Primary Election 2024: Check in for results

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Super Tuesday results are coming in after polls closed at 7:30 p.m.

READ MORE: Here is who filed for the 2024 elections

North Carolina was one of 15 states and American Samoa that had its primary election on March 5. On the ballot were candidates for president, governor and other state officials, as well as local contenders vying for board of commissioner and school board seats.

Voters could cast ballots for candidates in their registered party; unaffiliated voters had to choose the party they wanted to vote in for the Primary Elections. Almost 1.8 million ballots were cast of the 7.4 million of registered voters statewide. That’s 24.02% of voters showing up to the polls Tuesday — less than the 2.1 million that came out four years ago for the last presidential election year primaries.

Donald Trump secured the presidential Republican nomination in the state by 73.86%, over Nikki Haley’s 23.32%. Ron DeSantis rounded out with 1.3% and No Preference took in 0.7% of the vote.

Libertarian voters selected No Preference for 40.42%, with Chase Oliver behind at 13.28%.

President Joe Biden, the only Democratic nominee, received 87.32% over the No Preference option at 12.68%.

Some younger progressives, many calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, campaigned for voters to choose “No Preference” as a protest against Biden administration’s aid for Israel’s military.

Political fallout from the Israel war reached local elections as well this primary season, as one school board candidate in New Hanover County dropped out of the race last month. Cynthia Munoz cited safety of her family but wasn’t clear when PCD asked what threats were made. Sources close to the matter revealed Munoz’s dropout is the result of attacks from Jewish Democratic voters, due to a pro-Palestinian Facebook post Munoz made last year. Munoz’s abandonment of her campaign canceled the need for a primary in the Democratic school board race, with Tim Merrick, Jerry Jones and Judy Justice moving forward.

Moving forward of the Republican GOP candidates for the New Hanover County school board are David Perry, Natosha Tew and Nikki Bascome.

Statewide, Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, received 69.48% and will move forward in the governor race. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s term expires this year; he cannot run again after being elected to office in 2016. Stein will face off against GOP nominee and lieutenant governor Mark Robinson, who secured 64.85%.

Securing the nominee for lieutenant governor for the Democrats is Rachel Hunt with 70.36% of the vote, for GOP, Hal Weatherman with 19.61% of the vote.

A primary for attorney general was held for the Democratic Party, with Jeff Jackson getting 54.85%; he will go head to head against Dan Bishop, the only Republican running for the position. The last time a GOP candidate won the race for top law enforcement official in the state was 1896.

Below are the State Board of Election results broken down by New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties; winners in local elections, including school board and commissioner races are listed below with percentage points wins.

Candidates will move forward in the formal election, to take place Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024.

New Hanover County

Early voting numbers in New Hanover totaled 16,062, with Republicans outpacing other parties with 8,875 ballots cast. Democrats had 7,160 votes and Libertarians totaled 27 before the polls opened on Primary Election Day.

All precincts were reporting with 40,373 ballots counted out of 180,968 total registered voters, making for a 22.31% turnout.

The school board candidates moving forward from the Democratic Party are Tim Merrick (29.04%), Judy Justice (28.09%) and Jerry Jones (25.56%), while GOP candidates include David Perry (25.25%), Natosha Tew (20.71%) and Nikki Bascome (19.08%).

Final results must be canvassed by the local board of elections, to take place March 15.

Brunswick County

Early voting numbers in Brunswick totaled 15,333. Republicans led the majority with 7,110, with unaffiliated voters trailing behind at 4,871. Democrats were at 3,341 and Libertarians had 11 ballots cast before the polls opened Tuesday.

By the time all precincts were accounted for, there were 36,002 ballots cast out of 132,047 — around 27.26% of total voters in the county.

In Brunswick County, the board of commissioners moving forward to the election include incumbents Pat Sykes (District 3) and Frank Williams (District 5), both Republicans. Sykes will not have a Democratic opponent come November, though Williams will face off against Democrat Jonathan Damico.

The board of education will include Republican candidates Vickie Smith (District 1), running unopposed in November. Catherine Cooke was elected to District 2, the seat held by David Robinson who was running for re-election but passed away last week. The school board will have to fill his seat earlier.

Steven Barger in District 4 will campaign against Democratic school board candidate Janis Simmons.

As well, Bald Head Island included on its ballot a bond to cover two beach improvement projects; both passed and could cost $18 million in general obligation bonds. This could also mean homeowners may see a property tax rate increase; read PCD’s previous reporting here.

Final results must be canvassed by the local board of elections, to take place March 15.

Pender County

Pender County does not post early voting numbers on its county board of elections site.

The county board did not post election results until 1 a.m.

According to WHQR, Pender County Board of Elections hit a snag with its voting machines, which wouldn’t print authorization to vote forms on Tuesday. Officials told the outlet it wouldn’t impact voting results.

In the school board race, current Republican member Phil Cordeiro lost to incumbent Tommy Reeves, who received 68.03% of the vote.

In the commissioners Republican primary race, Brent Springer, who currently serves on the board of education, won with 60.55% of the vote against Fred McCoy in District 5. Incumbent Brad George of District 1 received 61.38% of the vote to beat out Joe Cina. Ken Smith, also who is chair of the board of education, came out on top with 46.53% of the vote in District 4; he was running against incumbent Jackie Newton who came in last with 26.11%. Also in that race was Max Southworth-Beckwith, falling second with 27.36%.

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