Hunt romps in Democratic lieutenant governor primary; no GOP candidate hits 30%

Dozens of candidates were vying to run the day-to-day operations of North Carolina -- responsibilities that include oversight of state spending and compliance and administering the state's education system.

Posted 11:45 a.m. Mar 5 — Updated 5:20 a.m. Mar 6

Emily Walkenhorst

, WRAL education reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Republicans Hal Weatherman and Jim O’Neill appeared headed to a runoff in the primary for lieutenant governor Tuesday, while Democrat Rachel Hunt cruised to victory in the Democratic primary.

Fourteen candidates – 11 Republicans and three Democrats – were vying to replace Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who captured the GOP nomination for governor Tuesday.

With more than 99% of precincts reporting, Weatherman led the crowded field with 19.6% of the vote. O’Neill had 15.9% of the vote.

Weatherman is the former chief of staff for former North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and former U.S. Representative Sue Myrick. O’Neill is the Forsyth County district attorney. He was the Republican nominee for attorney general in 2020, losing narrowly to Josh Stein.

Deanna Ballard (15%), Seth Woodall (11%) and Sam Page (10.3%) also received more than 10 percent of the vote. Six other Republicans received less than 9% of the vote.

A candidate must earn more than 30% of primary votes to win the nomination. If no candidate receives more than 30%, the second-place finisher can request a runoff election against the top vote-getter.

Run-off elections take place May 14.

Hunt, the daughter of former Gov. Jim Hunt, earned more than 70% of the vote, easily defeating former North Carolina state Sen. Ben Clark and Mark H. Robinson. Hunt, from Mecklenburg, is currently a state senator.

The role: The lieutenant governor serves as temporary governor when the governor leaves the state. The lieutenant governor also presides over the state senate, chairs the eLearning Commission and sits on the State Board of Education, the North Carolina Capital Planning Commission and the State Board of Community Colleges. While the position has relatively fewer responsibilities than the governor or attorney general, it’s often seen as a stepping stone to higher political office.

Lieutenant governor is one of 10 positions In North Carolina, called the Council of State, that splits the responsibilities of the executive branch.

The executives oversee tens of thousands of employees. All of the seats will be up for election in November, and more than half of the positions — at least six — will be filled with new faces in November due to a variety of factors ranging from scandal to resignations to political musical chairs.

Governor

Incumbent: Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper (term limited, can't run for re-election)

Current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson won the Republican nomination, current Attorney General Josh Stein won the Democratic nomination, Mike Ross won the Libertarian nomination.

The role: A Republican victory in November would help GOP lawmakers advance their legislative priorities. A Democratic victory could obstruct the GOP’s agenda if Republicans can’t maintain veto-proof supermajorities in legislative races in the general election.

'Two competing visions': Robinson, Stein set to run unprecedented race for NC governor

Attorney General

Incumbent: Democrat Josh Stein (not running for re-election, running for governor)

Jeff Jackson won the Democratic nomination and will face Republican Dan Bishop.

The role: The top legal office has become more politicized in recent years, as Stein and Cooper before him have pushed back against the Republican-led legislature.

Jeff Jackson wins Democratic nomination for AG, setting up battle with Republican Dan Bishop

Labor Commissioner

Incumbent: Republican Josh Dobson (not running for re-election)

Republican Luke Farley defeated Jon Hardister and two others for the GOP nomination for Labor Commissioner.

Farley, an attorney, will face former Charlotte city council member Braxton Winston, a Democrat who ran unopposed.

Farley earned 36.8% of the vote to Hardister’s 28.1% with more than 99% of precincts reporting. Hardister, from Guilford County, is currently a state representative.

The role: The Department of Labor is responsible for ensuring the “health, safety, and general well-being” of North Carolina workers. Whoever wins will have to figure out how to help the understaffed Department of Labor keep up with inspections in this fast-growing state.

