2016 North Carolina Council of State election

2016 North Carolina Council of State election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
All 10 members of the North Carolina Council of State
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 4 6
Seats won 6 4
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2
Percentage 51.2% 48.2%
Swing Increase 5.2 Decrease 5.6
Elections in North Carolina
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Ballot measures
2012
Amendment 1
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The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2016 were held on November 8, 2016 to select the ten officers of the North Carolina Council of State. This elections coincided with the presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the Senate and state elections to the General Assembly and judiciary. Primary elections were held March 15.[1]

The ten members of the North Carolina Council of State are statewide-elected officers serving four-year terms.[2] The pre-election partisan makeup of the Council of State consisted of 6 Democrats and 4 Republicans. After the election, the partisan makeup was reversed, with 6 Republicans and 4 Democrats winning. Three incumbents were defeated: Governor Pat McCrory (R), Superintendent of Public Education June Atkinson (D), and Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin (D).

Additionally, Republicans flipped the Treasurer in an open race from the Democrats, while Democrats held the open Attorney General race.

Governor

[edit]
Main article: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2016

Republican Pat McCrory, the incumbent, faced Democratic nominee Roy Cooper, the incumbent North Carolina attorney general, and Libertarian nominee Lon Cecil in the general election. Cooper won with 49% of the vote.[3]

Lieutenant governor

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Main article: North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2016

Republican Dan Forest, the incumbent, faced Democratic nominee Linda Coleman, a former director of the Office of State Personnel, former state representative and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2012, and Libertarian nominee Jacki Cole in the general election. Forest won with more than 51% of the vote.[3]

Attorney general

[edit]
Main article: North Carolina Attorney General election, 2016

Democrat Roy Cooper, the incumbent, ran for governor.[4]

Josh Stein, state senator and former deputy attorney general of North Carolina,[5] was the Democratic nominee for the post, and Buck Newton, another state senator,[6] was the Republican nominee. Stein won with just over 50% of the vote.[3]

Secretary of State

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2016 North Carolina Secretary of State election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Elaine Marshall Michael LaPaglia
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,368,091 2,163,185
Percentage 52.26% 47.74%
  • County results
  • Marshall:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80–90%
  • LaPaglia:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Secretary of State before election

Elaine Marshall
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Elaine Marshall
Democratic

Democrat Elaine Marshall, the incumbent, ran for a sixth term.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • A.J. Daoud, member of state lottery commission, 2012 candidate[7]
  • Michael LaPaglia, businessman[8]

Results

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Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael LaPaglia 499,919 61.6
Republican A.J. Daoud 312,067 38.4
Total votes 811,986 100.0

General election

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Results

[edit]
North Carolina Secretary of State election, 2016[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Elaine Marshall (incumbent) 2,368,091 52.26% −1.53%
Republican Michael LaPaglia 2,163,185 47.74% +1.53%
Total votes 4,531,276 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold

State Auditor

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2016 North Carolina State Auditor election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Beth Wood Chuck Stuber
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,259,436 2,253,394
Percentage 50.07% 49.93%
  • County results
  • Wood:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
  • Stuber:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
State Auditor before election

Beth Wood
Democratic

Elected State Auditor

Beth Wood
Democratic

Democrat Beth Wood, the incumbent, ran for reelection to a third term.[10]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Chuck Stuber, former FBI special agent[11] (unopposed in the primary)

General election

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Results

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North Carolina State Auditor election, 2016[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Beth A. Wood (incumbent) 2,259,436 50.07% −3.64%
Republican Chuck Stuber 2,253,394 49.93% +3.64%
Total votes 4,512,830 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold

Stuber called for a recount even before the election results were officially certified, and it seemed likely that the margin of difference between the candidates would remain well under the 10,000-vote threshold that a recount requires.[12] But as the recount neared completion and the outcome remained the same, Stuber conceded the election on Dec. 9.[13]

State Treasurer

[edit]
2016 North Carolina State Treasurer election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Dale Folwell Dan Blue III
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,373,022 2,129,762
Percentage 52.70% 47.30%
  • County results
  • Folwell:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
  • Blue:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
State Treasurer before election

