North Carolina's 6th Congressional District election, 2016
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| November 8, 2016 |
| June 7, 2016 |
Mark Walker  |
Mark Walker |
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Cook Political Report: Solid R[1] Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe R[2] Rothenberg & Gonzales: Safe R[3] |
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The 6th Congressional District of North Carolina held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 2016.
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Mark Walker (R) defeated Chris Hardin in the Republican primary. Walker defeated Pete Glidewell, the only Democratic candidate to file, in the general election. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016. The general election took place on November 8, 2016.[4]
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
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Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. North Carolina utilizes a hybrid primary system. Parties decide who may vote in their respective primaries. Voters may choose a primary ballot without impacting their unaffiliated status.[6]
Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Mark Walker (R), who was first elected in 2014.
North Carolina's 6th Congressional District is located in the northern portion of the state and includes all or parts of Rockingham, Caswell, Person, Guilford, Alamance, Randolph, Chatham, and Lee counties.[7]
Election results
General election
| U.S. House, North Carolina District 6 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Mark Walker Incumbent |
59.2% | 207,983 | |
| Democratic | Pete Glidewell | 40.8% | 143,167 | |
| Total Votes | 351,150 | |||
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
Primary election
| U.S. House, North Carolina District 6 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|
Mark Walker Incumbent |
77.9% | 16,859 | ||
| Chris Hardin | 22.1% | 4,777 | ||
| Total Votes | 21,636 | |||
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections |
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Candidates
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General election candidates:  Pete Glidewell Mark Walker  |
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Primary candidates:[8] |
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Democratic |
Republican [4][9]Chris Hardin[4] |
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in North Carolina
In an unusual turn of events, a federal judicial panel ruled that North Carolina officials would have to redraw congressional district maps with only a few weeks to go until the March 15, 2016, primaries. The decision came after the state's filing deadline, which occurred in late December 2015. Over 9,860 absentee ballots had already been requested, and some voters had begun to cast votes through absentee ballots. The court found in a ruling of two to one, that district lines had been drawn using race (to Republican advantage) as the primary consideration in District 1 and District 12. Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Roger Gregory wrote the decision, which read, in part:[10][11]
| “ |
There is strong evidence that race was the only nonnegotiable criterion and that traditional redistricting principles were subordinated to race. In fact, the overwhelming evidence in this case shows that a (black voting-age population) percentage floor, or a racial quota, was established in both CD 1 and CD 12. And, that floor could not be compromised.[12] |
” |
Districts 1 and 12 touch several others, and ultimately required the redrawing of several congressional districts in 2016. The court ordered that the districts be redrawn before the congressional elections and that all elections be delayed until the districts had been appropriately drawn. State officials of North Carolina immediately appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court, and also asked that the current ruling be stayed until the appeal could be processed.[10][11]
The North Carolina State Legislature approved a rewritten map of the state's congressional districts on February 19, 2016. The map placed two incumbents, George Holding (R-13) and David Price (D-4), within the same district. Republican Rep. David Lewis (R-53), referring to District 12, said, "The district should not be drawn with race as a consideration. The committee adopted the criteria yesterday that made clear what would be used in the drawing of the maps and that was what was used. Race was not a consideration in the drawing of these maps." Price criticized the new map, saying, "The new districts are no more legitimate than the old. The fact that Republicans decided to maintain the current partisan split of seats before they began drawing these new maps demonstrates that they did not set out to ensure fair representation."[13]
The North Carolina Democratic Party responded to the new map with the following statement: "Legislative Republicans are just Hell-bent on rigging the system to give GOP candidates a 10-3 edge in a 50-50 state. These maps ignore basic tenants of the Voting Rights Act and will be challenged. Now taxpayers will have to pay even more money to defend yet another round of illegal gerrymandering, all because North Carolina Republicans are afraid to face voters on even ground."[14]
North Carolina legislators also agreed to delay the state's U.S. House primaries from March 15 to June 7. All other primaries in the state took place on March 15 as originally scheduled. The Legislature decided that no runoffs will take place in 2016, and the candidate who receives the most votes in each election will automatically win the primary. On the same evening of these decisions, the Supreme Court denied the state's request for a stay, meaning that the newly drawn map will be used for the 2016 elections.[15][16]
On February 22, 2016, opponents of the newly drawn map filed a motion in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, requesting that the court "establish an expedited schedule to determine if the new map ... is valid under constitutional considerations." The complainants requested that the court rule on this matter by March 18, 2016. The brief filed on February 22 read, in part, as follows:[17]
| “ | The map adopted by the General Assembly has been subject to considerable criticism, and plaintiffs share those deep concerns. Their preliminary analysis of the new plan suggests that it is no more appropriate than the version struck down by the court. It is critical that the citizens of North Carolina vote in constitutional districts in the upcoming primary, now scheduled for June, and every election thereafter.[12] | ” |
William Osteen, a judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, requested that the plaintiffs file a brief "[stating] with specificity the factual and legal basis for each objection" by February 29, 2016. Osteen also asked that the defendants file a response to this brief by March 7, 2016.[18]
On February 29, 2016, plaintiffs filed a brief opposing the state's remedial redistricting map. The brief read, in part, as follows: "Told it could not pack African American voters into two districts, [the legislature] instead scattered them to the winds. ... At the risk of dramatic understatement, the newly adopted plan fails to adequately remedy the original violation." In addition, plaintiffs alleged that the remedial map constituted a "bald partisan gerrymander, unmoored by any legitimate principle whatsoever."[19][20]
On June 2, 2016, a panel of federal judges upheld the redrawn map by rejecting complaints of a partisan gerrymander. The judges said that "the Court's hands appear to be tied" by a Supreme Court ruling finding "no judicially discernible and manageable standards" for determining what constitutes partisan gerrymandering.[21]
District history
2014
The 6th Congressional District of North Carolina held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Mark Walker (R) defeated Laura Fjeld (D) in the general election.