Superintendent of Schools

Incumbent: Republican Catherine Truitt (seeking re-election)

Michele Morrow, a homeschooling mother of five and former nurse, defeated Truitt in the Republican primary in an upset. Truitt, who won her first term in 2020, raised several times what Morrow did.

Democrat Mo Green easily won the Democratic primary.

The role: The state superintendent oversees the Department of Public Instruction, which administers funding to schools, administers various services to educators and schools, and oversees compliance. The department also collects information and reports on school performance and programming. It also implements state laws.

Far-right challenger defeats NC schools superintendent Truitt in GOP primary

State auditor

Incumbent: Democrat Jessica Holmes (seeking election after replacing Beth Wood, who stepped down)

The Republican primary for state auditor appears headed for a runoff election. Either Jack Clark or Dave Boliek will face Democratic incumbent Jessica Holmes and Libertarian Bob Drach in the general election for state auditor.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Clark won 23.3% of GOP votes, followed by Boliek winning 22.2% of votes.

Holmes is seeking election to the seat and didn't have a challenger in the primary. Drach also didn’t have an opponent.

Boliek is an attorney and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill trustee, and Clark is a certified public accountant and budget policy research assistant for the General Assembly.

The role: The state auditor oversees how public money is being spent and audits public agencies across the state for state and federal financial compliance.

Treasurer

Incumbent: Republican Dale Folwell (not seeking re-election, running for governor)

Democrat Wesley Harris and Republican Brad Briner will go head-to-head in November for the state treasurer seat being vacated by Folwell.

With 99% precincts reporting, Briner, a financial adviser and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill trustee, had 40% of GOP votes, topping Rachel Johnson, a small business owner, at 34.6% and A.J. Daoud, former North Carolina Lottery Commissioner, at 25.4%.

Harris, a state representative from Mecklenburg County, had 66.6% of Democratic votes to Gabe Esparza at 33.4%.

The role: The treasurer's department is responsible for issuing the state's checks and managing the pension and health benefits for hundreds of thousands of both current and retired state employees.

Insurance commissioner

Incumbent: Republican Mike Causey (running for re-election)

Causey will face Democrat Natasha Marcus in the general election for insurance commissioner.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Causey won 60.5% of GOP votes. Marcus won 77.6% of Democratic votes, defeating David Wheeler, who had 22.4% of the vote.

Causey faced two primary opponents. Robert Brawley, a former state representative, and Andrew Marcus, a prosecutor and volunteer firefighter, ran against Causey, who has been at odds with Republican lawmakers. Marcus is an attorney and state senator from Mecklenburg County, and Wheeler is a small business owner and event manager.

Secretary of State

Incumbent: Democrat Elaine Marshall (seeking re-election)

Chad Brown clinched the GOP nomination for Secretary of State in North Carolina.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Brown, chairman of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners and former mayor of Stanley, leads the pack with 43.2%, surpassing Christine E. Villaverde at 30% and Jesse Thomas at 26.8%.

Brown will face the current Secretary of State and Democrat Elaine Marshall in November.

The role: The Secretary of State maintains records, business and financial filings and various publications. The security division “regulates investment advising, the selling of stocks and bonds and loan broker registration,” according to the Secretary of State’s website. Whoever wins will likely have to manage staffing issues amid a massive uptick of new business creation in North Carolina — a surge that is generating an overwhelming amount of paperwork for the office.

Agriculture Commissioner

Incumbent: Republican Steve Troxler (seeking re-election)

With 99% of precincts reporting, Troxler captured 69.2% of votes, ahead of 30.8% for Colby (Bear) Hammonds.

Troxler will face Democrat Sarah Taber and Libertarian Sean Haugh in November. Taber and Haugh didn’t have primary challengers.

The role: North Carolina's agriculture, a $103 billion powerhouse, stands as the state's leading economic force. However, it confronts significant hurdles due to the swift expansion of the state's population.

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