andrews, 2,966 (43.59%)
Board of Education, District II (16 of 16 precincts)
*Arnold Dean Matthews Jr., R-Murphy, 2,575 (57.55%)
Carlos Rafael Ramos, R-Murphy, 931 (20.81%)
John Jacob Worden, R-Murphy, 968 (21.64%)
CLAY
Commissioner, Countywide (Vote for 3, 9 of 9 precincts)
Dwight Hunter Penland, R-Hayesville, 810 (12.99%)
Eric Lyle Hogsed, R-Warne, 1,009, (16.19%)
James “Bo” Alden Hager, R-Hayesville, 683 (10.96%)
*Randy Nichols, R-Hayesville (incumbent), 1,310 (21.01%)
*Robert “Rob” Christopher Peck, R-Hayesville, 1,339 (21.48%)
*Robert Cline Penland, R-Hayesville, 1,083 (17.37%)
School Board (Vote for 2, 9 of 9 precincts)
*Willie Daniel “Danny” Jones, R-Hayesville, 1,457 (39.34%)
Daryl Moore, R-Hayesville, 811 (21.90%)
*Reba F. Beck, R-Hayesville, 1,436 (38.77%)
GRAHAM
County Commissioner (Vote for 3, 4 of 4 precincts)
With the third- and fourth-place finishers separated by only 4 votes, determining the winner of the third nominee may have to wait until the results are canvassed a week after the election.
*Karen Connie Orr, R-Robbinsville (incumbent), 890 (22.59%)
Dale E. Wiggins, R-Robbinsville, 801 (20.34%)
*Keith Lee Eller, R-Robbinsville (incumbent), 976 (24.78%)
Joey Lynn Cody, R-Robbinsville (incumbent), 805 (20.44%)
Shaun Larry Adams, R-Robbinsville, 467 (11.86%)
County Commissioner (unexpired), (4 of 4 precincts)
*Raymond David Williams Sr., R-Robbinsville (incumbent by appointment), 858 (60.0%)
Tabitha Marie Myler, R-Robbinsville, 572 (40.00%)
School Board (Vote for 3, 4 of 4 precincts)
Scharlene Wesley, D-Robbinsville, 261 (15.69%)
*Darrell Shane Garland, D-Robbinsville, 513 (30.83%)
*Eddie Lee Hollifield, D-Robbinsville, 489 (29.39%)
*James “Jim” Lawrence Hyde, D-Robbinsville, 401 (24.10%)
HAYWOOD
County Commissioner (Vote for 2, 29 of 29 precincts)
Charles Lee Boyd, D-Waynesville, 3,183 (23.56%)
*Robin Greene Black, D-Canton, 3,428 (25.37%)
*Stephen “Steve” Michael Brown, D-Waynesville, 4,680 (34.64%)
Terry Eugene Ramey, D-Clyde, 2,220 (16.43%)
*Brandon Cary Rogers, R-Canton, 4,909 (45.22%)
*Lawrence Kevin Ensley, R-Waynesville (incumbent), 3,714 (34.21%)
Gregory Dewayne Burrell, R-Canton, 2,234 (20.58%)
HENDERSON
No local primary contests
JACKSON
School Board, District 1 (nonpartisan) (14 of 14 precincts)
*Elizabeth King Cooper, D-Whittier (incumbent), 6,844 (98.73%)
Write-in (miscellaneous), 88 (1.27%)
School Board, District 3 (nonpartisan) (14 of 14 precincts)
Given the close finish in this race, declaring a winner may have to wait on canvassing a week after the election.
