Clinton, Trump Victorious In Consequential N.C. Primary | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post are Managing Editor Rick Henderson and associate editors Barry Smith and Dan Way for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

McCrory will face Cooper for governor; rematch between Forest and Coleman for lieutenant governor; bonds pass easily

    RALEIGH - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won easily against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary, while casino mogul Donald Trump staved off a late surge by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to claim victory in the GOP presidential contest.

CJ photo by Kari Travis
    With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton bested Sanders 55 percent to 41 percent, while Trump led Cruz 40 percent to 37 percent. The only other GOP candidate receiving double-digit support was Ohio Gov. John Kasich, with 13 percent. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who suspended his presidential campaign Tuesday night after losing his home state, collected 8 percent of the vote. In the Libertarian Party primary, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who ran for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012, won in a crowded field with 42 percent of the vote; "no preference" finished second, with 35 percent.

    Pre-election polls consistently showed Trump with double-digit leads, but almost all of Trump's margin of victory occurred before Tuesday, in early and absentee balloting. Among votes cast March 15, Trump bested Cruz by a margin of only 39 percent to 38 percent.

    The statewide primary, moved to March 15 by the 2015 General Assembly, was indeed consequential in the presidential contest as the four major contenders, along with spouses and other surrogates, made a series of appearances in the Tar Heel State during the final two weeks of the campaign. Trump will leave North Carolina with approximately 29 delegates to Cruz's 27.

    Four other states held presidential contests Tuesday. Trump also won Florida and its 99 convention delegates - leading Rubio to suspend his campaign - added a win in Illinois. Kasich won his home state and its 69 convention delegates. At press time, only a few thousand votes separated Trump and Cruz in Missouri.

    With the Missouri outcome pending, Trump will hold at least a 200-delegate lead over Cruz and have roughly half the delegates needed to win the GOP nomination outright before the party's nominating convention in Cleveland.

    Primary contests for the state's 13 congressional districts were on the ballot, but those results will not be counted. A three-judge U.S. District Court panel declared the maps unconstitutional, forcing the General Assembly to convene a special session last month to draw new maps. The legislature set a June 7 date for the congressional primary, with candidate filing opening today; however, the new set of maps also are being challenged in federal court, so the congressional primary could be delayed further.


    The state will get its marquee gubernatorial race matchup in November after incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper easily won their respective primaries.

    In the state's race for U.S. Senate, incumbent GOP Sen. Richard Burr handily fought off three primary challengers. He'll face former Democratic state Rep. Deborah Ross of Wake County, who beat three party rivals of her own, and Libertarian Sean Haugh on the Nov. 8 general election.

    McCrory led former state Rep. Robert Brawley, R-Iredell, 82 percent to 11 percent with 86 percent of the precincts reporting. Charles Kenneth Moss got 8 percent.

    Cooper led Ken Spaulding 70 percent to 30 percent. Libertarian Lon Cecil will also be in the gubernatorial race against McCrory and Cooper.

    Burr fought off Dr. Greg Brannon, who also unsuccessfully challenged Thom Tillis for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination two years ago. With 84 percent of the precincts reporting, Burr had 62 percent to Brannon's 25 percent. Paul Wright finished third with 8 percent. Larry Holmquist had 5 percent.

    In the Democratic race, Ross garnered 63 percent. Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey came in second with 16 percent. Durham businessman Kevin Griffin finished third with 12 percent. Army veteran Ernest Reeves of Greenville had 9 percent.

    The $2 billion Connect NC bonds also were approved by a 66 percent to 34 percent vote, with 83 percent of the precincts reporting.

    Former state Rep. Linda Coleman, D-Wake, won the right to a rematch with incumbent GOP Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. With 85 percent of the precincts reporting, Coleman led the Democratic primary field with 51 percent. Holly Jones had 29 percent, Robert Earl Wilson had 10 percent, and Ronald L. Newton had 10 percent. Forest and Coleman will also face Libertarian J.J. Summerell on the Nov. 8 ballot.

    Other incumbent Council of State candidates also fared well.

    Republican Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler bested primary rival Andy Stevens 69 percent to 31 percent, with 86 percent of the precincts reporting. Troxler will face Democrat Walter Smith in the November general election.

    Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson defeated Henry J. Pankey 80 percent to 20 percent, with 86 percent of the precincts reporting. She'll face Republican Mark Johnson in November. Johnson won the GOP primary with 53 percent of the vote. Rosemary Stein came in second with 33 percent, ahead of J. Wesley Sills with 14 percent.

    Two state senators won their respective party's nominations to replace Cooper as attorney general. Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson, led Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill 55 percent to 45 percent, with 99 percent of the precincts reporting. Sen. Josh Stein, D-Wake, led Marcus Williams 53 percent to 47 percent in the Democratic primary.