Janet Cowell
Democratic

Elected State Treasurer

Dale Folwell
Republican

Janet Cowell, a Democrat and the incumbent Treasurer, announced she would not run for reelection.[14]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Dan Blue III, attorney, former investment banker, former Wake County Democratic Party chair[15][16]
  • Ron Elmer, CPA and money manager[17]

Results

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Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Blue III 553,459 58.4
Democratic Ron Elmer 393,834 41.6
Total votes 947,293 100.0

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Dale Folwell, CPA and former state representative[18] (unopposed in the primary)

General election

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Results

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North Carolina State Treasurer election, 2016[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dale R. Folwell 2,373,022 52.70% +6.53%
Democratic Dan Blue III 2,129,762 47.30% −6.53%
Total votes 4,502,784 100.0% N/A
Republican gain from Democratic

Folwell became the first North Carolina State Treasurer elected from a party other than the Democratic Party since William H. Worth, a Populist, was elected in 1896.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

[edit]
2016 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Mark Johnson June Atkinson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,285,783 2,231,903
Percentage 50.60% 49.40%
  • County results
  • Johnson:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
  • Atkinson:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Superintendent of Public Instruction election before election

June Atkinson
Democratic

Elected Superintendent of Public Instruction election

Mark Johnson
Republican

Democrat June Atkinson, the incumbent, ran for a fourth term in 2016.[19] When it was believed that Atkinson was not going to run for re-election, State Rep. Tricia Cotham was considered a potential Democratic candidate.[20][21]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic June Atkinson (incumbent) 776,302 79.8
Democratic Henry Pankey 196,703 20.2
Total votes 973,005 100.0

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Johnson 441,865 53.3
Republican Rosemary Stein 272,131 32.9
Republican J. Wesley Sills 114,274 13.8
Total votes 828,270 100.0

General election

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Results

[edit]
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2016[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mark Johnson 2,285,783 50.60% +4.84%
Democratic June Atkinson (incumbent) 2,231,903 49.40% −4.84%
Total votes 4,517,686 100.0% N/A
Republican gain from Democratic

Johnson became the first Republican (or member of any party other than the Democratic Party) elected Superintendent since 1896, when Charles H. Mebane was elected.[26]

Commissioner of Agriculture

[edit]
2016 North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Steve Troxler Walter Smith
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,524,445 2,018,872
Percentage 55.56% 44.44%
  • County results
  • Troxler:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
  • Smith:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Commissioner of Agriculture before election

Steve Troxler
Republican

Elected Commissioner of Agriculture

Steve Troxler
Republican

Republican Steve Troxler, the incumbent, ran for a fourth term.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Walter Smith, former mayor of Boonville, former USDA official and nominee in 2012[27] (unopposed in the primary)

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

[edit]
Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Troxler (incumbent) 634,100 68.8
Republican Andy Stevens 287,948 31.2
Total votes 922,048 100.0

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture election, 2016[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Steve Troxler 2,524,445 55.56% +2.34%
Democratic Walter Smith 2,018,872 44.44% −2.34%
Total votes 4,543,317 100.0% N/A
Republican hold

Steve Troxler received more votes than any other candidate in North Carolina in 2016. As of 2021, this is the last statewide election in which the Republican candidate won Wake County and Chatham County.

Commissioner of Labor

[edit]
2016 North Carolina Commissioner of Labor election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Cherie Berry Charles Meeker
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,505,628 2,029,227
Percentage 55.19% 44.70%
  • County results
  • Berry:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
  • Meeker:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Commissioner of Labor before election

Cherie Berry
Republican

Elected Commissioner of Labor

Cherie Berry
Republican

Republican Cherie Berry, the incumbent, ran for reelection to a fifth term.[29]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Meeker 531,273 56.5
Democratic Mazie Ferguson 408,243 43.5
Total votes 939,516 100.0

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]

General election

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Results

[edit]
North Carolina Commissioner of Labor election, 2016[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Cherie Berry (incumbent) 2,505,628 55.19% +1.93%
Democratic Charles Meeker 2,029,227 44.70% −2.04%
n/a Write-ins 5,067 0.11% N/A
Total votes 4,539,922 100.0% N/A
Republican hold

Commissioner of Insurance

[edit]
2016 North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Mike Causey Wayne Goodwin
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,270,841 2,234,953
Percentage 50.40% 49.60%
  • County results
  • Causey:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
  • Goodwin:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Commissioner of Insurance before election

