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2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election

(Redirected from North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2016)

For related races, see 2016 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Democratic state attorney general Roy Cooper won his first term in office, defeating Republican incumbent Pat McCrory.

2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →
Turnout68.98% Increase1.68%
 
Nominee Roy Cooper Pat McCrory
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,309,157 2,298,880
Percentage 49.02% 48.80%
Cooper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
McCrory:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%
Governor before election

Pat McCrory
Republican

Elected Governor

Roy Cooper
Democratic

Primary elections were held March 15.[1] Both McCrory and Cooper won their primaries by overwhelming margins.[2] Lon Cecil, a consultant and electrical engineer, was the Libertarian nominee. This race was expected to be among the most competitive in the country in the 2016 gubernatorial election cycle.[3]

On election night, the race was too close to call, with Cooper leading by fewer than 5,000 votes out of more than 4.6 million cast.[4] That lead eventually widened to 10,281 votes. Cooper claimed victory that night, with thousands of provisional ballots still yet to be counted, saying, "We have won this race." However, McCrory refused to concede, claiming that the race was still too close to call and the winner had not yet been determined. He cast doubt on the authenticity of 90,000 late-arriving votes from Durham County, which put Cooper in the lead.[5] McCrory's campaign filed complaints alleging voter fraud in over 50 counties.[6] Both campaigns anticipated a protracted legal battle over the results.[7]

On November 22, 2016, McCrory formally requested a statewide recount;[8] once all ballots are counted, North Carolina election law allows either candidate to request a recount if the margin is fewer than 10,000 votes.[7] On November 30, 2016, the North Carolina State Board of Elections ordered a recount of certain votes in Durham County.[9] The recount was slated to be completed on December 5, 2016. However, when early results made it apparent that the margin would not change, McCrory conceded the race to Cooper on the afternoon of December 5.

This was the first time since North Carolina governors became eligible for immediate reelection in 1976 that a sitting officeholder was defeated in a bid for a second term and the first North Carolina gubernatorial election since 1896 in which neither candidate received over 50% of the vote.[10]

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Declined

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Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory 		Charles
Moss 		Robert
Brawley 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[17] March 11–13, 2016 749 ± 3.6% 70% 7% 6% 17%
High Point University[18] March 9–10, 2016 734 ± 2.5% 73% 6% 8% 13%
SurveyUSA[19] March 4–7, 2016 688 ± 3.6% 66% 6% 9% 19%
SurveyUSA[20] February 14–16, 2016 437 ± 4.5% 67% – 17% 16%
Public Policy Polling[21] February 14–16, 2016 597 ± 4.0% 69% 4% 5% 22%
High Point University[22] January 30–February 4, 2016 477 ± 4.5% 75% 3% 2% 20%
Public Policy Polling[23] January 18–19, 2016 433 ± 3.2% 68% 6% 4% 22%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory 		Dan
Forest 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[24] August 12–16, 2015 406 ± 4.9% 60% 20% 20%

Results

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Republican primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pat McCrory (incumbent) 869,114 82.0%
Republican Robert Brawley 112,624 11.0%
Republican Charles Moss 81,315 7.0%
Total votes 1,063,053 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Withdrawn

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Declined

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Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Roy
Cooper 		Kenneth
Spaulding 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[17] March 11–13, 2016 746 ± 3.6% 53% 17% — 30%
High Point University[18] March 9–10, 2016 669 ± 2.5% 64% 18% — 19%
SurveyUSA[19] March 4–7, 2016 687 ± 3.8% 51% 19% — 30%
SurveyUSA[20] February 14–16, 2016 449 ± 4.7% 50% 21% — 29%
Public Policy Polling[21] February 14–16, 2016 575 ± 4.1% 55% 12% — 33%
High Point University[22] January 30–February 4, 2016 478 ± 4.5% 49% 11% — 40%
Public Policy Polling[23] January 18–19, 2016 461 ± 3.2% 55% 10% — 35%
Public Policy Polling[33] December 5–7, 2015 555 ± 2.8% 54% 10% — 36%
Public Policy Polling[34] October 23–25, 2015 421 ± 4.8% 58% 13% — 29%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Roy
Cooper 		Anthony
Foxx 		Kay
Hagan 		Charles
Meeker 		Kenneth
Spaulding 		Other/
Undecided
Civitas Institute[35] March 20–23, 2015 400 ± 5% 31% 7% 43% 3% 4% 12%