    Republican Mike Causey won the GOP primary for insurance commissioner. With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Causey had 41 percent. Joe McLaughlin had 33 percent and Ron Pierce had 26 percent. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Wayne Goodwin in the November general election.

    Former Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker secured a victory in the Democratic primary for labor commissioner. He led Greensboro activist Mazie Ferguson 57 percent to 43 percent. The winner faces incumbent Republican Cherie Berry in the general election.

    Republican Michael LaPaglia defeated primary rival A.J. Daoud 61 percent to 39 percent, with 86 percent of the precincts reporting. He'll face incumbent Democrat Elaine Marshall in the general election.

    In the Democratic primary for state treasurer, Dan Blue III defeated Ron Elmer 59 percent to 41 percent. The winner will face Republican Dale Folwell, a former state representative and former head of the Division of Employment Security, in November. That race will be to replace Democrat Treasurer Janet Cowell, who chose not to seek re-election.


    Two incumbents were knocked off by primary challengers in the House. Democrat Amos Quick defeated incumbent Ralph Johnson in House District 58, and Republican incumbent George S. Robinson lost in House District 87 to challenger Destin Hall. Quick and Hall effectively won the seats because they have no opposition in the General Election.

    Sixteen other primary winners - two in the Senate and 14 in the House - also in effect were elected to the seat they were seeking because they have no opposition in the General Election, barring a write-in candidate or an independent challenger. They were:

• Incumbent Senate Republicans Joyce Krawiec in District 31, and Tommy Tucker in District 35.
• Incumbent House Republicans Jamie Boles in District 52, Lee Zachary in District 73, Harry Warren in District 77, and John Fraley in District 95.
• Incumbent House Democrats Larry Bell in District 21, William Brisson in District 22, Jean Farmer-Butterfield in District 24, Michael Wray in District 27, Rosa Gill in District 33, Charles Graham in District 47, and Kelly Alexander in District 107.
• Three open House seats were filled by primary winners because no one from the opposing party filed for the seat: Republican Holly Grange in House District 20, Democrat Terry Garrison in House District 32, and Democrat John Autry in House District 100.
• In House District 67, one of the most closely watched and hotly contested races, incumbent Republican Justin Burr narrowly edged challenger Lane Burris by 242 votes to advance to the General Election. Burr had a public falling out with House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, but was endorsed by House Majority Leader Mike Hager, R-Rutherford.
• Incumbent GOP Rep. Charles Jeter had an even closer contest, defeating challenger Tom Davis by just 23 votes in District 92.

• District 4 (D)-Angela Bryant (I) 81.38 percent, James Mills 18.62 percent
• District 11 (R)-Rick Horner 51.57 percent, Benton Sawrey 48.43 percent
• District 12 (D)-Susan Byerly 77.42 percent, James (Jay) Willis Sills Jr. 22.58 percent
• District 16 (D)-Jay Chaudhuri 63.14 percent, Ellis Hankins 36.86 percent
• District 21 (D)-Ben Clark (I) 49.85 percent, Naveed Aziz 44.26 percent, Eronomy Neon (Mohammed) Smith 5.9 percent
• District 31 (R)-With 76 of 81 precincts reporting: Joyce Krawiec (I) 62.12 percent, Dempsey Brewer 27.54 percent, Peter Antinozzi 10.35 percent
• District 33 (R)-Cathy Dunn 40.14 percent, Eddie Gallimore 32.2 percent, Joe D. Kennedy 27.66 percent
• District 35 (R)-With 45 of 48 precincts reporting: Tommy Tucker (I) 62.25 percent, Matt Daly 37.75 percent
• District 36 (R)-Paul R. Newton 37.01 percent, Scott C. Aumuller 30.06 percent, Amy Blake 21.38 percent, Parish Moffitt 11.54 percent
• District 36 (D)-Robert Brown 65.1 percent, Andrew E. Platek 34.9 percent
• District 38 (D)-With 33 of 34 precincts reporting: Joel Ford (I) 52.22 percent, Roderick Davis 47.78 percent
• District 40 (D)-With 46 of 48 precincts reporting: Joyce Waddell (I) 64.37 percent, Nasif Majeed 35.63 percent
• District 44 (R)-David L. Curtis (I) 51.08 percent, Chris Carney 48.92 percent
• District 45 (R)- Deanna Ballard 52.96 Ken Boham 47.04 percent
• District 46 (D)-Anne Fischer 53.77 percent, Jim Cates 46.23 percent
• District 47 (D)-Mary Jane Boyd 60.14 percent, Tim Murphy 39.86 percent
• District 48 (R)-Chuck Edwards 56.23 percent, Lisa Carpenter Baldwin 33.83 percent, Dennis Justice 9.94 percent

