North Carolina general election: Who are the candidates for NC statewide races?
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- High-profile statewide races are on the ballot in 2024, including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Gov. Roy Cooper has served two terms and is not eligible for reelection.
Below is a brief look at the major candidates for statewide races.
Governor
Attorney General Josh Stein - Democrat
Stein, a Democrat, has consistently led in polling and looks to follow Cooper's path from attorney general to governor of the Tar Heel State.
If elected, Stein, 58, would be the first Jewish governor of North Carolina.
Stein, a lawyer by trade, was elected as a state senator in 2008 representing Wake County's District 16. and served in the general assembly until assuming the attorney general role in 2017.
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He grew up in Chapel Hill and Charlotte and is a graduate of Dartmouth College, Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. His top listed priorities are making economic prosperity accessible for all residents, improving education and building a strong workforce.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson - Republican
Robinson made history as the state's first Black lieutenant governor in 2021 and if elected, would be its first Black governor.
The Greensboro native burst onto the political scene in 2018 when he gave an impassioned speech at a city council meeting that went viral and served as a springboard to his historic run to the lieutenant governorship. Robinson often emphasizes his blue-collar roots and working-class background to connect with voters and constituents.
Robinson, 56, grew up poor as the ninth of 10 children and as an adult worked in the furniture manufacturing business.
His top listed priorities include supporting law enforcement, cutting taxes and growing the economy, and improving education as well as veterans care.
Lieutenant Governor
State Sen. Rachel Hunt - Democrat
Hunt is a first-term state senator who represents the 42nd district She assumed office in January 2023. Previously, she served two terms in the state House of Representatives, winning the seat in 2018 and 2020.
Hunt has strong North Carolina political bloodlines -- her father is Jim Hunt, the longest-serving governor in North Carolina history, with terms from 1977-1985 and again from 1993-2001.
Hunt, a lawyer, says she's running "to get us back on track, fight for our basic freedoms, create safer communities, and make our education system the best it can be," according to her campaign site. Her priorities include investing in public schools, expanding access to health care, and helping local businesses succeed.
Hal Weatherman - Republican
Weatherman is a longtime Republican political strategist. He received his undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University and holds a master's degree from Wheaton College.
Weatherman was the chief of staff for former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and former U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick.
He describes himself as a "principled limited government conservative. Weatherman supports school choice, trade work and entrepreneurship, and school safety, including armed guards in schools.
Weatherman also says he'll push for a North Carolina Hall of Fame to honor and celebrate notable lives from across many fields and professions.
Attorney General
State Sen. Jeff Jackson - Democrat
State Sen. Jeff Jackson ran for U.S. Senate but dropped out in the primary as North Carolina Democrats positioned Cherie Beasley for the nomination. Beasley went on to lose to current U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC. Jackson then picked up his current seat in the general assembly
Jackson, who represents the 14th congressional district is also a major in the Army National Guard and served in Afghanistan.
The Chapel Hill native is a former prosecutor who says he wants to be a "non-partisan, independent voice for the people of North Carolina."
Some of Jackson's priorities include tackling the fentanyl epidemic, protecting residents against scammers and protecting seniors and veterans from fraud.
US Rep. Dan Bishop - Republican
Bishop represents North Carolina's 8th congressional district.
He styles himself as a "conservative who tells the truth," and is known on the House floor for his blunt and straightforward discussion of issues.
He says he's running for attorney general because he believes Democrats, including Cooper and Stein, have "abused" the office and turned it into a "stepping stone for higher office and a platform to spread liberal propaganda."
A former commercial lawyer, some of Bishop's priorities include crime, including cracking down on illegal immigration. He isn't afraid to call out fellow Republicans on the issues.
State Supreme Court
Allison Riggs - Democrat
Riggs is an incumbent on the state's highest court. She's a former Court of Appeals judge and was a civil rights and voting rights lawyer.
Riggs was appointed to the NC Supreme Court in 2023.
She grew up in West Virginia and went to college, graduate school and law school at the University of Florida. She worked for 14 years as a lawyer at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in Durham.
Riggs says that "as a justice, my guiding principles are integrity, transparency, consistency and empathy."
Jefferson Griffin - Republican
Griffin serves on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He began his legal career working in the Wake County District Attorney's Office.
Griffin, a Nash County native, was captain of his high school football team at Northern Nash. He graduated from UNC at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University School of Law.
On the bench, Griffin describes himself as an "originalist and a textualist" who believes the "words of the Constitution mean what they say."
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Mo Green - Democrat
Green is the former superintendent of Guilford County Schools, one of the largest districts in the state.
A longtime figure in the education field across the state, Green began professional life as a lawyer in private practice. He has a bachelor's degree in political science and economics and a law degree, both from Duke University.
Green supports investing fully in public education, higher pay for educators, and enhancing community support.
Michele Morrow - Republican
Morrow is a nurse and a homeschooler who sent shockwaves throughout the state education field when she upset incumbent state Superintendent Catherine Truitt in the GOP primary.
Morrow, who got her nursing degree at UNC-Chapel Hill began homeschooling her children when the system "didn't meet the needs of her children."
