North Carolina Attorney General election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)

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← 2020
North Carolina Attorney General
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 15, 2023
Primary: March 5, 2024 Primary runoff: May 14, 2024 General: November 5, 2024 Pre-election incumbent(s): Josh Stein (D)
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voting in North Carolina
Ballotpedia analysis
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North Carolina executive elections
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Jeff Jackson (D) won the Democratic Party primary for Attorney General of North Carolina on March 5, 2024. He defeated Satana Deberry (D) and Tim Dunn (D). Deberry and Jackson led in pre-election polls and media attention. Incumbent Josh Stein (D) ran for governor rather than seeking re-election.

Deberry was, at the time of the election, the state's 16th District prosecuting attorney, responsible for Durham County. She earlier worked as a defense attorney, general counsel to the state Department of Health and Human Services, and executive director of the North Carolina Housing Coalition. Deberry said she was a progressive prosecutor, which she defined as being "not just focused on the punishment part of prosecution...looking at each individual case and trying to come up with a resolution that is both fair and just." Deberry said she was running to bring her model of prosecution from Durham County to the statewide justice system.

Jackson had, at the time of the election, represented North Carolina's 14th Congressional District since 2022. Jackson launched his campaign for attorney general after the 14th District's boundaries were changed during redistricting, becoming more favorable to Republicans. Before his election to the U.S. House, Jackson served eight years in the North Carolina Senate and three as an assistant district attorney in Gaston County. Jackson said he was running to bring honesty and decency to the attorney general's office.

The general election helped determine North Carolina's triplex status. North Carolina held elections for all three triplex offices—governor and secretary of state as well as attorney general—in 2024. At the time of the election, North Carolina had a Democratic triplex because all three officeholders were Democrats.

At the time of the election, no Republican had been elected attorney general in North Carolina since 1897. However, local political observers expected the general election to be competitive owing to the candidacy of U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop (R). Western Carolina University professor Chris Cooper said the general election was "probably going to go down as the most expensive AG race we’ve had in the state of North Carolina. I don’t know if it will be the most competitive, but I think it will be among the most competitive."

In North Carolina, a runner-up can request a runoff election if the winner does not take 30% of the vote, but a runoff is not required.

Tim Dunn (D) and Jeff Jackson (D) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

This page focuses on North Carolina's Democratic Party Attorney General primary. For more in-depth information on North Carolina's Republican Attorney General primary and the general election, see the following pages:

• North Carolina Attorney General election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)
• North Carolina Attorney General election, 2024

Candidates and election results

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

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 675,993
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Charles Ingram (D)

Voting information

See also: Voting in North Carolina

Election information in North Carolina: March 5, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: March 2, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 9, 2024
• Online: Feb. 9, 2024

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Feb. 27, 2024
• By mail: Received by Feb. 27, 2024
• Online: Feb. 27, 2024

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: March 5, 2024
• By mail: Received by March 5, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

N/A

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Feb. 15, 2024 to March 2, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (EST)

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Satana Deberry

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• North Carolina 16th Prosecutorial District Attorney (Assumed office: 2019)

Biography:  Deberry graduated from Princeton University with a degree in sociology in 1991 and from Duke University School of Law in 1994. She obtained an M.B.A. in health sector management from Duke University in 2006. Before entering elected office, Deberry's work experience included working as a defense attorney, five years as general counsel to the state Department of Health and Human Services, and six years as executive director of the North Carolina Housing Coalition, a nonprofit.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Deberry said she was running to continue her success as the prosecuting attorney in Durham County, where she said she had focused on prosecuting the most serious offenses, limited what she described as unnecessary detention, and brought crime rates down.

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Deberry said she had dedicated her career to "[dismantling] systems that restrict the lives of poor people, families, communities of color, and other marginalized and underrepresented groups," and that she would continue that work if elected.

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Deberry said Jackson's campaign was focused on style over substance: "I think there are people out there who want to see a ticket with an attorney general who knows what they are doing. Someone who is a serious lawyer. I’m a serious lawyer and a serious person — not a national social media following."

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Show sources

Sources: Satana Deberry campaign website, "Home page," accessed December 19, 2023, WUNC, "Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry to challenge Jeff Jackson in Democratic primary for attorney general," November 10, 2023; LinkedIn, "Satana Deberry," accessed December 19, 2023, Princeton University, "Satana Deberry '91," accessed December 19, 2023

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Attorney General of North Carolina in 2024.

