2016 North Carolina Council of State election explained

Election Name:	2016 North Carolina Council of State election
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 North Carolina Council of State election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 North Carolina Council of State election
Next Year:	2020
Seats For Election:	All 10 members of the North Carolina Council of State
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Last Election1:	4
Seats1:	6
Seat Change1:	2
Percentage1:	51.2%
Swing1:	5.2
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election2:	6
Seats2:	4
Seat Change2:	2
Percentage2:	48.2%
Swing2:	5.6

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]

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

See 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

See 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.

Attorney general

See 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.

Secretary of State

Election Name:	2016 North Carolina Secretary of State election
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 North Carolina Council of State election#Secretary of State
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 North Carolina Council of State election#Secretary of State
Next Year:	2020
Image1:	Elaine Marshall IACA 2018 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Elaine Marshall
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	2,368,091
Percentage1:	52.26%
Nominee2:	Michael LaPaglia
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	2,163,185
Percentage2:	47.74%
Secretary of State
Before Election:	Elaine Marshall
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Elaine Marshall
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Elaine Marshall, Incumbent (unopposed in the primary)

Republican primary

Candidates

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

Results

General election

Results

State Auditor

Election Name:	2016 North Carolina State Auditor election
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 North Carolina Council of State election#State Auditor
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 North Carolina Council of State election#State Auditor
Next Year:	2020
Image1:	3x4.svg
Nominee1:	Beth Wood
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	2,259,436
Percentage1:	50.07%
Nominee2:	Chuck Stuber
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	2,253,394
Percentage2:	49.93%
State Auditor
Before Election:	Beth Wood
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Beth Wood
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

Democrat Beth Wood, the incumbent, ran for reelection to a third term.^[9]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Beth Wood, incumbent^[9] (unopposed in the primary)

Republican primary

Candidates

• Chuck Stuber, former FBI special agent^[10] (unopposed in the primary)

General election

Results

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.^[11] But as the recount neared completion and the outcome remained the same, Stuber conceded the election on Dec. 9.^[12]

State Treasurer

Election Name:	2016 North Carolina State Treasurer election
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 North Carolina Council of State election#State Treasurer
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 North Carolina Council of State election#State Treasurer
Next Year:	2020
Image1:	File:Dale Wiki.jpg
Nominee1:	Dale Folwell
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	2,373,022
Percentage1:	52.70%
Nominee2:	Dan Blue III
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	2,129,762
Percentage2:	47.30%
State Treasurer
Before Election:	Janet Cowell
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Dale Folwell
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

Janet Cowell, a Democrat and the incumbent Treasurer, announced she would not run for reelection.^[13]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Dan Blue III, attorney, former investment banker, former Wake County Democratic Party chair^{[14] [15]}
• Ron Elmer, CPA and money manager^[16]

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dale Folwell, CPA and former state representative^[17] (unopposed in the primary)

General election

Results

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.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Election Name:	2016 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 North Carolina Council of State election#Superintendent of Public Instruction
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 North Carolina Council of State election#Superintendent of Public Instruction
Next Year:	2020
Image1:	Mark Johnson (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Mark Johnson
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	2,285,783
Percentage1:	50.60%
Nominee2:	June Atkinson
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	2,231,903
Percentage2:	49.40%
Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Before Election:	June Atkinson
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Mark Johnson
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

Democrat June Atkinson, the incumbent, ran for a fourth term in 2016.^[18] When it was believed that Atkinson was not going to run for re-election, State Rep. Tricia Cotham was considered a potential Democratic candidate.^{[19] [20]}

Democratic primary

Candidates

• June Atkinson, incumbent
• Henry Pankey, retired school principal^[21]

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mark Johnson, Forsyth County School Board member^[22]
• Dr. Rosemary Stein, Physician, former Alamance Community College Trustee & GOP Activist^[23]
• J. Wesley Sills, teacher^[24]

Results

General election

Results

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.^[25]

Commissioner of Agriculture

Election Name:	2016 North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture election
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 North Carolina Council of State election#Commissioner of Agriculture
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 North Carolina Council of State election#Commissioner of Agriculture
Next Year:	2020
Image1:	Steve Troxler USDA (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Steve Troxler
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	2,524,445
Percentage1:	55.56%
Nominee2:	Walter Smith
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	2,018,872
Percentage2:	44.44%
Commissioner of Agriculture
Before Election:	Steve Troxler
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Steve Troxler
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Walter Smith, former mayor of Boonville, former USDA official and nominee in 2012^[26] (unopposed in the primary)

Republican primary

Candidates

• Andy Stevens^[27]
• Steve Troxler, incumbent

Results

General election

Results

Steve Troxler received more votes than any other candidate in North Carolina in 2016. As of 2021, this is the last statewide election in which the Republican candidate won Wake County and Chatham County.