Rebecca “Becky” Bryson Hester, D-Sylva, 2,430 (32.24%)
Carol Ann Riser DeHart, R-Webster, 2,528 (33.54%)
Wesley “Wes” Adam Jamison, D-Sylva, 2,548 (33.81%)
Write-in (miscellaneous), 31 (0.41%)
MACON
County Commissioner, District 2 (15 of 15 precincts)
*Karl Ellis Gillespie, R-Franklin, 3,151 (56.52%)
Ronald “Ron” Marion Haven, R-Franklin, 2,424 (43.48%)
County Commissioner, District 3 (15 of 15 precincts)
Emmanuel “Manny” W. Carrion, R-Franklin, 1,719 (29.96%)
Gregory Floyd Boyer, R-Franklin, 1,400 (24.40%)
*Paul Clayton Higdon, R-Franklin (incumbent), 2,618 (45.63%)
MADISON
County Commissioner (Vote for 2, 12 of 12 precincts)
Randall “Randy” Bradford, D-Marshall, 1,376 (26.60%)
*Douglas Wayne Brigman, D-Mars Hill (incumbent), 1,713 (33.11%)
*Willa Wyatt, D-Mars Hill, 2,084 (40.29%)
McDOWELL
County Commissioner (Vote for 2, 17 of 17 precincts)
*Barry Edwin McPeters, R-Marion (incumbent), 2,780 (26.46%)
Christopher “Chris” David Allison, R-Marion, 1,073 (10.21%)
Charles Eric Adams, R-Marion, 1,496 (14.24%)
Thomas Franklin “Frank” Dean, R-Marion, 1,307 (12.44%)
*Everett Lynn Greene, R-Marion, 1,785 (16.99%)
Van Randolph “Randy” Hollifield, R-Nebo (incumbent), 1,744 (16.60%)
Thomas Harvey Fleming, R-Marion, 321 (3.06%)
Register of Deeds (17 of 17 precincts)
Lydia Tilley Effler, R-Old Fort, 2,476 (42.48%)
*Tonia Rae Hampton, R-Old Fort (incumbent), 3,353 (57.52%)
MITCHELL
County Commissioner (Vote for 3, 9 of 9 precincts)
*Danny Ray Burleson, R-Spruce Pine, 2,326 (27.56%)
Brian David Honeycutt, R-Spruce Pine, 1,157 (13.71%)
*Jacob Warren Willis, R-Spruce Pine, 1,645 (19.49%)
Elizabeth Kay Ellis Pollard, R-Spruce Pine, 1,224 (14.50%)
*Kenneth “Ken” Wayne Hollifield, R-Spruce Pine (incumbent), 1,502 (17.79%)
James Wesley Vaughn, R-Spruce Pine, 587 (6.95%)
POLK
County Commissioner (Vote for 3, 7 of 7 precincts)
*Penelope “Penny” Jeanne Padgett, D-Mill Spring, 1,556 (29.31%)
*Rhonda Lockhart Lewis, D-Columbus, 1,471 (27.71%)
*Russell Adam Mierop, D-Tryon, 1,187 (22.36%)
Kim Pack, D-?, 1,094 (20.61%)
*Jake Hunter Johnson, R-Saluda, 2,010 (26.24%)
John Dennis Hill, R-Columbus, 1,208 (15.77%)
Joshua “Josh” David Denton, R-Columbus, 1,128 (14.72%)
*Myron Lee Yoder, R-Columbus, 1,568 (20.47%)
*Tommy Walter Melton, R-Columbus, 1,747 (22.80%)
RUTHERFORD
County Commissioner, District 3 (17 of 17 precincts)
*Edwin “Eddie” Baxter Holland, D-Henrietta (incumbent), 2,575 (52.66%)
Jerry Ashley Wease, D-Mooresboro, 2,315 (47.34%)
Register of Deeds
Charles Albert Martell, R-Forest City, 2,661 (37.72%)
*Rachel Jackson Thomas, R-Bostic, 4,394 (62.28%)
SWAIN
County Commissioner (Vote for 2, 5 of 5 precincts)
Boyd Andre Gunter, D-Bryson City, 315 (11.50%)
*David Monteith, D-Bryson City (incumbent), 725 (26.46%)
*Stephen “Steve” Whitley Moon, D-Bryson City (incumbent), 744 (27.15%)
Wayne Henry Dover, D-Bryson City, 449 (16.39%)
David Ralph Anthony, D-Whittier, 507 (18.50%)
TRANSYLVANIA
County Commissioner (Vote for 3, 15 of 15 precincts)
Daniel “Danny” Jerome Hein, R-Brevard, 1,8624 (13.85%)
James David Lorenz, R-Brevard, 1,463 (11.11%)
*Jason Robert Chappell, R-Brevard (incumbent), 3,328, (25.26%)
*Michael “Mike” Stephen Hawkins, R-Brevard (incumbent), 3,256 (25.72%)
*Page Ives Lemel, R-Brevard (incumbent), 3,302 (25.07%)
WATAUGA
No local primaries on the ballot in Watauga County.
YANCEY
Board of Education (nonpartisan) (Vote for 3, 11 of 11 precincts)
Andrew Johnston Gall, U-Burnsville, 865 (5.84%)
*Angela “Angie” Dawn Weatherman, R-Burnsville (incumbent), 2,006 (14.15%)
Anthony Preston Allen, D-Burnsville, 1,127 (7.61%)
William “Bill” Harrison Whiteside Jr., U-Burnsville (incumbent), 1,649 (11.13%)
*Edwin D. Fortner, R-Burnsville, 2,097 (14.15%)
Erica Griffith Edwards, D-Burnsville, 1,947 (13.14%)
Gerald T. Blalock, R-Burnsville, 1,196 (8.07%)
*P. Norbert “Norb” McKinney, U-Burnsville (incumbent), 2,457 (16.58%)
Walter David “Pete” Peterson, D-Burnsville, 1,439 (9.71%)
Write-in (Miscellaneous), 32 (0.22%)
Register of Deeds (11 of 11 precincts)
John Randall “Randy” Ollis, D-Burnsville, 702 (25.13%)
*Susan Erline Jobe, D-Burnsville (incumbent), 2,091 (74.87%)
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