Tim Dunn

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Growing up in Fayetteville, NC I learned from an early age the love of God, Family, North Carolina, and Military. I attended public schools, the UNC at Chapel Hill and Campbell Law School. As if the demands of law school weren't enough, I joined the US Marine Corps in my 2nd year of Law School and retired as a Colonel. I have been married 45 years and we have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. We chose to return to North Carolina after active duty because we believe it is the best place to raise a family, and I want to keep it that way. I have over 36 years of courtroom experience coupled with extensive leadership skills. I defended, prosecuted, and judged 1000s of cases: capital murder, highest level felonies, catastrophic injury, general courts-martial in state, Federal, and military courts. I have supervised, mentored, and taught hundreds of attorneys. I was the first Marine attorney chosen to prosecute Saddam Hussein. I continue to mentor high school and college students through Moot Court Competitions. I currently represent indigent juveniles and Pro Bono cases. I took a solemn oath to support and defend the U.S. and NC Constitutions and I've dedicated my life to doing so. I cannot sit idly by while our core values that I fought to protect are threatened. Our laws, their enforcement and the consequences of violating our laws matter. We owe that to our children and grandchildren. Everything I have done has prepared me to assume the role of NC Attorney General. "

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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We must ensure our laws are applied fairly to all citizens. It is crucial that we protect our constitutional rights. We must protect our right to vote, women's rights, the right to public safety, freedom of speech, the right to quality public education, and the right to clean air, water, and land. It is critical that we protect our vulnerable populations: children, women, marginalized communities, the elderly, the poor, and Veterans. We must protect consumers from insurance, IRS, Medicare, banking scammers and fraud. We must initiate solutions for healthcare inequality, social inequality, and actively prosecute corporations that prey on the air, water, and land with pollution and contamination AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

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End the Fentanyl and Opioid epidemic through: AWARENESS: Document statistics on demographics/deaths. Meet in communities with soaring addiction rates to help with their needs to combat the issue. EDUCATION: Develop an educational curriculum to age groups from elementary school to adults. We must educate our youth on the deadly outcome of opioid usage. PREVENTION: Educate citizens on overdose signs and the use of Narcan in emergencies. Ensure Methadone is an attainable medicine for treatment. Implement long-term treatment programs with counseling. Get offenders the care they need in treatment centers, not necessarily in jail. PROSECUTION: Support Law Enforcement to arrest manufacturers, suppliers, and users.

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Reduce gun violence and violent crime by supporting law enforcement. I will oversee the standards to ensure they are getting up-to-date training and stress effective communication skills, especially in crisis intervention to prevent escalation situations. Officers must be able to recognize mental illness and drug crises to get these people the help they deserve. We must move from a "warrior-minded" attitude to a "protector-minded" one. We must couple use-of-force with accountability. Reform our Justice System. Fund Veteran, Drug, and Mental Health Courts. We MUST get more funding for Juvenile Justice. We MUST help our children to diminish the number of future adult criminals in our communities.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Attorney General of North Carolina in 2024.

Jeff Jackson

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• U.S. House of Representatives, North Carolina District 14 (Assumed office 2023)
• North Carolina State Senate District 37 (2014-2023)

Submitted Biography:  "I was raised in North Carolina. After September 11th, I enlisted and served in Afghanistan. I came home and went to law school at UNC Chapel Hill on the G.I. Bill, then I became an assistant district attorney in Gaston County. As a prosecutor, I saw how the failure to invest in public education, mental health, and addiction treatment was leading to a lot of criminal behavior. As a state senator and a congressman, I worked on those issues - and I stood up for voters when I thought our state legislature was undermining their rights. My entire life has been about standing up for people who need it, and that’s who I’d be as Attorney General. "

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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The core job of the Attorney General is to stand up for the people. You do that by going after the people who are trying to cause harm - whether that’s a company that’s polluting the water, scammers who are targeting seniors, predatory lenders stealing from students or veterans, organized crime pushing fentanyl into our communities, or politicians trying to undermine people’s rights.

