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Municipal elections in Forsyth County, North Carolina (2020)

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2022
2018
2020 Forsyth County elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: December 20, 2019 (partisan candidates); July 6, 2020 (soil & water conservation district candidates); August 5, 2020 (independent and unaffiliated candidates)
Primary election: March 3, 2020
General election: November 3, 2020
Election stats
Offices up: County commissioner (3 seats), clerk of superior court (special election), county register of deeds, judicial offices, soil and water conservation district supervisor
Total seats up: 17
Election type: Partisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2020

Forsyth County, North Carolina, held general elections for county commissioner (3 seats), clerk of superior court, county register of deeds, judicial offices, soil and water conservation district supervisor on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline for partisan candidates running in this election was December 20, 2019. The filing deadline for candidates running to represent the soil and water conservation district was July 6, 2020, and the filing deadline for independent and unaffiliated candidates was August 5, 2020.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

North Carolina modified its absentee/mail-in voting and early voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Absentee/mail-in voting: The witness signature requirement on completed absentee ballots decreased from two to one. The receipt deadline was extended to 5 p.m. on November 12, 2020, for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day.
  • Early voting: Early voting sites were required to be open for at least 10 hours on the weekends of October 17-18, 2020, and October 24-25, 2020. Counties had to open at least one early voting site per 20,000 registered voters.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

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Elections

Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.

County commissioner

General election

General election for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners District B (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners District B on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
David Plyler (R)
 
19.7
 
75,554
Gloria Whisenhunt (R)
 
18.5
 
70,919
Richard Linville (R)
 
17.8
 
68,405
Image of Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith (D)
 
15.2
 
58,344
Gull Riaz (D)
 
14.5
 
55,579
Eric Weiss (D)
 
14.5
 
55,571

Total votes: 384,372
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Gull Riaz, Christopher Smith, and Eric Weiss advanced from the Democratic primary for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners District B.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners District B (3 seats)

Incumbent Richard Linville, incumbent Gloria Whisenhunt, and incumbent David Plyler defeated Terri Mrazek in the Republican primary for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners District B on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Richard Linville
 
28.8
 
15,590
Gloria Whisenhunt
 
28.5
 
15,474
David Plyler
 
28.3
 
15,372
Terri Mrazek
 
14.4
 
7,787

Total votes: 54,223
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Clerk of superior court

General election

Special general election for Forsyth County Clerk of the Superior Court

Denise Hines won election in the special general election for Forsyth County Clerk of the Superior Court on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Denise Hines
Denise Hines (D)
 
100.0
 
135,866

Total votes: 135,866
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Forsyth County Clerk of the Superior Court

Denise Hines defeated incumbent Renita Linville in the special Democratic primary for Forsyth County Clerk of the Superior Court on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Denise Hines
Denise Hines
 
50.8
 
24,696
Image of Renita Linville
Renita Linville
 
49.2
 
23,930

Total votes: 48,626
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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County register of deeds

General election

General election for Forsyth County Register of Deeds

Incumbent Lynne Johnson won election in the general election for Forsyth County Register of Deeds on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Lynne Johnson (D)
 
100.0
 
132,811

Total votes: 132,811
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lynne Johnson advanced from the Democratic primary for Forsyth County Register of Deeds.

Judicial

North Carolina Superior Court

See also: North Carolina Superior Courts

North Carolina superior court judges are elected to specific seats but rotate among the districts within their division every six months. Superior court judges in the Fourth Division rotate between Guilford and Forsyth counties, among others. Click here for more information.

District 18E-Seat 1

General election candidates

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

The Republican Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

    District 21B

    General election candidates

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

    The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

      Republican Party Republican primary candidates

      This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

      District 21D

      General election candidates

      Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

      This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

      Republican Party Republican primary candidates

      The Republican Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

        District 22A

        General election candidates

        There are no official candidates yet for this election.

        Republican Party Republican primary candidates


        North Carolina District Court

        District 21-Seat 5

        General election

        General election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District

        Incumbent Camille Banks-Prince won election in the general election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 3, 2020.

        Candidate
        %
        Votes
        Camille Banks-Prince (D)
         
        100.0
         
        134,912

        Total votes: 134,912
        Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
        If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

        Democratic primary election

        The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Camille Banks-Prince advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina 21st Judicial District.

        District 21-Seat 6

        General election

        General election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District

        Incumbent Lawrence Fine won election in the general election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 3, 2020.

        Candidate
        %
        Votes
        Lawrence Fine (D)
         
        100.0
         
        132,105

        Total votes: 132,105
        Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
        If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

        Democratic primary election

        The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lawrence Fine advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina 21st Judicial District.

        District 21-Seat 7

        General election

        General election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District

        Incumbent Carrie Vickery won election in the general election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 3, 2020.

