The 2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the lieutenant governor of North Carolina. Democratic state senator Rachel Hunt won her first term in office, defeating Republican state official Hal Weatherman. She will succeed Republican incumbent Mark Robinson, who did not seek re-election in order to unsuccessfully run for governor.[1]
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 County results Hunt: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Weatherman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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In her party's primary, Hunt won the Democratic nomination with 70% of the vote over former state Senator Ben Clark and businessman Mark H. Robinson (no relation to the incumbent). Weatherman won the Republican nomination with 74% of the vote over Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neil in a runoff after no candidate received over 30% of the vote in his party's primary. Hunt won the general election with 49.5% the vote to Weatherman's 47.6%, making her the first Democrat elected lieutenant governor of North Carolina since 2008.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Hal Weatherman, businessman and former chief of staff to Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest[2]
Eliminated in runoff
edit- Jim O'Neill, Forsyth County District Attorney and nominee for attorney general in 2020[3]
Eliminated in primary
edit- Deanna Ballard, former state senator from the 45th district[4]
- Peter Boykin, political commentator and founder of Gays for Trump[5]
- Rivera Douthit, evangelist[6]
- Jeffrey Elmore, state representative from the 94th district[7]
- Allen Mashburn, pastor[2]
- Marlenis Hernandez Novoa, paramedic and firefighter[6]
- Sam Page, Rockingham County sheriff[8]
- Ernest T. Reeves, businessman and perennial candidate[9]
- Seth Woodall, attorney[10]
Withdrawn
edit- Jim Kee, former Greensboro city councilor[11] (ran for state auditor)[12]
Declined
edit- Mark Robinson, incumbent lieutenant governor (endorsed Weatherman, ran for governor)[13][1]
Endorsements
editJeffrey Elmore
- Newspapers
Allen Mashburn
- Organizations
Hal Weatherman
Polling
edit| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Deanna Ballard |
Jeffrey Elmore |
Jim O'Neill |
Sam Page |
Hal Weatherman |
Seth Wooddall |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Point University | February 16–23, 2024 | 386 (LV) | ± 6.0% | 10% | 11% | 27% | 13% | 7% | 11% | 21%[b] | – |
| Capen Analytics | February 21, 2024 | 12,580 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 15% | 8% | 16% | 8% | 21% | 18% | 15%[c] | 3% |
| Cygnal (R)[A] | October 8–9, 2023 | 600 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 3% | 1% | – | 4% | 4% | 2% | 2%[d] | 84% |
Results
edit
Weatherman
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 20–30%
- 10–20%
O'Neill
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 20–30%
- 10–20%
Ballard
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 20–30%
- 10–20%
Woodall
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 20–30%
Mashburn
- 20–30%
Elmore
- 50–60%
- 30–40%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Hal Weatherman | 181,818 | 19.59% | |
| Republican | Jim O'Neill | 147,042 | 15.84% | |
| Republican | Deanna Ballard | 138,822 | 14.96% | |
| Republican | Seth Woodall | 102,492 | 11.04% | |
| Republican | Sam Page | 94,810 | 10.22% | |
| Republican | Allen Mashburn | 83,550 | 9.00% | |
| Republican | Jeffrey Elmore | 79,883 | 8.61% | |
| Republican | Peter Boykin | 32,126 | 3.46% | |
| Republican | Rivera Douthit | 23,398 | 2.52% | |
| Republican | Ernest T. Reeves | 22,760 | 2.45% | |
| Republican | Marlenis Hernandez Novoa | 21,404 | 2.31% | |
| Total votes | 928,105 | 100.0% | ||
Runoff results
edit
Weatherman
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- >90%
O'Neill
- 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Hal Weatherman | 96,600 | 74.44% | |
| Republican | Jim O'Neill | 33,448 | 25.72% | |
| Total votes | 130,048 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Rachel Hunt, state senator from the 42nd district and daughter of former governor Jim Hunt[19]
Eliminated in primary
edit- Ben Clark, former state senator from the 21st district and nominee for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in 2022[12]
- Mark H. Robinson, businessman (no relation to incumbent lieutenant governor Mark Robinson)[20][21]
Withdrawn
edit- Delmonte Crawford, civil rights activist[22] (ran for mayor of Raleigh)[23]
- Chris Rey, former mayor of Spring Lake and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016[12]
- Raymond Smith Jr., former state representative from the 21st district[22] (ran for mayor of Goldsboro)[24]
Endorsements
editRachel Hunt
Polling
edit| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Ben Clark |
Rachel Hunt |
Mark H. Robinson |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Point University | February 16–23, 2024 | 321 (LV) | ± 6.0% | 14% | 61% | 24% | – |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | December 15–16, 2023 | 556 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 5% | 23% | 6% | 66% |
Results
edit
Hunt
- 80–90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
Clark
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
Robinson
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt | 477,196 | 70.35% | |
| Democratic | Ben Clark | 111,836 | 16.49% | |
| Democratic | Mark H. Robinson | 89,247 | 13.16% | |
| Total votes | 678,279 | 100.0% | ||
Libertarian Party
editWithdrew after nomination
edit- Dee Watson, oncology researcher[9]
Replacement nominee
editConstitution Party
editNominee
edit- Wayne Jones, central regional director for the North Carolina Constitution Party[27]
General election
editPredictions
edit| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[28] | Tossup | November 1, 2024 |
Polling
edit| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Hal Weatherman (R) |
Rachel Hunt (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ActiVote | October 8–26, 2024 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 50% | 50% | – | – |
| Cygnal (R)[B] | October 12–14, 2024 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 41% | 43% | 3%[e] | 13% |