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The fentanyl epidemic is killing people in our state each day. As Attorney General, I would lead a response that addressed both the supply of fentanyl by cracking down on the distribution cells run by organized crime within our state, and the demand for fentanyl by supporting the most effective forms of addiction treatment and working with our state legislature to fund that treatment in a serious way. I would also support the passage of an anti-money laundering law, which would significantly aid in tackling fentanyl as well as human trafficking.

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I served in the state legislature for four terms. I was able to get things done by finding reasonable legislative partners and spending months hashing out compromises that let us build a coalition. It was painstaking work, but that’s the only way to have a bill become a law. As Attorney General, I would look for opportunities to be a serious legislative partner on matters of criminal justice, mental health, addiction treatment, and - critically - early childhood education, which is essential to give all of our kids a decent shot at fulfilling their potential.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Attorney General of North Carolina in 2024.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Tim Dunn (D)

We must ensure our laws are applied fairly to all citizens. It is crucial that we protect our constitutional rights. We must protect our right to vote, women's rights, the right to public safety, freedom of speech, the right to quality public education, and the right to clean air, water, and land.

It is critical that we protect our vulnerable populations: children, women, marginalized communities, the elderly, the poor, and Veterans. We must protect consumers from insurance, IRS, Medicare, banking scammers and fraud. We must initiate solutions for healthcare inequality, social inequality, and actively prosecute corporations that prey on the air, water, and land with pollution and contamination AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

End the Fentanyl and Opioid epidemic through: AWARENESS: Document statistics on demographics/deaths. Meet in communities with soaring addiction rates to help with their needs to combat the issue. EDUCATION: Develop an educational curriculum to age groups from elementary school to adults. We must educate our youth on the deadly outcome of opioid usage. PREVENTION: Educate citizens on overdose signs and the use of Narcan in emergencies. Ensure Methadone is an attainable medicine for treatment. Implement long-term treatment programs with counseling. Get offenders the care they need in treatment centers, not necessarily in jail. PROSECUTION: Support Law Enforcement to arrest manufacturers, suppliers, and users.

Reduce gun violence and violent crime by supporting law enforcement. I will oversee the standards to ensure they are getting up-to-date training and stress effective communication skills, especially in crisis intervention to prevent escalation situations. Officers must be able to recognize mental illness and drug crises to get these people the help they deserve. We must move from a "warrior-minded" attitude to a "protector-minded" one. We must couple use-of-force with accountability. Reform our Justice System. Fund Veteran, Drug, and Mental Health Courts. We MUST get more funding for Juvenile Justice. We MUST help our children to diminish the number of future adult criminals in our communities.

Jeff Jackson (D)

The core job of the Attorney General is to stand up for the people.

You do that by going after the people who are trying to cause harm - whether that’s a company that’s polluting the water, scammers who are targeting seniors, predatory lenders stealing from students or veterans, organized crime pushing fentanyl into our communities, or politicians trying to undermine people’s rights.

The fentanyl epidemic is killing people in our state each day. As Attorney General, I would lead a response that addressed both the supply of fentanyl by cracking down on the distribution cells run by organized crime within our state, and the demand for fentanyl by supporting the most effective forms of addiction treatment and working with our state legislature to fund that treatment in a serious way.

I would also support the passage of an anti-money laundering law, which would significantly aid in tackling fentanyl as well as human trafficking.

I served in the state legislature for four terms. I was able to get things done by finding reasonable legislative partners and spending months hashing out compromises that let us build a coalition. It was painstaking work, but that’s the only way to have a bill become a law.

As Attorney General, I would look for opportunities to be a serious legislative partner on matters of criminal justice, mental health, addiction treatment, and - critically - early childhood education, which is essential to give all of our kids a decent shot at fulfilling their potential.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Tim Dunn (D)

I'm passionate about the fundamental Constitutional civil rights and voting rights. The basic core of democracy is that every person's vote counts. The wrongful and unconstitutional gerrymandering of NC districts significantly dilutes and in some cases completely erases the value of one's vote because of our Republican General Assembly drew the districts to keep their 3rd tier political party in power. I'm also passionate about juvenile justice. Our juvenile justice system must be improved and properly funded. Improvement in public education and poverty is crucial in preventing young people from getting involved in criminal activity. The system is broken with the majority of youth defendants being minorities.

