2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election

See also: 2024 United States gubernatorial elections and 2024 North Carolina Council of State elections

2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election
← 2020 November 5, 2024 2028 →
Turnout73.73% Decrease 1.62 pp
 
Nominee Rachel Hunt Hal Weatherman
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,768,539 2,663,183
Percentage 49.53% 47.64%
County results
Hunt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Weatherman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Lieutenant Governor before election

Mark Robinson
Republican

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Rachel Hunt
Democratic

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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]

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 Walter H. Dalton in 2008.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Hal Weatherman, businessman and former chief of staff to Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest[2]

Eliminated in runoff

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Jeffrey Elmore

Newspapers

Allen Mashburn

Organizations

Hal Weatherman

State officials

Newspapers

Polling

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[17] February 16–23, 2024 386 (LV) ± 6.0% 10% 11% 27% 13% 7% 11% 21%[b] –
Capen Analytics[18] February 21, 2024 12,580 (LV) ± 5.0% 15% 8% 16% 8% 21% 18% 15%[c] 3%
Cygnal (R)[19][A] October 8–9, 2023 600 (LV) ± 3.9% 3% 1% – 4% 4% 2% 2%[d] 84%

Results

Results by county:
  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%
Republican primary results[20]
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

Results by county:
  Weatherman
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%
  O'Neill
  •   50–60%
Republican primary runoff results[21]
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

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Endorsements

Rachel Hunt
Organizations

Newspapers

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Ben
Clark 		Rachel
Hunt 		Mark H.
Robinson 		Undecided
High Point University[17] February 16–23, 2024 321 (LV) ± 6.0% 14% 61% 24% –
Public Policy Polling (D)[29] December 15–16, 2023 556 (LV) ± 4.2% 5% 23% 6% 66%

Results

Results by county:
  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%
Democratic primary results[20]
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

Withdrew after nomination

  • Dee Watson, oncology researcher[9]

Replacement nominee

  • Shannon Bray, cybersecurity professional and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 and 2022[30]

Constitution Party

Nominee

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] Tossup November 1, 2024

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Hal
Weatherman (R) 		Rachel
Hunt (D) 		Other Undecided
ActiVote[33] October 8–26, 2024 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 50% 50% – –
Cygnal (R)[34][B] October 12–14, 2024 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 41% 43% 3%[e] 13%
ActiVote[35] August 20 – September 22, 2024 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 50% 50% – –
Cygnal (R)[36][B] September 15–16, 2024 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 40% 42% 3%[f] 15%
YouGov (D)[37][C] August 5–9, 2024 802 (RV) ± 3.9% 38% 40% – 22%
Cygnal (R)[38][B] August 4–5, 2024 600 (LV) ± 3.99% 38% 36% 5%[g] 22%
Spry Strategies[39] June 7–11, 2024 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 38% 38% – 24%

Results

2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rachel Hunt 2,768,539 49.53% +1.16%
Republican Hal Weatherman 2,663,183 47.64% –3.99%
Libertarian Shannon Bray 104,192 1.86% N/A
Constitution Wayne Jones 53,938 0.96% N/A
Total votes 5,589,852 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Peter Boykin with 7%; Allen Mashburn, Marlenis Hernandez Navoa, and Ernest Reeves with 4%; Rivera Douthit with 2%
  3. ^ Marlenis Hernandez Navoa with 5%; Peter Boykin, Allen Mashburn, and Ernest Reeves with 3%; Rivera Douthit with 1%
  4. ^ Peter Boykin and Allen Mashburn with 1%; Rivera Douthit with 0%
  5. ^ Bray (L) with 2%; Jones (C) with 1%
  6. ^ Bray (L) with 2%; Jones (C) with 1%
  7. ^ Bray (L) with 5%

Partisan clients

  1. ^ Poll sponsored by the John Locke Foundation
  2. ^ a b c Poll sponsored by the Carolina Journal
  3. ^ Poll sponsored by Carolina Forward

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ Skinner, Victor (May 3, 2023). "She's on a path with the familiar family name". The Center Square. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Doyle, Steve (August 25, 2023). "Another Republican enters the race for lieutenant governor in North Carolina". Fox 8. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Mikkelson, Emily (May 9, 2023). "Wilkes County representative Elmore announces run for lieutenant governor". FOX 8. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Stamps, Brayden (May 27, 2023). "Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page officially announces run for North Carolina lieutenant governor". FOX 8. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Hammer, John (February 15, 2023). "Jim Kee Announces Run For NC Lieutenant Governor In 2024". The Rhino Times of Greensboro. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ a b Specht, Paul (May 14, 2024). "O'Neill and Weatherman square off for GOP lieutenant governor nomination". WRAL.com. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Olson, Troy (November 21, 2023). "Endorsement: Allen Mashburn for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina". New York Young Republican Club. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  16. ^ Hammer, John (February 27, 2024). "Rhino Endorsements In Republican Primary". The Rhino Times of Greensboro. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  17. ^ a b High Point University
  18. ^ Capen Analytics
  19. ^ Cygnal (R)
  20. ^ a b "03/05/2024 OFFICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "05/14/2024 OFFICIAL 2NDPRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". NCSBE. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  22. ^ "N. Carolina Sen. Rachel Hunt to run for lieutenant governor". AP News. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  23. ^ Fain, Travis (December 15, 2023). "Mark Robinson is running for governor. A different Mark Robinson wants his job". WRAL-TV. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ a b "'Perpetual campaign season:' For some NC candidates, 2024 races have already begun".
  26. ^ 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.'
  27. ^ Alexander, Dave (March 9, 2023). "Smith to Run for Mayor". Goldsboro Daily News. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  28. ^ "EMILYs List Endorses Rachel Hunt for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina". EMILYs List. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  29. ^ Public Policy Polling (D)
  30. ^ "2024 General Candidate List By Contest Federal And State" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  31. ^ Zehnder, Katherine (July 18, 2024). "Constitution Party candidates file for November ballot". Carolina Journal. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  32. ^ Jacobson, Louis (November 1, 2024). "Updating the Down-Ballot Statewide Races". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  33. ^ ActiVote
  34. ^ Cygnal (R)
  35. ^ ActiVote
  36. ^ Cygnal (R)
  37. ^ YouGov (D)
  38. ^ Cygnal (R)
  39. ^ Spry Strategies
  40. ^ "11/05/2024 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Official campaign websites