• District 6 (R)-Beverly Boswell 39.25 percent, Ashley Woolard 36.72 percent, Arthur Williams 24.03 percent
• District 6 (D)-Warren Judge 71.83 percent, Judy Justice 28.17 percent
• District 9 (D)-Brian Farkas 61.77 percent, Walter E. Gaskins 38.23 percent.
• District 17 (R)-Frank Iler (I) 67.77 percent, Marion D. Davis 32.23 percent
• District 20 (R)-Holly Grange 62.01 percent, Tammy Covil 37.99 percent
• District 21 (D)-Larry M. Bell (I) 85.47 percent, Scotty L. Smith 14.53 percent
• District 22 (D)-William Brisson (I) 53.48 percent, Ben Snyder 46.52 percent
• District 24 (D)-Jean Farmer-Butterfield (I) 61.95 percent, Kandie D. Smith 38.05 percent
• District 26 (R)-Donna McDowell White 59.57 percent, Dennis Nielsen 40.43 percent
• District 27 (D)-Michael H. Wray (I) 52.57 percent, Franklin D. Williams Jr. 47.43 percent
• District 28 (R)-Larry C. Strickland 50.14 percent, Tony Braswell 41.81 percent, Gregory A. Dail 8.05 percent
• District 28 (D)-Patricia Oliver 50.36 percent, Jimmie M. Massengill 49.64 percent
• District 32 (D)-Terry Garrison 67.32 percent, Gary Lamont Miles Sr. 32.68 percent
• District 33 (D)-Rosa U. Gill (I) 64.48 percent, Shirley E. Hicks 22.73 percent, Bernard Allen II 12.79 percent
• District 36 (R)-Nelson Dollar (I) 55.78 percent, Mark Villee 44.22 percent.
• District 36 (D)-Jennifer Ferrell 75.31 percent, Woodie Cleary 24.69 percent.
• District 44 (R)-Jim Arp 50.99 percent, Richard Button 43.14 percent, Todd Ausborn 5.87 percent
• District 47 (D)-With 32 of 34 precincts reporting: Charles Graham (I) 58.17 percent, Randall Jones 41.83 percent
• District 52 (R)-Jamie Boles (I) 53.75 percent, John (JD) Zumwalt 46.25 percent
• District 53 (R)-David R. Lewis (I) 78.6 percent, Chuck Levorse 21.4 percent.
• District 58 (D)-Amos Quick 71.53 percent, Ralph C. Johnson (I) 28.47 percent
• District 67 (R)-Justin P. Burr (I) 50.97 percent, Lane O. Burris 49.03 percent
• District 73 (R)- Lee Zachary (I) 51.48 percent, Dwight Shook 48.52 percent.
• District 77 (R)-Harry Warren (I) 71.44, Andrew H. Poston 28.56 percent
• District 81 (R)-Larry W. Potts 52.3 percent, Tyler Lohr Forrest 27.69 percent, Sharon Phillips Pearce 20 percent
• District 82 (R)-Larry G. Pittman (I) 52.77 percent, Michael Fischer 47.23 percent
• District 83 (R)-Linda P. Johnson (I) 61.64 percent, Nathan D. Stone 38.36 percent
• District 84 (R)-Rena W. Turner (I) 63.8 percent, Kirk Sherrill 36.2 percent
• District 87 (R)-Destin Hall 59.74 percent, George S. Robinson (I) 40.26 percent
• District 91 (R)-Kyle Hall 43.84 percent, Robert Knight 30.58 percent, Ira (Bubba) Tilley 25.58 percent.
• District 92 (R)-Charles Jeter (I) 50.16 percent, Tom Davis 49.84 percent
• District 93 (R)-Jonathan C. Jordan (I) 73.95 percent, Lew Hendricks 26.05 percent
• District 93 (D)-Sue Counts 72.82 percent, Ronnie Marsh 27.18 percent
• District 95 (R)-John A. Fraley (I) 68.48 percent, David W. Thompson 31.52 percent
• District 100 (D)-John Autry 53.26 percent, Billy Maddalon 46.74 percent
• District 101 (D)-Beverly Miller Earle (I) 78.53 percent, Steven Jones 21.47 percent
• District 103 (D)-Rochelle Rivas 50.06 percent, Noah Lieberman 49.94 percent
• District 105 (R)-Scott Stone 52.2 percent, Tim Morgan 47.8 percent
• District 107 (D)-With 18 of 19 precincts reporting: Kelly Alexander (I) 90.14 percent, Robert Blok 9.86 percent
• District 113 (R)-Cody Henson 64.66 percent, Coty James Ferguson 35.34 percent
• District 115 (R)-Frank Moretz 58.93 percent, Robert Chilmonik 41.07 percent
• District 118 (D)-Rhonda Cole Schandevel 57.98 percent, Reese Steen 42.02 percent
• District 119 (R)-Mike Clampitt 59.13 percent, Aaron Littlefield 40.87 percent
• District 120 (R)-Kevin Corbin 73.85 percent, Elliott J. Southworth 26.15 percent