Jeff Jackson (D)

My party made an enormous mistake by not ending gerrymandering and enacting independent redistricting when it had the chance. Now the other party is in power, and they’re making the same mistake by refusing to allow an independent redistricting process. No matter which party is in power, when politicians use partisan redistricting to favor themselves, the voters lose. We have needed independent redistricting for a long time, and I fully support it.

Most people simply want fair elections, and we won't have those unless politicians are prohibited from drawing their own districts.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Tim Dunn (D)

The NC Attorney General is the top law enforcement officer in the State. As such, the Attorney General's primary responsibility is to uphold, support, preserve, defend, and enforce the NC Constitution, not inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution, and the duly enacted laws of this State, that are also not inconsistent with the U.S. or the NC Constitutions.

The NC Attorney General's office represents the State and State agencies before State and Federal Courts. I have represented clients before these courts for over 36 years. The position is also the Chief Legal Advisor to the Governor, the General Assembly, and local District Attorneys. I have been a Chief Legal Advisor in the Marine Corps, known as a Staff Judge Advocate. I have advised the most senior officers in the U.S. military services and I've worked closely with every law enforcement agency in the Federal and State governments, including FBI, ATF, U.S, Marshall Service, DEA, DIA, CIA, NC SBI, NC SHP, Fayetteville Police Dept, and the Cumberland Co Sheriff's Office. I have served as a Senior and Executive Marine Officer, including the rank of Colonel, and completely understand how Federal and State governments work, including the proper use of the "chain of command".

As a Marine Corps Chief of Staff, I was responsible for over 6000 active-duty and civilian Marines and over 60,000 students with a budget of over $350 million. I have served as a Prosecutor, Defense Counsel, and a Federal Military Judge and I understand the value of our society's need for the highest quality, competently trained and paid law enforcement. I have the ability to see and understand problems, develop a workable plan to solve them and to execute the plan with our Dept of Justice. By doing this we will make NC a better and safer place to live, work, and raise our families.

The attorney general often sets policy priorities for law enforcement. For example, a state's attorney general may decide to dedicate extra resources to combat human trafficking. Are there certain areas of law enforcement that you would emphasize?

Tim Dunn (D)

Yes

1. End the Fentanyl/Opioid epidemic 2. Reduce Gun Violence and Violent Crime

3. Improve Juvenile Justice

Jeff Jackson (D)

Combating fentanyl, described above.

A state's attorney general has many responsibilities. Which of those do you personally consider the most important?

Tim Dunn (D)

The most important responsibility is to uphold and defend the NC Constitution and General Statutes.

Other responsibilities I feel are most important include: Prosecute and hold accountable individuals and entities who violate these laws. Maintain current and constantly improve training standards for Law Enforcement justice academies.

Represent and provide legal advice and opinions to all State departments, the Governor, the General Assembly and District Attorneys when required and asked to do so.

Jeff Jackson (D)

There's a lot of legal language tied to the job of Attorney General, but to me, the job is really about one thing: making sure that people aren't getting kicked around. Whether it's corporations breaking the rules, politicians behaving in obviously corrupt ways, or organized crime, the essence of the job is being your shield against those who mean you harm. That's how I've approached my previous jobs in public service, and that's the energy I would bring to this job.

Attorneys general can represent their states in legal conflicts with the federal government. Do you consider this an important part of an attorney general's responsibilities?

Tim Dunn (D)

Yes

Jeff Jackson (D)

Yes.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a state's attorney general to have previous experience in government or politics?

Tim Dunn (D)

I believe it's beneficial for the NC Attorney General to have experience in government and leadership and how to get the job done/accomplish the mission, but not necessarily have experience in politics.

Jeff Jackson (D)

Yes.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Tim Dunn (D)

I look up to Jesus and His life in the New Testament as an example of how we should live.

Historical figures in the world and U.S. I look up to are Apostle Paul, George Washington, Abigail Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ghandi, Winston Churchill, Golda Meir, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama I would like to follow the example of Martin Luther King Jr. because he was a follower of Jesus, used his life to right the wrongs of our society, an advocate for civil and voting rights of black Americans, the poor and the disenfranchised, and was a servant-leader with passion, compassion, conviction and action.

Jeff Jackson (D)

I've served in the military for 21 years. I'm a Major now in the Army National Guard where I drill once a month.

