2016 North Carolina Council of State election

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]

2016 North Carolina Council of State election
November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08)
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 2 2
Percentage 51.2% 48.2%
Swing 5.2 5.6
Elections in North Carolina
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
State executive
Gubernatorial elections
Lieutenant Governor elections
Attorney General elections
Council of State elections
Secretary of State elections
State legislature
General Assembly elections
State Senate elections
State House elections
State judiciary
Judicial elections
Ballot measures
2012
Amendment 1
Mayoral elections
Charlotte mayoral elections
Cary mayoral elections
Durham mayoral elections
Fayetteville mayoral elections
Greensboro mayoral elections
Raleigh mayoral elections
Winston-Salem mayoral elections

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).

Governor
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
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
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

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

Candidates

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

Results
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

Results
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

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

Candidates

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

Results
North Carolina State Auditor election, 2016[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Beth 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

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

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

Results
Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Blue III 553,459 58.4
Democratic Ron Elmer 393,834 41.54
Total votes 947,293 100.0

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

Results
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.[19]

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Democrat June Atkinson, the incumbent, ran for a fourth term in 2016.[20] When it was believed that Atkinson was not going to run for re-election, State Rep. Tricia Cotham was considered a potential Democratic candidate.[21][22]

Candidates

Results
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

Candidates

Results
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

Results
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.[27]

Commissioner of Agriculture

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

Candidates
  • Walter Smith, former Mayor of Boonville, former USDA official and nominee in 2012[28] (unopposed in the primary)

Candidates

Results
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

Results
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

Commissioner of Labor

Republican Cherie Berry, the incumbent, ran for reelection to a fifth term.[30]

Candidates

Results
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

Candidates

Results
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

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

Candidates

Candidates
  • 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[32]
  • Joe McLaughlin, former Onslow County commissioner[33]
  • Ron Pierce, General Contractor, Ex-Airline Mechanic & Army Veteran[34]
Withdrawn

Results
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

Results
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.[37]

See also

References
  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. NC State Board of Elections Unofficial General Election Results
  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. State Board of Elections Council of State primary results
  10. 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. WRAL.com: NC GOP calls recount push a public service
  13. News & Observer: Republican Chuck Stuber concedes NC state auditor race to Beth Wood
  14. WRAL: NC Treasurer Cowell won't seek re-election
  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. William H. Worth
  20. EducationNC
  21. PoliticsNC Council of State Update
  22. Michaels on NC Spin: Atkinson won’t run again in 2016
  23. 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.
  24. Winston-Salem Journal: Johnson strongly considering run for state superintendent
  25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. News & Observer: Harnett teacher in GOP primary for state superintendent
  27. Documenting the American South
  28. "Smith to run for state office". The Yadkin Ripple. November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  29. State Board of Elections candidate lists Archived March 21, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  30. AJ Daoud (March 1, 2015). "Berry announces reelection". twitter. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  31. WRAL.com: Meeker seeks Labor seat
  32. Candidate filing from NC State Board of Elections
  33. News & Observer: Filing for 2016 election ends
  34. http://www.piercecampaign.com/
  35. NC GOP 3rd Congressional District (April 25, 2015). "Heather Grant considering run for Insurance Commissioner". facebook. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  36. News & Observer: Republican Heather Grant drops out of insurance commissioner race
  37. Carolina Journal: Three GOP Challengers Hope To Be First Republican Insurance Commissioner
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