Results

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Results by county:
Cooper
  •   Cooper—80–90%
  •   Cooper—70–80%
  •   Cooper—60–70%
  •   Cooper—50–60%
Spaulding
  •   Spaulding—50–60%
  •   Spaulding—60–70%
Democratic primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roy Cooper 710,658 69.0%
Democratic Kenneth Spaulding 323,774 31.0%
Total votes 1,034,432 100.0%

Libertarian primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Withdrawn

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Declined

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Write-in candidates

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Declared

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  • Daniel Orr, navy veteran[42]

General election

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Debates

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[43] Tossup August 12, 2016
Daily Kos[44] Tossup November 8, 2016
Rothenberg Political Report[45] Tilt D (flip) November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball[46] Lean D (flip) November 7, 2016
Real Clear Politics[47] Tossup November 1, 2016
Governing[48] Tossup October 27, 2016

Polling

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Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation 		Dates
administered 		Dates
updated 		Pat
McCrory (R) 		Roy
Cooper (D) 		Other/Undecided
[a] 		Margin
Real Clear Politics[49] October 23 – November 6, 2016 November 6, 2016 46.2% 48.4% 5.4% Cooper +2.2%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory (R) 		Roy
Cooper (D) 		Lon
Cecil (L) 		Other Undecided
SurveyMonkey[50] November 1–7, 2016 3,126 ± 4.6% 43% 54% — — 3%
New York Times Upshot/Siena College[51] November 4–6, 2016 800 ± 3.5% 46% 47% — — 7%
Quinnipiac University[52] November 3–6, 2016 870 ± 3.3% 47% 50% — 1% 3%
SurveyMonkey[53] October 31–November 6, 2016 2,865 ± 4.6% 43% 54% — — 3%
SurveyMonkey[54] October 28–November 3, 2016 2,292 ± 4.6% 44% 53% — — 3%
SurveyMonkey[55] October 27–November 2, 2016 1,886 ± 4.6% 45% 53% — — 2%
Quinnipiac University[56] October 27–November 1, 2016 602 ± 4.0% 47% 49% — 1% 3%
SurveyMonkey[57] October 26–November 1, 2016 1,617 ± 4.6% 45% 52% — — 3%
SurveyUSA[58] October 28–31, 2016 659 ± 3.9% 47% 48% 2% — 4%
SurveyMonkey[59] October 25–31, 2016 1,574 ± 4.6% 46% 52% — — 2%
CBS News/YouGov[60] October 26–28, 2016 992 ± 4.1% 44% 46% — 1% 9%
Elon University Poll[61] October 23–27, 2016 710 ± 3.7% 44% 44% 1% 3% 8%
NBC/WSJ/Marist[62] October 25–26, 2016 780 LV ± 3.5% 45% 51% — 2% 2%
1,018 RV ± 3.1% 45% 50% — 3% 3%
Quinnipiac University[63] October 20–26, 2016 702 ± 3.7% 47% 49% — — 3%
New York Times Upshot/Siena College[64] October 20–23, 2016 792 ± 3.5% 45% 51% — — 4%
Monmouth University[65] October 20–23, 2016 402 ± 4.9% 48% 47% 2% — 3%
Public Policy Polling[66] October 21–22, 2016 875 ± 3.3% 44% 46% 3% — 8%
The Times-Picayune/Lucid[67] October 17–18, 2016 924 ± 3.0% 43% 50% — — 7%
SurveyUSA[68] October 14–18, 2016 651 ± 3.9% 45% 47% 3% — 5%
Civitas Institute (R)[69] October 14–17, 2016 600 ± 4.0% 46% 42% — — 10%
Washington Post/SurveyMonkey[70] October 8–16, 2016 1,191 ± 0.5% 42% 55% — — 2%
CNN/ORC[71] October 10–15, 2016 788 LV ± 3.5% 48% 49% — — 2%
929 RV ± 3.0% 47% 49% — — 2%
NBC/WSJ/Marist[72] October 10–12, 2016 743 LV ± 3.6% 48% 49% — 1% 3%
1,025 RV ± 3.1% 47% 48% — 1% 4%
High Point University[73] October 1–6, 2016 479 ± 4.5% 42% 49% 3% — 5%
SurveyUSA[74] September 29–October 3, 2016 656 ± 3.9% 44% 48% 2% — 6%
Bloomberg/Selzer[75] September 29–October 3, 2016 805 ± 3.5% 44% 50% — — 6%
Quinnipiac University[76] September 27–October 2, 2016 507 ± 4.4% 46% 48% — — 6%
Elon University Poll[77] September 27–30, 2016 660 ± 3.8% 44% 48% 3% — 5%
Public Policy Polling[78] September 27–28, 2016 861 ± 3.3% 42% 45% 4% — 9%
44% 49% — — 7%
Meredith College[79] September 18–22, 2016 487 ± 4.4% 41% 39% 1% 6% 14%
High Point University[80] September 17–22, 2016 404 ± 4.9% 41% 50% 3% — 5%