Part of being the military is getting to observe many leadership styles. Folks are always rotating through leadership positions, so you get to learn from lots of different styles.

As a result, the people I've looked up to the most aren't famous - they're platoon sergeants and company commanders. I've picked up lots of little pieces from them and sometimes when I speak I can hear one of them speaking through me. My best mentor has been the aggregate of all those examples.

Of course, you also get plenty of examples of how not to lead. No shortage of cautionary tales and techniques to avoid.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Tim Dunn (D)

The Holy Bible

The U.S. Constitution Profiles in Courage

To Kill a Mockingbird

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Tim Dunn (D)

Honesty

Integrity Good moral character Honor Courage Commitment

The ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office in accordance with the law, plus taking care of and motivating the people who work for him or her.

Jeff Jackson (D)

Before politics comes principle. Without adhering to the basic principles of honesty and decency, there can be no political debate – and no political progress. As a Soldier, a former prosecutor, a husband, and a father, commitment to those principles has been non-negotiable in my life.

We may disagree on certain policies, but my primary mission is to represent the people of North Carolina with honesty and decency – and, hopefully, we can all agree on that.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Tim Dunn (D)

The qualities that I posses that would make me a successful office holder are:

Honesty Integrity Courage Commitment Leadership Passion Compassion

Management skills, people skills, and problem-solving skills

Jeff Jackson (D)

Honesty and decency should be the non-negotiable principles for anyone seeking to represent others.

Beyond that, I value competence and energy.

My basic critique of politics these days is that lots of people are treating honesty and decency as optional - and, in some cases, a liability.

That means that insisting on those two principles means that we're willing to accept even less competence and energy, simply because we're in a moment where we have to fight for honesty and decency.

Ideally, we can get to a place where honesty and decency are considered prerequisites and we can battle over which candidates have the most competency and energy. To me, that's what political progress would looks like.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Tim Dunn (D)

Overall with reference to the core duties and responsibilities of the NC Attorney General, required by the NC Constitution and the NC General Statutes, the primary character traits of the person serving in this office start with Honesty, Integrity, and the determination to do the right thing regardless of the circumstances. The Truth Matters!

Passion for the job and compassion for the people are requirements for this job. My life's story including my education, my personal family life, and my professional life exemplifies these character traits. I will maintain these honorable traits and integrity while performing the following duties enumerated in chapter 114 of the NC General Statutes:

Jeff Jackson (D)

Honesty, decency, competence, and energy.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Tim Dunn (D)

I vaguely remember when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. I was 3 years old and couldn't understand why everyone was so upset and sad. I distinctly remember in 1968 when Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated and the first moon landing in 1969.

Jeff Jackson (D)

I remember my parents coming to my elementary school to vote in the Bush/Clinton/Perot presidential election. I was nine years old. I remember asking my mom that night who she had voted for, and she turned to me and said, "It's a private vote, Jeffrey." She took that really seriously!

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Tim Dunn (D)

My first job was working in my uncle's tobacco field in rural Cumberland County, NC. It was summer employment when I was 15-16 years old and taught me the value of putting in a hard day's work for honest wages.

Jeff Jackson (D)

My junior year of high school, I hung flyers on doorknobs for a local pizza place. I was paid in pizza.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Tim Dunn (D)

the Bible, because it is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, because it explains God and man's mission on earth.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Tim Dunn (D)

I'd be Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Tim Dunn (D)

Lift High the Cross (from church today)

Jeff Jackson (D)

My daughter watches a lot of Frozen, so I'd say, "Let it go."

Campaign advertisements

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Satana Deberry

December 12, 2023

View more ads here:

• YouTube
• Facebook

Jeff Jackson

October 26, 2023

View more ads here:

• YouTube
• Facebook

Endorsements

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Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

• Jeff Jackson

Election competitiveness

Polls

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We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.

Election spending

Campaign finance

The tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA. Transparency USA tracks loans separately from total contributions. View each candidates’ loan totals, if any, by clicking “View More” in the table below and learn more about this data here.

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

Election context

Ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for attorney general candidates in North Carolina in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in North Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for North Carolina Attorney General candidates, 2024
Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Ballot-qualified party	N/A	$1,683.84	12/15/2023	1, 2
Unaffiliated	83,188, including at least 200 from each of three congressional districts	$1,683.84	3/5/2024	1, 2, 3

North Carolina Attorney General election history

2020

See also: North Carolina Attorney General election, 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

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,413,178
= 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.

