NC Family Staff | March 6, 2024 | SHARE: 
The field of candidates for federal and state level offices in North Carolina narrowed significantly following Tuesday’s Primary Election; however, several races are either too-close-to-call or are likely to involve runoff elections. The following is a summary of presidential and congressional races in North Carolina based on unofficial results from the State Board of Elections. NC Family will follow this report with a separate summary of primary election results for state-level races including Governor, Council of State, and N.C. General Assembly.
In the race for president, Joe Biden (D) captured 87% of the votes in the Democratic primary, while Donald Trump took 74% in the Republican primary. GOP challenger Nikki Haley garnered only 23% of the vote and has announced that she is suspending her campaign. As a result, U.S. voters are likely to see a rematch between Biden and Trump in the General Election in November, unless something dramatic takes place with either of the major party frontrunners.
All but three of North Carolina’s 14 congressional districts involved primary challenges. While the state’s congressional delegation currently consists of seven Democrats and seven Republicans, the N.C. General Assembly redrew the district lines in 2023, and it is anticipated that Republicans will win at least 10 if not 11 of North Carolina’s 14 seats in the U.S. House.
Laurie Buckhout bested fellow GOP challenger Sandy Smith in this sprawling district in northeastern North Carolina. Buckout will face incumbent Democratic Congressman Don Davis and Libertarian Tom Bailey in this competitive slightly Democratic leaning district in November.
Incumbent Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross handily beat challenger Michael Camero in this solidly Democratic Wake County district. She now faces Republican challenger Alan Swain, who captured 60% of the vote in a three-way GOP primary, and Green Party candidate Michael Dublin on the November ballot.
There was no primary election in this eastern North Carolina district, where incumbent GOP U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy faces opposition from only one challenger in the fall, Libertarian candidate Gheorghe Cormos. This is considered a safe Republican seat.
Republican Eric Blankenburg won a primary race against Mahesh (Max) Ganorkar and will face incumbent Democrat Rep. Valerie Foushee and Libertarian challenger Guy Meilleur in this heavily Democratic district encompassing all of Durham and Orange counties and portions of Wake and Chatham counties.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx took close to 70% of the vote against GOP challenger Ryan Mayberry in the primary, and she faces Democrat Chuck Hubbard in the fall in this safe Republican district in northwestern North Carolina.
Addison McDowell and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker were the top two vote-getters in this winner-take-all six-way race in the Triad area of North Carolina. Neither candidate captured a necessary 30% of the vote to avoid a “second primary” or runoff election. McDowell received just over 26% of the vote, while Walker captured 24%. Assuming Walker requests a runoff, the winner of the second primary in May will capture this seat, since there is no Democratic or third-party challenger.
There was no primary in this race, which features incumbent Republican Rep. David Rouzer facing off against Democratic challenger Marlando D. Pridgen in the fall. This likely Republican district is located in southeastern North Carolina.
In another six-way Republican primary, Mark Harris appears to have bested his challengers to capture the GOP nomination outright with just over 30% of the vote. Assuming this result stands, Harris will face Democrat Justin E. Dues in this open seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, who is running for North Carolina Attorney General. District 8 stretches from Charlotte along the southern border of central North Carolina to Robeson County and is expected to elect a Republican.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Richard Hudson handily defeated challenger Troy L. Tarazon in the GOP primary and is set to face Democratic challenger Nigel William Bristow in the General Election in this strong Republican district in the central part of the state.
Republican Pat Harrigan outpaced four other GOP challengers to capture the Republican nomination in this strong Republican seat being vacated by current U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry. Harrigan faces Democrat Ralph R. Scott, Jr. and Libertarian Steven Feldman in the General Election in this district encompassing all of Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, Yadkin, and a portion of Forsyth County.
Incumbent GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards stood down a primary challenge by Christian Reagan, and now faces Democratic challenger and current State House member Caleb Rudow in the November General Election. This westernmost district is made up of 15 counties and a portion of another, and it is expected to elect a Republican.
There was no primary challenge in this strong Democratic district in Mecklenburg County currently represented by Democrat Alma Adams. Adams faces a challenge from Republican Addul Ali in the fall.
In one of the most anticipated races in N.C., Republicans Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott were the top two vote-getters in a 14-way GOP primary in a district containing portions of Wake and several surrounding counties. Daughtry captured just over 27% of the vote, while Knott took almost 19%. Assuming Knott calls for a runoff, he will face Daughtry in a second primary in May. The winner will then face Democratic challenger Frank Pierce in the fall. This district, currently represented by Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel, was redrawn with a strong GOP advantage.
Current Speaker of the N.C. House, Republican Tim Moore, handily won a three-way GOP primary in this western North Carolina open-seat district. He will face Democratic challenger Pam Genant, who won a primary race against Brendan K. Maginnis. Similar to District 13, this seat was redrawn with a decided GOP edge, and current U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson is running as the Democratic Party nominee for N.C. Attorney General.
For elections subject to runoffs, those second primaries will take place on May 14. The 2024 General Election will take place on Tuesday, November 5.