| U.S. House, North Carolina District 6 General Election, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Mark Walker |
58.7% | 147,312 | |
| Democratic | Laura Fjeld | 41.3% | 103,758 | |
| Total Votes | 251,070 | |||
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
2012
The 6th Congressional District of North Carolina held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Howard Coble (R) defeated Tony Foriest (D) in the general election.
| U.S. House, North Carolina District 6 General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Tony Foriest | 39.1% | 142,467 | |
| Republican | Howard Coble Incumbent |
60.9% | 222,116 | |
| Total Votes | 364,583 | |||
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
Important dates and deadlines
- See also: North Carolina elections, 2016
The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in North Carolina in 2016.
| Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Event type | Event description | |
| December 1, 2015 | Ballot access | Filing period for partisan candidates opens | |
| December 21, 2015 | Ballot access | Filing period for partisan candidates closes | |
| March 7, 2016 | Campaign finance | First quarter report due | |
| March 15, 2016 | Election date | Primary election (non-congressional offices) | |
| June 7, 2016 | Election date | Congressional primary | |
| June 9, 2016 | Ballot access | Unaffiliated candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices that span more than one county must submit petitions to county boards of election for verification | |
| June 24, 2016 | Ballot access | Unaffiliated candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices that span more than one county must submit petitions to the state board of elections | |
| June 24, 2016 | Ballot access | Unaffiliated candidates for state legislative offices that span only one county must submit petitions to the appropriate county board of elections | |
| July 12, 2016 | Campaign finance | Second quarter report due | |
| July 26, 2016 | Ballot access | Write-in candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices that span more than one county must submit their petitions to county boards of election for verification | |
| July 29, 2016 | Campaign finance | Mid-year semi-annual report due | |
| August 10, 2016 | Ballot access | Write-in candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices that span more than one county must submit their petitions to the state board of elections | |
| August 10, 2016 | Ballot access | Write-in candidates for state legislative offices that span only one county must submit their petitions to the appropriate county board of elections | |
| October 21, 2016 | Campaign finance | Third quarter report due | |
| November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election | |
| January 11, 2017 | Campaign finance | Fourth quarter report due | |
| January 27, 2017 | Campaign finance | Year-end semi-annual report due | |
| Sources: North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing," accessed June 12, 2015 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Fact Sheet: Unaffiliated Candidates, 2016 Election," accessed June 12, 2015 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Fact Sheet: Write-in Candidates, 2016 Election," accessed June 12, 2015 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Reporting Schedules," accessed November 25, 2015 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2016
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2016 House Race Ratings for July 11, 2016," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2016 House," accessed July 18, 2016
- ↑ Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, "House Ratings," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "June Primary Candidates," accessed March 27, 2016
- ↑ North Carolina's congressional primary was pushed back following court-ordered redistricting
- ↑ NC Election Connection, "Who Can Vote in Which Elections?" accessed January 3, 2014
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "2016 Contingent Congressional Plan - Corrected*," accessed September 28, 2018
- ↑ Candidates are listed by party and alphabetically within each party.
- ↑ Politico, “North Carolina House Primary Results,” June 7, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Wral.com, "Federal court strikes down NC congressional district maps," February 5, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Wral.com, "NC redistricting case heads to US Supreme Court," February 9, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ WNCN, "General Assembly approves maps, changing NC congressional primary," February 19, 2016
- ↑ ABC 13, "First Look at Proposed New Map in Redistricted NC," February 18, 2016
- ↑ SFGate, "The Latest: Redrawn congressional maps get final approval," February 19, 2016
- ↑ News Observer, "New NC congressional map, primary date get legislative approval," February 19, 2016
- ↑ The News and Observer, "Redistricting plaintiffs ask federal judges to act quickly," February 22, 2016
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "Court Gives Plaintiffs in North Carolina Redistricting Case Time to Object to Legislature's New Plan," February 24, 2016
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "North Carolina Plaintiffs in U.S. House Districting Lawsuit Argues New Plan is Unconstitutional Gerrymander," March 1, 2016
- ↑ United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, "Harris v. McCrory: Plaintiffs' [Proposed Objections and Memorandum of Law Regarding Remedial Redistricting Plan," February 29, 2016]
- ↑ WRAL.com, "Judges reject challenge to new NC congressional map," June 2, 2016
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For information about public policy issues in the 2016 elections, see: Public policy in the 2016 elections!
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