Commissioner of Labor

Election Name:	2016 North Carolina Commissioner of Labor election
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 North Carolina Council of State election#Commissioner of Labor
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 North Carolina Council of State election#Commissioner of Labor
Next Year:	2020
Image1:	Cherie Berry (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Cherie Berry
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	2,505,628
Percentage1:	55.19%
Nominee2:	Charles Meeker
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	2,029,227
Percentage2:	44.70%
Commissioner of Labor
Before Election:	Cherie Berry
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Cherie Berry
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

Republican Cherie Berry, the incumbent, ran for reelection to a fifth term.^[28]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mazie Ferguson
• Charles Meeker, attorney and former mayor of Raleigh^[29]

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Cherie Berry, incumbent^[28] (unopposed in the primary)

General election

Results

Commissioner of Insurance

Election Name:	2016 North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance election
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 North Carolina Council of State election#Commissioner of Insurance
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 North Carolina Council of State election#Commissioner of Insurance
Next Year:	2020
Image1:	Mike Causey 2.jpg
Nominee1:	Mike Causey
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	2,270,841
Percentage1:	50.40%
Nominee2:	Wayne Goodwin
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	2,234,953
Percentage2:	49.60%
Commissioner of Insurance
Before Election:	Wayne Goodwin
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Mike Causey
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Wayne Goodwin, incumbent (unopposed in the primary)

Republican primary

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^[30]
• Joe McLaughlin, former Onslow County commissioner^[31]
• Ron Pierce, General Contractor, Ex-Airline Mechanic & Army Veteran^[32]

Withdrawn

• Heather Grant, Yadkinville nurse and Republican primary candidate for US Senate in 2014^{[33] [34]}

Results

General election

Results

Causey became the first Republican ever elected to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance.^[35]

See also

• North Carolina Council of State elections: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012.

External links

• NC State Board of Elections

Notes and References

1. Web site: WRAL: North Carolina primaries officially on March 15 with signing . October 1, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151002070437/http://www.wral.com/north-carolina-primaries-now-on-march-15-with-bill-signing/14938667/ . October 2, 2015 . dead .
2. Web site: Article III. North Carolina Constitution. State of North Carolina. April 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170327090239/http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Legislation/constitution/article3.html. March 27, 2017. dead.
3. Web site: NC SBE Contest Results. er.ncsbe.gov.
4. News: For North Carolina Attorney General, Running For Governor Will Mean Taking On His Top Client. Samantha Lachman. Huffington Post. April 2, 2015. April 26, 2015.
5. News: Josh Stein says he'll run for NC Attorney General in 2016. Patrick Gannon. The News & Observer. November 27, 2013. April 26, 2015.
6. News: NC Sen. Buck Newton launches run for attorney general. Colin Campbell. The News & Observer. June 1, 2015. June 5, 2015.
7. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article44294694.html Republican to launch campaign for NC secretary of state
8. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article48817660.html News & Observer: Second Republican joins NC secretary of state race
9. News: Lynn Bonner. Beth Woods to seek third term as state auditor. May 4, 2015. News & Observer. May 5, 2015.
10. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article50315030.html News & Observer: Former investigator Chuck Stuber running for NC state auditor
11. Web site: NC GOP calls recount push a public service. November 29, 2016. WRAL.com.
12. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article119915263.html News & Observer: Republican Chuck Stuber concedes NC state auditor race to Beth Wood
13. Web site: NC Treasurer Cowell won't seek re-election. October 13, 2015. WRAL.com.
14. Web site: Blue, Stephens & Fellers . December 8, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151121101210/http://www.bluestephens.com/profiles/daniel-t-blue-iii . November 21, 2015 . dead .
15. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article48183110.html News & Observer: Dan Blue III running for state Treasurer
16. Web site: Ron Elmer candidate for state treasurer. NCSPIN. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015614/http://www.ncspin.com/ron-elmer-candidate-for-state-treasurer-d/. November 17, 2015. November 14, 2015.
17. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article47339830.html News & Observer: Republican Dale Folwell to run for state treasurer
18. https://www.ednc.org/2015/10/15/superintendent-june-atkinson-to-run-for-re-election/ EducationNC
19. Web site: Council of State Update. John. Wynne. May 5, 2015. PoliticsNC.
20. Web site: Michaels on NCSpin: Atkinson won't run again in 2016. A. P.. Dillon. June 22, 2014.
21. News: Sexton: Henry Pankey's qualifications for N.C. superintendent more than just a kids' book. Scott Sexton. Winston-Salem Journal. April 16, 2015. September 5, 2015.
22. Web site: Johnson 'strongly considering' run for state superintendent. Arika Herron Winston-Salem. Journal. Winston-Salem Journal.
23. Web site: Dr. Rosemary Stein for N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction . November 28, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208172445/http://drrosemarystein.org/ . December 8, 2015 . dead .
24. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article50074500.html News & Observer: Harnett teacher in GOP primary for state superintendent
25. Web site: C. H. Mebane (Charles Harden), 1862-1926. docsouth.unc.edu.
26. Web site: Smith to run for state office. The Yadkin Ripple. November 25, 2015. November 30, 2015.
27. Web site: State Board of Elections candidate lists. https://web.archive.org/web/20160321202239/http://www.ncsbe.gov/list-of-candidates. dead. March 21, 2016.
28. Web site: Berry announces reelection. AJ Daoud. twitter. March 1, 2015. April 26, 2015.
29. Web site: Meeker seeks Labor seat. July 8, 2015. WRAL.com.
30. ftp://alt.ncsbe.gov/Candidate_Filing/ Candidate filing from NC State Board of Elections
31. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article50935595.html News & Observer: Filing for 2016 election ends
32. Web site: Pierce Campaign . November 28, 2015 . December 8, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208111628/http://www.piercecampaign.com/ . dead .
33. Web site: Heather Grant considering run for Insurance Commissioner. NC GOP 3rd Congressional District. facebook. April 25, 2015. June 5, 2015.
34. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article49285495.html News & Observer: Republican Heather Grant drops out of insurance commissioner race
35. Web site: Three GOP Challengers Hope To Be First Republican Insurance Commissioner. March 14, 2016. Carolina Journal -.