FOX News[81] September 18–20, 2016 734 LV ± 3.5% 46% 43% 3% 1% 7%
800 RV 45% 42% 3% 1% 9%
Public Policy Polling[82] September 18–20, 2016 1,024 ± 3.1% 41% 46% 2% — 11%
43% 50% — — 8%
New York Times Upshot/Siena College[83] September 16–19, 2016 782 ± 3.6% 42% 50% — — 7%
Elon University Poll[84] September 12–16, 2016 644 ± 3.9% 49% 46% 2% — 3%
Civitas Institute (R)[85] September 11–12, 2016 600 ± 4.0% 45% 43% 1% — 9%
Quinnipiac University[86] August 29–September 7, 2016 751 ± 3.6% 44% 51% — — 5%
Monmouth University[87] August 20–23, 2016 401 ± 4.9% 43% 52% 3% — 3%
CNN/ORC[88] August 18–23, 2016 803 LV ± 3.5% 46% 52% — — 2%
912 RV
NBC/WSJ/Marist[89] August 4–10, 2016 921 ± 3.2% 44% 51% — — 5%
Public Policy Polling[90] August 5–7, 2016 830 ± 3.4% 42% 43% 4% — 11%
NBC/WSJ/Marist[91] July 5–11, 2016 907 ± 3.3% 45% 49% — 1% 5%
Civitas Institute (R)[92] June 21–23, 2016 600 ± 4.0% 45% 40% 3% — 10%
Public Policy Polling[93] June 20–21, 2016 947 ± 3.2% 41% 41% 6% — 13%
Civitas Institute (R)[94] May 21–23, 2016 600 ± 4.0% 45% 40% 3% — 11%
Public Policy Polling[95] May 20–22, 2016 928 ± 3.2% 41% 41% 5% — 13%
RABA Research[96] April 27–28, 2016 688 ± 3.7% 36% 41% 6% — 17%
Civitas Institute (R)[97] April 23–25, 2016 600 ± 4.0% 39% 48% 5% — 8%
Public Policy Polling[98] April 22–24, 2016 960 ± 3.2% 42% 43% 4% — 11%
Elon University Poll[99] April 10–15, 2016 621 ± 3.9% 42% 48% — 6% 5%
SurveyUSA[100] April 8–11, 2016 701 ± 3.8% 43% 47% 2% — 8%
Public Policy Polling[101] March 18–20, 2016 843 ± 3.4% 42% 40% 6% — 12%
High Point University[18] March 9–10, 2016 1,576 ± 2.5% 47% 45% — — 8%
Elon University Poll[102] February 15–19, 2016 1,530 ± 2.5% 40% 42% — 3% 15%
Public Policy Polling[21] February 14–16, 2016 1,291 ± 2.7% 43% 41% — — 16%
SurveyUSA[20] February 14–16, 2016 1,250 ± 2.8% 45% 42% — — 12%
Public Policy Polling[23] January 18–19, 2016 948 ± 3.2% 40% 43% — — 17%
Public Policy Polling[33] December 5–7, 2015 1,214 ± 2.8% 44% 42% — — 14%
Elon University Poll[103] October 29–November 2, 2015 1,040 ± 3.0% 40% 45% — 3% 13%
Public Policy Polling[34] October 23–25, 2015 893 ± 3.3% 43% 44% — — 13%
Public Policy Polling[104] September 24–27, 2015 1,268 ± 2.8% 44% 41% — — 15%
Elon University Poll[105] September 17–21, 2015 1,258 ± 3.0% 43% 42% — 3% 11%
Public Policy Polling[24] August 12–16, 2015 957 ± 3.2% 39% 42% — — 18%
Civitas Institute (R)[106] August 10–12, 2015 400 ± 4.0% 32% 34% — — 33%
Public Policy Polling[107] July 2–6, 2015 529 ± 4.3% 41% 43% — — 16%
Civitas Institute (R)[108] June 23–25, 2015 600 ± 4.0% 43% 38% — — 17%
Public Policy Polling[109] May 28–31, 2015 561 ± 4.1% 41% 44% — — 15%
Elon University Poll[110] April 20–24, 2015 677 ± 3.8% 45% 43% — 4% 8%
Public Policy Polling[111] April 2–5, 2015 751 ± 3.6% 44% 41% — — 15%
Public Policy Polling[112] February 24–26, 2015 849 ± 3.4% 43% 41% — — 16%
Diversified Research[113] February 2–3, 2015 800 ± 3.5% 44% 42% — — 14%
Public Policy Polling[114] January 29–31, 2015 845 ± 3.4% 44% 39% — — 17%
Meeting Street Research[115] January 21–22, 2015 500 ± 4.4% 47% 44% — — 9%
Public Policy Polling[116] December 4–7, 2014 823 ± 3.4% 46% 39% — — 15%
Gravis Marketing[117] October 29–30, 2014 1,006 ± 3.0% 47% 45% — — 8%
Gravis Marketing[118] October 16–18, 2014 1,022 ± 3.0% 49% 41% — — 9%
Gravis Marketing[119] September 22–23, 2014 860 ± 3.0% 45% 42% — — 12%
Public Policy Polling[120] September 11–14, 2014 1,266 ± 2.8% 44% 41% — — 15%
Public Policy Polling[121] August 14–17, 2014 856 ± 3.4% 44% 43% — — 14%
Gravis Marketing[122] July 22–27, 2014 1,380 ± 3.0% 44% 46% — — 10%
Public Policy Polling[123] June 12–15, 2014 1,076 ± 3.0% 44% 42% — — 14%
Public Policy Polling[124] May 9–11, 2014 877 ± 3.3% 43% 42% — — 15%
Public Policy Polling[125] April 3–6, 2014 740 ± 3.6% 43% 43% — — 15%
Public Policy Polling[126] February 6–9, 2014 708 ± 3.7% 43% 41% — — 15%
Public Policy Polling[127] September 6–9, 2013 600 ± 4.0% 42% 48% — — 11%
Hypothetical polling