Wayne Goodwin
Democratic

Elected Commissioner of Insurance

Mike Causey
Republican

Democrat Wayne Goodwin, the incumbent, ran for re-election to a third term in 2016.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Mike Causey, former lobbyist and failed GOP nominee for state Insurance Commissioner in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2012, and losing candidate for Congress in 2014[31]
  • Joe McLaughlin, former Onslow County commissioner[32]
  • Ron Pierce, General Contractor, Ex-Airline Mechanic & Army Veteran[33]
Withdrawn
[edit]

Results

[edit]
Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Causey 340,936 41.2
Republican Joe McLaughlin 272,846 33.0
Republican Ron Pierce 214,126 25.8
Total votes 827,908 100.0

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance election, 2016[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Causey 2,270,841 50.40% +2.26%
Democratic Wayne Goodwin (incumbent) 2,234,953 49.60% −2.26%
Total votes 4,505,794 100.0% N/A
Republican gain from Democratic

Causey became the first Republican ever elected to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance.[36]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WRAL: North Carolina primaries officially on March 15 with signing". Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  2. ^ "Article III". North Carolina Constitution. State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov.
  4. ^ Samantha Lachman (April 2, 2015). "For North Carolina Attorney General, Running For Governor Will Mean Taking On His Top Client". Huffington Post. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  5. ^ Patrick Gannon (November 27, 2013). "Josh Stein says he'll run for NC Attorney General in 2016". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  6. ^ Colin Campbell (June 1, 2015). "NC Sen. Buck Newton launches run for attorney general". The News & Observer. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  7. ^ Republican to launch campaign for NC secretary of state
  8. ^ News & Observer: Second Republican joins NC secretary of state race
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov.
  10. ^ a b Lynn Bonner (May 4, 2015). "Beth Woods to seek third term as state auditor". News & Observer. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  11. ^ News & Observer: Former investigator Chuck Stuber running for NC state auditor
  12. ^ "NC GOP calls recount push a public service". WRAL.com. November 29, 2016.
  13. ^ News & Observer: Republican Chuck Stuber concedes NC state auditor race to Beth Wood
  14. ^ "NC Treasurer Cowell won't seek re-election". WRAL.com. October 13, 2015.
  15. ^ "Blue, Stephens & Fellers". Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  16. ^ News & Observer: Dan Blue III running for state Treasurer
  17. ^ "Ron Elmer candidate for state treasurer". NCSPIN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  18. ^ News & Observer: Republican Dale Folwell to run for state treasurer
  19. ^ EducationNC
  20. ^ Wynne, John (May 5, 2015). "Council of State Update". PoliticsNC.
  21. ^ Dillon, A. P. (June 22, 2014). "Michaels on NCSpin: Atkinson won't run again in 2016".
  22. ^ Scott Sexton (April 16, 2015). "Sexton: Henry Pankey's qualifications for N.C. superintendent more than just a kids' book". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  23. ^ Journal, Arika Herron Winston-Salem. "Johnson 'strongly considering' run for state superintendent". Winston-Salem Journal.
  24. ^ "Dr. Rosemary Stein for N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction". Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  25. ^ News & Observer: Harnett teacher in GOP primary for state superintendent
  26. ^ "C. H. Mebane (Charles Harden), 1862-1926". docsouth.unc.edu.
  27. ^ "Smith to run for state office". The Yadkin Ripple. November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  28. ^ a b c "State Board of Elections candidate lists". Archived from the original on March 21, 2016.
  29. ^ a b AJ Daoud (March 1, 2015). "Berry announces reelection". twitter. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  30. ^ "Meeker seeks Labor seat". WRAL.com. July 8, 2015.
  31. ^ Candidate filing from NC State Board of Elections[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ News & Observer: Filing for 2016 election ends
  33. ^ "Pierce Campaign". Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  34. ^ NC GOP 3rd Congressional District (April 25, 2015). "Heather Grant considering run for Insurance Commissioner". facebook. Retrieved June 5, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ News & Observer: Republican Heather Grant drops out of insurance commissioner race
  36. ^ "Three GOP Challengers Hope To Be First Republican Insurance Commissioner". Carolina Journal -. March 14, 2016.
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