In speaking with other parents, Morrow has developed school safety and discipline as top priorities as well as raising educational standards.
Secretary of State
Elaine Marshall - Democrat
Marshall is the incumbent secretary of state for North Carolina. In 1996, she became the first woman to be elected to a statewide office in North Carolina.
The veteran politician previously served in the state Senate. A lawyer, Marshall also taught in the public school system and community college system.
The Secretary of State's office works to protect consumers, investors, and charitable givers against fraud and scams. Marshall has expressed interest in continuing to streamline business registration and enabling small-business creation, especially in rural areas.
Chad Brown - Republican
Brown describes himself as a Christian conservative who loves his native state of North Carolina.
Brown grew up in Gastonia and wants to use the office to promote small businesses, calling it the "backbone" of the state's economic development. He says he'll work to ease burdensome regulations.
He's a strong proponent of the Second Amendment and protecting life.
Insurance Commissioner
State Sen. Natasha Marcus - Democrat
Marcus is a sitting state senator representing the 41st district. She's served three terms and is on the Senate Commerce & Insurance, Judiciary, Education, Budget and Election & Redistricting committees.
Marcus says she wants to be insurance commissioner to make insurance companies "justify their rate increase requests" and present evidence under oath and subject to cross-examination.
"I will fight for affordable, reliable insurance for North Carolinians' homes, vehicles, businesses, and healthcare and will be an honest, frugal steward of the taxpayer money funding the Department of Insurance," Marcus says on her website.
Mike Causey - Republican
Causey is the current insurance commissioner and is running for reelection.
He says he believes government should be fiscally responsible and insurance companies should be held accountable.
During his time in office, Causey has expanded the number of criminal investigators across the state and hired lawyers to help prosecute insurance fraud cases.
Labor Commissioner
Braxton Winston II - Democrat
Winston has served on Charlotte City Council and was the mayor pro tem of North Carolina's largest city.
He says he is running for labor commissioner to make North Carolina the No. 1 state for business and workers. He says that though the state is a leader for business, it could do better when it comes to the workers.
Key issues on his platform include ensuring safe work environments, advocating for fair pay under the state's labor laws and defending worker rights.
Luke Farley - Republican
Farley, a lawyer and small-business owner, touts his experience as a workplace safety attorney and says he wants North Carolina to be the safest place to work and the best place to do business.
He's endorsed by former longtime Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry and says priorities are keeping workers safe, filling open inspector jobs and cutting wait times for education programs.
State Auditor
Jessica Holmes - Democrat
Holmes is the incumbent. She was appointed to the position in November 2023 by Gov. Roy Cooper following Beth Wood's resignation after several controversies involving her state-owned vehicle, including a hit-and-run in downtown Raleigh.
The appointment made Holmes the first black woman to serve on North Carolina's Council of State.
"My administration will focus on accountability, eliminating wasteful spending, and ensuring that all money allocated goes where it's supposed to go," she said at the time.
Holmes, a former Wake County commissioner, says accountability, integrity and transparency are pillars of her leadership in the auditor's office.
Dave Boliek - Republican
Boliek, a lawyer, serves on the UNC Board of Trustees.
As a former prosecutor, Boliek says he has the experience and expertise to fight government corruption. He helped lead efforts to eliminate UNC's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies and create a new School of Civic Life.
Wood, a Democrat, bucked her party and endorsed Boliek for her former job.
Ag Commissioner
Sarah Taber - Democrat
Taber says she was born into a farming family and is interested in helping North Carolina farms prosper as ag commissioner.
She now lives in Fayetteville where her husband teaches at Fayetteville State University. She contends that North Carolina can double or triple how much its farms earn from agriculture, and she has a plan to do so.
Steve Troxler - Republican
Troxler is the current ag commissioner and has held the job since 2005.
The founder, owner and operator of Troxler Farms, he is running for a sixth term and has received several awards for his work in and contributions to farming.
As ag commissioner, Troxle has focused on developing new markets for North Carolina farm products, preserving working farms, and protecting the state's food supply.
Treasurer
State Rep. Wesley Harris - Democrat
Harris, who has a PhD in economics, represents North Carolina's 105th congressional district.
He says he's running for Treasurer because the state deserves a leader in the Treasurer's office "who will be an advocate for long-term financial planning and sound fiscal policy."
Harris says protecting the state bond ratings, doing right by public workers and financial transparency are some of his key issues.
Brad Briner - Republican
Briner, a native Texan, came to the Tar Heel State to attend UNC-Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship. He's since worked in finance and investments.
Briner says the North Carolina Retirement System underperforms and that is a priority as "we simply cannot afford to continue to underperform."
He cites better governance and a change in investment strategies as keys to turning that around.
ALSO SEE: What you need to know for early voting in NC
Where to Vote
Any voter who qualifies for assistance can ask for help at their polling place. For more information on help for voters with disabilities, click here. Curbside voting is also available for those eligible.
Important Voter Tips
Make sure to bring your photo ID. North Carolina voters will be required to show their ID when checking in to vote.
Make sure you're registered. You can check here to see if you are.
Same-day registration is available during early voting, while this is not available for most voters on Election Day.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Nov. 5: General Election Day.
Nov. 5: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).
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