with Pat McCrory

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory (R) 		Kenneth
Spaulding (D) 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[21] February 14–16, 2016 1,291 ± 2.7% 44% 32% — 24%
SurveyUSA[20] February 14–16, 2016 1,250 ± 2.8% 48% 38% — 15%
Public Policy Polling[23] January 18–19, 2016 948 ± 3.2% 43% 34% — 22%
Public Policy Polling[33] December 5–7, 2015 1,214 ± 2.8% 47% 32% — 21%
Public Policy Polling[34] October 23–25, 2015 893 ± 3.3% 46% 31% — 23%
Public Policy Polling[104] September 24–27, 2015 1,268 ± 2.8% 46% 34% — 21%
Public Policy Polling[24] August 12–16, 2015 957 ± 3.2% 40% 35% — 25%
Public Policy Polling[107] July 2–6, 2015 529 ± 4.3% 43% 33% — 24%
Public Policy Polling[128] May 28–31, 2015 561 ± 4.1% 43% 32% — 25%
Public Policy Polling[111] April 2–5, 2015 751 ± 3.6% 46% 33% — 21%
Public Policy Polling[112] February 24–26, 2015 849 ± 3.4% 44% 35% — 21%
Public Policy Polling[114] January 29–31, 2015 845 ± 3.4% 47% 36% — 17%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory (R) 		Janet
Cowell (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[116] December 4–7, 2014 823 ± 3.4% 47% 36% 16%
Public Policy Polling[127] September 6–9, 2013 600 ± 4% 43% 47% 10%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory (R) 		Anthony
Foxx (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[116] December 4–7, 2014 823 ± 3.4% 48% 34% 18%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory (R) 		Kay
Hagan (D) 		Undecided
Meeting Street Research[129] January 21–22, 2015 500 ± 4.38% 50% 42% 8%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory (R) 		Charles
Meeker (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[125] April 3–6, 2014 740 ± 3.6% 45% 38% 17%
Public Policy Polling[127] September 6–9, 2013 600 ± 4% 42% 45% 13%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Pat
McCrory (R) 		Josh
Stein (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[127] September 6–9, 2013 600 ± 4% 42% 44% 14%

