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Attorney General of North Carolina
| North Carolina Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $146,421 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $66,968,192 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | North Carolina Constitution, Article III, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Attorney General of North Carolina
Jeff Jackson | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 7, 2028 |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Other North Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Attorney General of North Carolina is an elected constitutional office in the executive branch of the North Carolina state government. As the state's chief legal officer, the attorney general provides legal representation and advice to all state government departments, agencies and commissions, writes legal opinions and litigates in criminal appeals cases. The attorney general is elected in presidential election years and is not subject to term limits.[1]
North Carolina has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Attorney General of North Carolina is Jeff Jackson (D). Jackson assumed office in 2025.
Authority
The North Carolina Constitution establishes the office of attorney general in Article III, Section 7:
|
(1) Officers. A Secretary of State, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, an Attorney General, a Commissioner of Agriculture, a Commissioner of Labor, and a Commissioner of Insurance shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State in 1972 and every four years thereafter, at the same time and places as members of the General Assembly are elected. Their term of office shall be four years and shall commence on the first day of January next after their election and continue until their successors are elected and qualified. ...[2] |
Qualifications
Article III, Section 7 also outlines the qualifications for the attorney general:
| ... (7) Special Qualifications for Attorney General. Only persons duly authorized to practice law in the courts of this State shall be eligible for appointment or election as Attorney General.[2] |
Elections
The attorney general in North Carolina is elected every four years, in presidential election years (e.g. 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028). The term of office is four years and begins on the first day of January next after their election.[2]
2024
General election
General election for Attorney General of North Carolina
Jeff Jackson defeated Dan Bishop in the general election for Attorney General of North Carolina on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jeff Jackson (D)  | 51.4 | 2,874,960 |
 | Dan Bishop (R) | 48.6 | 2,715,411 | |
| Total votes: 5,590,371 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of North Carolina
Jeff Jackson defeated Satana Deberry and Tim Dunn in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of North Carolina on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jeff Jackson | 54.8 | 370,666 |
 | Satana Deberry | 33.1 | 223,835 | |
 | Tim Dunn | 12.1 | 81,492 | |
| Total votes: 675,993 | |||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Charles Ingram (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Dan Bishop advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of North Carolina.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Thomas Murry (R)
2020
General election
General election for Attorney General of North Carolina
Incumbent Josh Stein defeated Jim O'Neill in the general election for Attorney General of North Carolina on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Josh Stein (D) | 50.1 | 2,713,400 |
 | Jim O'Neill (R) | 49.9 | 2,699,778 | |
| Total votes: 5,413,178 | |||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Josh Stein advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of North Carolina.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of North Carolina
Jim O'Neill defeated Sam Hayes and Christine Mumma in the Republican primary for Attorney General of North Carolina on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim O'Neill | 46.5 | 338,567 |
 | Sam Hayes | 31.1 | 226,453 | |
 | Christine Mumma | 22.3 | 162,301 | |
| Total votes: 727,321 | |||
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Past elections
Vacancies
Article III, Section 7 addresses vacancies in the office of attorney general. In the event of a vacancy, the governor appoints a successor who will serve until a new officeholder is elected. The election coincides with the first election for members of the General Assembly of North Carolina that occurs more than 60 days after the seat becomes vacant.[2]
Duties
The attorney general, in addition to serving as the state's chief legal advisor, heads the North Carolina Department of Justice. The duties and responsibilities of office are dictated by the state constitution and state statutes:[3]
- represent the state and its officials, departments, agencies and commissions in all civil matters
- provide legal opinions, when requested by the general assembly, governor or other state official
- assist judges, district attorneys, magistrates and municipal and county attorneys
- handle criminal appeals from state trial courts
The office of the attorney general does not:[3]
- prosecute specific crimes (unless requested by the local district attorney)
- have jurisdiction over local district attorneys, law enforcement agencies and personnel or courts
- provide legal counsel to individuals or private organizations
Divisions
As of January 11, 2021, divisions within the Department of Justice included:[4]
- Consumer Protection
- Public Protection
- Legal Services
- Medicaid Fraud
- State Crime Laboratory
- Law Enforcement Training & Standards
State budget
- See also: North Carolina state budget and finances
The budget for the North Carolina Department of Justice in Fiscal Year 2025 was $66,968,192.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The attorney general, along with the rest of North Carolina's state executives, is entitled to a fixed salary in accordance with Article III, Section 9 of the North Carolina Constitution:
| The officers whose offices are established by this Article shall at stated periods receive the compensation and allowances prescribed by law, which shall not be diminished during the time for which they have been chosen.[2] |
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $146,421, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $146,421, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $136,699, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $133,365 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $127,561 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $127,561 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $127,561 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $125,676 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the attorney general was paid an estimated $125,676 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the attorney general was paid an estimated $124,676 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the attorney general was paid an estimated $124,676.[16]
2010
In 2010, the attorney general was paid an estimated $123,198 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Attorney General of North Carolina has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'North Carolina Attorney General'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Attorney General’s Office
9001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
Phone: (919) 716-6400
See also
| North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
References
- ↑ North Carolina Department of the Attorney General, "About DOJ," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "North Carolina State Constitution," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 NC Department of Justice, "Duties and responsibilities of the attorney general," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ North Carolina Department of Justice, "Contact," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "House Bill 259," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed September 29, 2015
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed April 23, 2011
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