2008 North Carolina Council of State election
North Carolina elections to choose members of the Council of State (who head various executive branch departments) were held November 4, 2008. This coincided with the presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, gubernatorial, and statewide judicial elections.
| Elections in North Carolina |
|---|
 |
Primary elections were held on May 6, 2008 for races in which more than one candidate filed for a party's nomination.[1]
One of the results of the general election was that women held a majority (six of 10, including the Governor and Lt. Governor) of the seats on the Council of State for the first time.[2]
Secretary of State
Incumbent Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (Democratic) defeated attorney Jack Sawyer (Republican) on November 4, 2008.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Elaine F. Marshall | 2,291,980 | 56.80 | –0.52 | |
| Republican | Jack Sawyer | 1,743,158 | 43.20 | +0.52 | |
| Turnout | 4,079,831 | 65.53 | |||
State Auditor
Incumbent Auditor Les Merritt (Republican) was defeated by Beth Wood, Former Director of Training for the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor on November 4, 2008.[4][5][3] Wood had previously defeated Fred Aikens, a retired state employee and retired colonel in the North Carolina Army National Guard, in the Democratic primary. [6] Wood won approximately 65% of the vote in the primary.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Beth A. Wood | 2,175,242 | 53.57 | +4.01 | |
| Republican | Leslie Merritt | 1,885,229 | 46.43 | –4.01 | |
| Turnout | 4,060,471 | 65.22 | |||
Attorney General
Incumbent Attorney General Roy Cooper (Democratic) defeated Bob Crumley (Republican), an attorney and owner of Crumley and Associates.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Roy Cooper | 2,538,178 | 61.10 | +5.49 | |
| Republican | Bob Crumley | 1,615,762 | 38.90 | –5.49 | |
| Turnout | 4,153,940 | 66.72 | |||
State Treasurer
Incumbent Richard H. Moore (Democratic) announced on May 22, 2007 that he would seek the 2008 Democratic nomination for governor.
Candidates to succeed him included three Democrats -- state Sen. Janet Cowell, [7] Michael Weisel, [8] and Buncombe County Commissioner David Young [9] -- and one Republican, state Rep. Bill Daughtridge.
Cowell won the Democratic primary with approximately 46 percent of the vote. Young came in second, with 36 percent.
On November 4, 2008, Janet Cowell defeated Bill Daughtridge.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janet Cowell | 2,179,665 | 53.62 | –0.89 | |
| Republican | Bill Daughtridge | 1,885,724 | 46.38 | +0.89 | |
| Turnout | 4,065,389 | 65.29 | |||
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Superintendent June Atkinson (Democratic) won renomination by defeating North Carolina Association of Educators president Eddie Davis in the Democratic primary (with about 53 percent of the vote). [10] Republicans Joe Johnson [11] and Eric H. Smith [12] lost to former state House co-Speaker Richard T. Morgan in the Republican primary.
On November 4, 2008, Atkinson defeated Richard Morgan.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | June Atkinson | 2,177,934 | 53.66 | +3.53 | |
| Republican | Richard T. Morgan | 1,881,075 | 46.34 | –3.53 | |
| Turnout | 4,059,009 | 65.19 | |||
Commissioner of Agriculture
Incumbent Commissioner Steve Troxler (Republican) defeated attorney Ronnie Ansley (Democratic).[13][3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 'Steve Troxler' | 2,130,146 | 52.05 | +2.01 | |
| Democratic | Ronnie Ansley | 1,962,741 | 47.95 | –2.01 | |
| Turnout | 4,092,887 | 65.74 | |||
Commissioner of Labor
Four Democrats -- Robin Anderson, chair of the State Personnel Commission,[14] Ty Richardson, Mary Fant Donnan, a former N.C. Department of Labor official, [15] and former Labor Commissioner John C. Brooks -- filed to run against incumbent Commissioner Cherie Berry (Republican).
Mary Fant Donnan finished first, with almost 28 percent of the vote, in the May 6 primary. Brooks was the runner-up. Brooks called for a June 24 runoff, which was his right, because no candidate won more than 40 percent of the vote in the first primary.[16][17] Donnan defeated Brooks in the runoff, with approximately 68 percent of the vote, becoming the Democratic nominee.[18][19]
On November 4, 2008, Cherie Berry defeated Mary Fant Donnan.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cherie Berry | 2,065,095 | 50.61 | –1.49 | |
| Democratic | Mary Fant Donnan | 2,015,442 | 49.39 | +1.49 | |
| Turnout | 4,080,537 | 65.54 | |||
Commissioner of Insurance
Incumbent Commissioner James E. Long (Democratic) surprised observers by not seeking another term.[20] His chosen successor, assistant Commissioner and former state Rep. Wayne Goodwin, defeated David C. Smith in the Democratic primary by winning about 56 percent of the vote. John Odom, a former Raleigh city councilman, was the only Republican candidate. Mark McMains was the candidate of the Libertarian Party.[21]
On November 4, 2008, Goodwin defeated Mark McMains and John Odom.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Wayne Goodwin | 2,106,870 | 51.57 | –6.07 | |
| Republican | John Odom | 1,822,452 | 44.61 | +2.25 | |
| Libertarian | Mark McMains | 153,517 | 3.76 | N/A | |
| Other | Write-ins | 2,358 | 0.06 | N/A | |
| Turnout | 4,085,197 | 65.61 | |||
References
- "Primary Election Voter Guide". Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- WRAL: Women now the majority on NC Council of State
- "NC - Election Results". North Carolina Board of Elections. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
- ""Auditor's race" : Capital Beat : Blogs : News-Record.com : Greensboro, North Carolina". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- Beth Wood | newsobserver.com projects Archived 2008-06-02 at the Wayback Machine
- "Aikens to run for auditor | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
- Cowell for treasurer | newsobserver.com projects Archived 2012-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
- "Another shot for Weisel? | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
- "Young for treasurer | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- "Davis considering run | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- "Joe Johnson | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- Smith for State Superintendent
- "Ansley to run for Ag commissioner | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
- "Anderson to run for Labor commissioner | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
- Mary Fant Donnan profile page Archived 2008-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
- News & Observer: Labor candidates want a recount Archived 2008-06-01 at the Wayback Machine
- News & Observer: No recount in Labor race Archived 2008-06-01 at the Wayback Machine
- Romoser, James. Runoff for labor post goes to Donnan. Winston-Salem Journal, 2008-06-25. Accessed 2008-06-25
- Beckwith, Ryan Teague. News & Observer: Donnan wins runoff that few bothered to vote in. Accessed 2008-06-25
- FayObserver.com - AP Article Page
- "Libertarian Party of NC press release: Libertarians File List of 2008 Candidates". Archived from the original on 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2008-07-12.