with Phil Berger

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Phil
Berger (R) 		Roy
Cooper (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[116] December 4–7, 2014 823 ± 3.4% 35% 41% 24%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Phil
Berger (R) 		Janet
Cowell (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[116] December 4–7, 2014 823 ± 3.4% 37% 38% 25%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Phil
Berger (R) 		Anthony
Foxx (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[116] December 4–7, 2014 823 ± 3.4% 39% 36% 25%

with Dan Forest

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Dan
Forest (R) 		Roy
Cooper (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[24] August 12–16, 2015 957 ± 3.2% 33% 42% 25%
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North Carolina's gubernatorial election, 2016[130]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Roy Cooper 2,309,162 49.02% +5.79%
Republican Pat McCrory (incumbent) 2,298,881 48.80% −5.82%
Libertarian Lon Cecil 102,978 2.19% +0.06%
Margin of victory 10,281 0.22% −7.92%
Turnout 4,711,021 68.98% +1.68%
Democratic gain from Republican

Polls closed at 7:30 pm on election day. On election night, as votes were tallied, Cooper held an early lead, but was overtaken by McCrory around 9:30 pm, and McCrory held the lead for most of the evening. Shortly before midnight, McCrory held a 60,000 vote lead until a block of 90,000 votes from Durham County was added to the total, putting Cooper back in the lead by fewer than 5,000 votes out of 4,500,000 cast.[5] Both candidates addressed supporters around 12:30 am; Cooper declared victory, while McCrory vowed the race was not over and that every vote needed to be counted.[5]

Under North Carolina state law, absentee ballots postmarked on or before election day must be counted, and military and overseas ballots accepted through November 17 must also be counted.[131] Additionally, election administrators "must decide the eligibility of more than 60,000 provisional ballots and the validity of thousands of challenged votes."[131] This process, plus a protracted legal challenge from the McCrory campaign, was likely to leave the election result not formally decided for some time after election day.[131]

McCrory's campaign said that it had "grave concerns over potential irregularities in Durham County."[5] Republican Party of North Carolina Chairman Robin Hayes called Cooper's declaration of victory "rude and grossly premature."[7] On November 10, 2016, both campaigns announced they had retained attorneys in anticipation of a protracted legal battle: Cooper hired lawyers from Washington-based firm Perkins Coie (including Marc Elias[132]), while McCrory hired lawyers from Virginia-based firm Holtzman Vogel Josefiak.[7]

Once all ballots are counted, North Carolina election law allows either candidate to request a recount if the margin is fewer than 10,000 votes.[7]

On November 12, the general counsel of the Durham County Republican Party filed a formal protest with the Durham County Board of Elections alleging "malfeasance" in the tallying of votes in Durham County and calling for a recount.[133] McCrory's campaign said that the 90,000 votes added to the total late on election night appeared to have come from corrupted memory cards. A campaign spokesman said, "What transpired in Durham County is extremely troubling and no citizen can have confidence in the results at this point in time."[133]

On November 14, WRAL reported that there was speculation among political operatives about whether the race could possibly be contested and handed to the North Carolina General Assembly to determine the winner, as was done in 2005, when the General Assembly made June Atkinson the winner of a disputed election for the office of North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction.[134] North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore said getting the General Assembly involved would be "an absolute last resort".[135]

Also on November 14, WRAL reported that the State Bureau of Investigation was investigating whether crimes were committed in the mishandling of 1,000 ballots in the March 2016 primaries in Durham County, the likely epicenter of the battle over the gubernatorial race.[136] The Durham County electoral board chairman said there was no connection between the investigation and the gubernatorial race.[136]