        Candidate
        %
        Votes
        Image of Carrie Vickery
        Carrie Vickery (D)
         
        100.0
         
        132,106

        Total votes: 132,106
        Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
        If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

        Democratic primary election

        The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Carrie Vickery advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina 21st Judicial District.

        District 21-Seat 8

        General election

        General election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District

        Whit Davis defeated Mike Silver in the general election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 3, 2020.

        Candidate
        %
        Votes
        Image of Whit Davis
        Whit Davis (D) Candidate Connection
         
        54.1
         
        102,828
        Mike Silver (R)
         
        45.9
         
        87,155

        Total votes: 189,983
        Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
        If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

        Democratic primary election

        The Democratic primary election was canceled. Whit Davis advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina 21st Judicial District.

        Republican primary election

        The Republican primary election was canceled. Mike Silver advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina 21st Judicial District.

        District 21-Seat 9

        General election

        General election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District

        Incumbent Gordon A. Miller won election in the general election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 3, 2020.

        Candidate
        %
        Votes
        Gordon A. Miller (R)
         
        100.0
         
        119,837

        Total votes: 119,837
        Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
        If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

        Republican primary election

        The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Gordon A. Miller advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina 21st Judicial District.

        District 21-Seat 10

        General election

        General election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District

        Incumbent Victoria Roemer won election in the general election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 3, 2020.

        Candidate
        %
        Votes
        Victoria Roemer (R)
         
        100.0
         
        120,864

        Total votes: 120,864
        Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
        If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

        Republican primary election

        The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Victoria Roemer advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina 21st Judicial District.

        District 21-Seat 11

        General election

        General election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District

        Incumbent David Sipprell won election in the general election for North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 3, 2020.

        Candidate
        %
        Votes
        David Sipprell (R)
         
        100.0
         
        119,900

        Total votes: 119,900
        Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
        If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

        Republican primary election

        The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent David Sipprell advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina 21st Judicial District.

        Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor

        General election

        General election for Forsyth County Soil and Water Conservation District

        Neal Dagenhart defeated Paula J. McCoy and Michael Banner in the general election for Forsyth County Soil and Water Conservation District on November 3, 2020.

        Candidate
        %
        Votes
        Neal Dagenhart (Nonpartisan)
         
        97.5
         
        114,709
        Paula J. McCoy (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
         
        0.1
         
        139
        Michael Banner (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
         
        0.0
         
        8
         Other/Write-in votes
         
        2.3
         
        2,745

        Total votes: 117,601
        Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
        If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

        Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

        Endorsements

        Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at editor@ballotpedia.org.

        Ballot measures

        See also: March 3, 2020 ballot measures in North Carolina

        Additional elections on the ballot

        See also: North Carolina elections, 2020

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        What was at stake?

        Report a story for this election

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        About the county

        Demographics

        The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

        Demographic Data for Forsyth County, North Carolina
        Forsyth County North Carolina
        Population 382,590 10,439,388
        Land area (sq mi) 407 48,623
        Race and ethnicity**
        White 64.1% 67.6%
        Black/African American 26.1% 21.4%
        Asian 2.4% 3%
        Native American 0.3% 1.2%
        Pacific Islander 0.1% 0.1%
        Other (single race) 2.6% 3.2%
        Multiple 4.4% 3.6%
        Hispanic/Latino 13% 9.5%
        Education
        High school graduation rate 89% 88.5%
        College graduation rate 33.9% 32%
        Income
        Median household income $53,583 $56,642
        Persons below poverty level 15.8% 14%
        Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
        **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


        Pivot Counties

        See also: Pivot Counties by state

        Six of 100 North Carolina counties—6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

        Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
        County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
        Bladen County, North Carolina 9.39% 1.97% 2.07%
        Gates County, North Carolina 9.07% 4.11% 5.22%
        Granville County, North Carolina 2.49% 4.54% 6.58%
        Martin County, North Carolina 0.43% 4.65% 4.64%
        Richmond County, North Carolina 9.74% 2.95% 1.50%
        Robeson County, North Carolina 4.27% 17.41% 13.78%

        In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won North Carolina with 49.8 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 46.2 percent. In presidential elections between 1792 and 2016, North Carolina voted Democratic 53.5 percent of the time and Republican 25 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, North Carolina voted Republican all five times with the exception of the 2008 presidential election.[1]

        Presidential results by legislative district

        The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in North Carolina. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[2][3]

        In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 40 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 38.3 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 44 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 36.4 points. Clinton won three districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
        In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 80 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 22.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 76 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 27.7 points. Trump won five districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

        See also

        Forsyth County, North Carolina North Carolina Municipal government Other local coverage
        Map of North Carolina highlighting Forsyth County.svg
        Seal of North Carolina.png
        Municipal Government Final.png
        Local Politics Image.jpg

        External links

        Footnotes