Current:Home > NewsDemocrats gain another statewide position in North Carolina with Rachel Hunt victory-InfoLens
Democrats gain another statewide position in North Carolina with Rachel Hunt victory
View Date:2024-12-23 15:25:48
Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats will hold one additional spot in the group of top statewide elected positions in North Carolina after Tuesday’s elections, while Republicans continued their recent dominance in appellate court races, winning three seats and leading narrowly in a fourth.
Come January, the Council of State, composed of 10 statewide executive branch positions, will have five Republicans and five Democrats. Among the Democratic victors is outgoing state Sen. Rachel Hunt, who won the race for lieutenant governor.
Meanwhile, in the race for a seat on the state Supreme Court, Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs was trailing Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin with nearly 5.5 million votes cast, according to results. Provisional and absentee ballots are still being counted. Under state law, Riggs can ask for a recount if the margin is narrow enough.
One of two registered Democrats on the seven-member court, Riggs said on X on Wednesday that her team was closely monitoring the count and would “have a clearer idea of our next steps within the next 24-36 hours.”
Hunt, who defeated Republican Hal Weatherman and two other opponents, is the daughter of former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt, who also served as lieutenant governor from 1973 to 1977.
Hunt’s victory capped Democratic victories for other top council positions, with Josh Stein defeating Republican Mark Robinson for governor and Jeff Jackson beating Dan Bishop for attorney general. Stein is the current attorney general and Robinson the current lieutenant governor.
The other two council positions flipping parties are state auditor and superintendent of public instruction.
Republican Dave Boliek defeated Democratic Auditor Jessica Holmes and a third-party candidate. For public instruction, Democrat Mo Green defeated Republican Michele Morrow, who had advanced to the general election after beating GOP Superintendent Catherine Truitt in the March primary.
Incumbents winning reelection on Tuesday were Democratic Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Republican Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and GOP Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.
The remaining council positions saw Republicans succeed GOP incumbents who chose not to seek reelection as state treasurer and labor commissioner.
Republican Brad Briner defeated Democrat Wesley Harris to succeed Treasurer Dale Folwell, who ran unsuccessfully for governor. And Republican Luke Farley beat Democrat Braxton Winston to become labor commissioner.
Current Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson decided not to seek reelection, and on Wednesday announced that he was resigning as commissioner at the end of the day.
“After 21 years of public service, I look forward to pursuing new opportunities in the private sector,” Dobson, a former legislator elected commissioner in 2020, said in a news release. The state constitution gives Cooper the power to choose a department leader for the final days of Dobson’s term.
Republicans won the three races for the intermediate-level state Court of Appeals. They are incumbent court Judge Valerie Zachary; District Court Judge Chris Freeman; and former state legislator Tom Murry, who defeated sitting court Judge Carolyn Thompson, a Democrat.
veryGood! (9248)
Related
- Agents search home of ex-lieutenant facing scrutiny as police probe leak of school shooting evidence
- Lorenzo, a 180-pound Texas tortoise, reunited with owner after backyard escape
- Oxford High School shooter could face life prison sentence in December even as a minor
- Jared Goff fires back at Ryan Fitzpatrick over 'Poor Man's Matt Ryan' comment
- Texas’ 90,000 DACA recipients can sign up for Affordable Care Act coverage — for now
- Watch livestream: Police give update on arrest of Duane Davis in Tupac Shakur's killing
- Republicans begin impeachment inquiry against Biden, Teachers on TikTok: 5 Things podcast
- Paris Jackson Claps Back After Haters Call Her Haggard in Makeup-Free Selfie
- To Protect the Ozone Layer and Slow Global Warming, Fertilizers Must Be Deployed More Efficiently, UN Says
- Taylor Swift Effect boosts ticket sales for upcoming Chiefs-Jets game
Ranking
- Brittany Cartwright Defends Hooking Up With Jax Taylor's Friend Amid Their Divorce
- Jessica Campbell, Kori Cheverie breaking barriers for female coaches in NHL
- Miss Utah Noelia Voigt Crowned Miss USA 2023 Winner
- Dianne Feinstein, California senator who broke glass ceilings, dies at 90
- Rachael Ray Details Getting Bashed Over Decision to Not Have Kids
- UAW strike to expand with calls for additional 7,000 Ford, GM workers to walk off the job
- What's Making Us Happy: A guide to your weekend viewing, listening and reading
- Angels star Shohei Ohtani finishes with the best-selling jersey in MLB this season
Recommendation
-
These Michael Kors’ Designer Handbags Are All Under $150 With an Extra 22% off for Singles’ Day
-
Judge ends conservatorship between Michael Oher and Tuohy family in 'Blind Side' fallout
-
Unbeaten Syracuse has chance to get off to 5-0 start in hosting slumping ACC rival Clemson
-
Prosecutors may extend 'offers' to 2 defendants in Georgia election case
-
Arbitrator upholds 5-year bans of Bad Bunny baseball agency leaders, cuts agent penalty to 3 years
-
2 Mexican migrants shot dead, 3 injured in dawn attack on US border near Tecate, Mexico
-
NY woman who fatally shoved singing coach, age 87, is sentenced to more time in prison than expected
-
75,000 health care workers are set to go on strike. Here are the 5 states that could be impacted.