On November 15 Bladen County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor McCrae Dowless, a Republican and the incumbent for reelection, filed a protest with that county's board of elections over several hundred absentee ballots cast for Cooper and other Democrats, claiming that they were fraudulent; on the basis of similarity of the handwriting with which they were filled out. In his initial filing, Dowless claimed corroboration by a handwriting expert. The complainant had initially expressed concerns about voter fraud related to his own reelection campaign, and before election day.[137][138][139] The McCrory campaign alleged that the ballots were filled out by paid employees of the Bladen County Improvement Association PAC, a political action committee that received funding from the North Carolina Democratic Party.[137] The complaint alleged that one person served as a witness for at least 67 mail-in absentee ballots, and the same person appeared to have filled out the selections on 71 ballots.[140] It said there were at least 250 questionable ballots connected to five people paid by the Bladen County Improvement Association PAC. That organization has responded that the people involved were volunteers with their get-out-the-vote effort, and that the only payments made to them were small stipends for expenses incurred as part of that activity; such as food and gas costs.[141] The McCrory campaign stated, "A massive voting fraud scheme has been uncovered in Bladen County."[141] In response, the Cooper campaign stated: "Governor McCrory has set a new standard for desperation in his attempts to undermine the results of an election he lost."[142]

On November 16, the McCrory campaign announced it had filed election protests alleging fraud in 11 more counties.[6][143] On November 17, the McCrory campaign announced the number of counties in which it had filed protests alleging voter fraud had grown to 50 counties,[142][144] which the Associated Press reported were "without offering detailed proof."[145]

Every county election board in the state has three members: two Republican appointees and one Democrat.[132][146]

Durham County has been seen as the most pivotal county, as it has the most votes at stake.[132] On November 16, the Durham County Board of Elections voted 2–1 to hold an evidentiary hearing on election protest about the ballots in Durham County.[147] At the hearing on November 18, the board unanimously dismissed the protest, with the board's Republican chairman, William Brian Jr., saying that all the evidence shows that the count is correct.[145]

By November 18, Cooper's unofficial advantage over McCrory had grown to about 6,600 votes, out of almost 4.7 million cast.[145][146]

On November 20, the state Board of Elections held an emergency meeting. They declined a McCrory campaign petition for the state board to take jurisdiction over all 50 county election protests, except for the one in Bladen County, which they took over.[148] They decided to convene another meeting on November 22 to issue guidance to county boards on how to handle the protests.[149]

On November 22, the McCrory campaign formally requested a statewide recount.[8]

Also on November 22, the Civitas Institute filed a federal lawsuit seeking an injunction to delay the State Board of Elections' count of ballots of unverified same-day registrants, alleging that there is not enough time to verify the eligibility of voters who registered to vote on election day.[150] Civitas said that neither the McCrory campaign nor the state Republican Party were involved in the lawsuit.[151] Civitas cited a 2012 review conducted by the state Board of Elections that found 2.44% of voters who used same-day registration in 2012 failed the verification process, but the process was not completely finished when the ballots were counted.[151] A court hearing is scheduled for December 8.[152]

On November 26, the Durham County Republican Party's general counsel asked the state Board of Elections to hold an expedited hearing on his appeal of the Durham County Board of Elections' refusal to conduct a recount of that county's votes.[153] The campaign stated they would withdraw their request for a statewide recount if a manual recount of Durham County votes produced the same results as were reported on election day.[154]

On November 30, the State Board of Elections ordered a recount of the Durham County votes.[9] The recount was to be completed by 7 p.m. on December 5. However, by that morning, early results showed no change in the tally. McCrory announced on his campaign's YouTube channel that he was conceding the race to Cooper, saying that it was now clear that "the majority of our citizens had spoken."[10]

Official results

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North Carolina's gubernatorial election, 2016[155]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Roy Cooper 2,309,157 49.02% +5.79%
Republican Pat McCrory (incumbent) 2,298,880 48.80% −5.82%
Libertarian Lon Cecil 102,977 2.19% +0.06%
Total votes 4,711,014 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

Aftermath

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Following the election, the General Assembly, controlled by Republicans, passed legislation that would limit the incoming governor's powers.[156] Democrats have referred to the move as a power grab, and Republicans have countered that Democrats have made similar moves when they controlled the legislature.[157]

Notes

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  1. ^ Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.

References

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  1. ^ "WRAL: North Carolina primaries officially on March 15 with signing". Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Gov. Pat McCrory launches 2016 campaign". The News & Observer. December 2, 2014. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
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