| ActiVote | August 20 – September 22, 2024 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 50% | 50% | – | – |
| Cygnal (R)[B] | September 15–16, 2024 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 40% | 42% | 3%[f] | 15% |
| YouGov (D)[C] | August 5–9, 2024 | 802 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 38% | 40% | – | 22% |
| Cygnal (R)[B] | August 4–5, 2024 | 600 (LV) | ± 3.99% | 38% | 36% | 5%[g] | 22% |
| Spry Strategies | June 7–11, 2024 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 38% | 38% | – | 24% |
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt | 2,767,573 | 49.52% | +1.15% | |
| Republican | Hal Weatherman | 2,662,903 | 47.65% | −3.98% | |
| Libertarian | Shannon Bray | 104,123 | 1.87% | N/A | |
| Constitution | Wayne Jones | 53,877 | 0.96% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 5,544,245 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
Notes
edit- ^ a b c Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - ^ Peter Boykin with 7%; Allen Mashburn, Marlenis Hernandez Navoa, and Ernest Reeves with 4%; Rivera Douthit with 2%
- ^ Marlenis Hernandez Navoa with 5%; Peter Boykin, Allen Mashburn, and Ernest Reeves with 3%; Rivera Douthit with 1%
- ^ Peter Boykin and Allen Mashburn with 1%; Rivera Douthit with 0%
- ^ Bray (L) with 2%; Jones (C) with 1%
- ^ Bray (L) with 2%; Jones (C) with 1%
- ^ Bray (L) with 5%
- Partisan clients
References
edit- ^ a b Mikkelson, Emily (April 22, 2023). "Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson announces run for governor at rainy Ace Speedway rally". FOX 8. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Doyle, Steve (March 2, 2023). "State Sen. Rachel Hunt, daughter of former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, announces run for lieutenant governor but not party". Wavy. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ Craver, Richard (December 15, 2023). "Forsyth district attorney O'Neill enters crowded field for GOP lieutenant governor nomination". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Adding to the candidate list, ex-North Carolina Sen. Ballard is running for lieutenant governor". Spectrum News 1. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ Skinner, Victor (May 3, 2023). "She's on a path with the familiar family name". The Center Square. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Doyle, Steve (August 25, 2023). "Another Republican enters the race for lieutenant governor in North Carolina". Fox 8. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Mikkelson, Emily (May 9, 2023). "Wilkes County representative Elmore announces run for lieutenant governor". FOX 8. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ Stamps, Brayden (May 27, 2023). "Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page officially announces run for North Carolina lieutenant governor". FOX 8. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b "2024 primary candidate list by contest federal and state" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Opeka, Theresa (August 23, 2023). "Eden attorney latest to run on GOP ticket in 2024 NC lieutenant governor race". The Carolina Journal. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Hammer, John (February 15, 2023). "Jim Kee Announces Run For NC Lieutenant Governor In 2024". The Rhino Times of Greensboro. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c Woolverton, Paul (May 24, 2023). "Former state Sen. Ben Clark running for NC lieutenant governor; Chris Rey drops out". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Specht, Paul (May 14, 2024). "O'Neill and Weatherman square off for GOP lieutenant governor nomination". WRAL.com. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ a b "Endorsements: Our choices in the crowded GOP and Dem primaries for NC Lt. Governor". The Charlotte Observer. February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Olson, Troy (November 21, 2023). "Endorsement: Allen Mashburn for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina". New York Young Republican Club. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ Hammer, John (February 27, 2024). "Rhino Endorsements In Republican Primary". The Rhino Times of Greensboro. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "03/05/2024 OFFICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "05/14/2024 OFFICIAL 2NDPRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". NCSBE. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ "N. Carolina Sen. Rachel Hunt to run for lieutenant governor". AP News. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ Fain, Travis (December 15, 2023). "Mark Robinson is running for governor. A different Mark Robinson wants his job". WRAL-TV. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Fain, Travis (June 12, 2024). "Mark Robinson (no, not that one) preps long-shot campaign on a bus named Bessie Murphy". WRAL-TV. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ a b "'Perpetual campaign season:' For some NC candidates, 2024 races have already begun".
- ^ Johnson, Anna (September 7, 2023). "Raleigh clears way for heliport near North Hills over noise, gentrification concerns". The News & Observer. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
Delmonte Crawford, who is running for Raleigh mayor in the 2024 election, also spoke against the change and said it contributes to gentrification when the area 'is already trying to rebuild from the pandemic.'
- ^ Alexander, Dave (March 9, 2023). "Smith to Run for Mayor". Goldsboro Daily News. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ "EMILYs List Endorses Rachel Hunt for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina". EMILYs List. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- ^ "2024 General Candidate List By Contest Federal And State" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- ^ Zehnder, Katherine (July 18, 2024). "Constitution Party candidates file for November ballot". Carolina Journal. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ Jacobson, Louis (November 1, 2024). "Updating the Down-Ballot Statewide Races". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
External links
edit- Official campaign websites