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

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 727,321
= 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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2016

See also: North Carolina Attorney General election, 2016

The general election for attorney general was held on November 8, 2016.

Josh Stein defeated Buck Newton in the North Carolina attorney general election.

North Carolina Attorney General, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Josh Stein	50.22%	2,276,410
	Republican	Buck Newton	49.78%	2,256,178
Total Votes				4,532,588
Source: ABC11

2012

See also: North Carolina attorney general election, 2012

Incumbent Roy Cooper (D) successfully won re-election in the November 6, 2012 general election. He was unopposed.

Attorney General of North Carolina General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Roy Cooper Incumbent	100%	2,828,941
Total Votes				2,828,941
Election results via NC State Board of Elections

Earlier results

To view the electoral history dating back to 2000 for the office of North Carolina Attorney General, click [show] to expand the section.

2008 On November 4, 2008, Roy Cooper won re-election to the office of North Carolina Attorney General. He defeated Bob Crumley (R) in the general election. North Carolina Attorney General, 2008 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Roy Cooper Incumbent 61.1% 2,538,178      Republican Bob Crumley 38.9% 1,615,762 Total Votes 4,153,940 Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections. 2004 On November 2, 2004, Roy Cooper won re-election to the office of North Carolina Attorney General. He defeated Joe Knott (R) in the general election. North Carolina Attorney General, 2004 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Roy Cooper Incumbent 55.6% 1,872,097      Republican Joe Knott 44.4% 1,494,121 Total Votes 3,366,218 Election results via . 2000 On November 7, 2000, Roy Cooper won election to the office of North Carolina Attorney General. He defeated Dan Boyce (R) and Margaret Palms (Reform) in the general election. North Carolina Attorney General, 2000 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Roy Cooper 51.2% 1,446,793      Republican Dan Boyce 46.4% 1,310,845      Reform Margaret Palms 2.4% 67,536 Total Votes 2,825,174 Election results via .

Election analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.

• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
• Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
• State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
• Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.

• Presidential elections
• Statewide elections
• State partisanship
• Demographics

See also: Presidential voting trends in North Carolina and The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Cook PVI by congressional district

Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index for North Carolina, 2024
District	Incumbent	Party	PVI
North Carolina's 1st	Donald Davis	Democratic	R+1
North Carolina's 2nd	Deborah Ross	Democratic	D+15
North Carolina's 3rd	Gregory Murphy	Republican	R+11
North Carolina's 4th	Valerie Foushee	Democratic	D+21
North Carolina's 5th	Virginia Foxx	Republican	R+10
North Carolina's 6th	Kathy Manning	Democratic	R+11
North Carolina's 7th	David Rouzer	Republican	R+8
North Carolina's 8th	Dan Bishop	Republican	R+11
North Carolina's 9th	Richard Hudson	Republican	R+9
North Carolina's 10th	Patrick McHenry	Republican	R+10
North Carolina's 11th	Chuck Edwards	Republican	R+8
North Carolina's 12th	Alma Adams	Democratic	D+23
North Carolina's 13th	Wiley Nickel	Democratic	R+11
North Carolina's 14th	Jeff Jackson	Democratic	R+11

2020 presidential results by 2024 congressional district lines

2020 presidential results in congressional districts based on 2024 district lines, North Carolina
District	Joe Biden	Donald Trump
North Carolina's 1st	50.4%	48.8%
North Carolina's 2nd	66.9%	31.5%
North Carolina's 3rd	40.7%	58.0%
North Carolina's 4th	72.4%	26.2%
North Carolina's 5th	41.8%	57.2%
North Carolina's 6th	41.2%	57.5%
North Carolina's 7th	43.9%	54.9%
North Carolina's 8th	40.6%	58.3%
North Carolina's 9th	42.4%	56.3%
North Carolina's 10th	41.4%	57.4%
North Carolina's 11th	43.8%	54.8%
North Carolina's 12th	74.4%	24.2%
North Carolina's 13th	40.7%	57.9%
North Carolina's 14th	41.4%	57.5%

2012-2020

How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:

County-level voting pattern categories
Democratic
Status	2012	2016	2020
Solid Democratic	D	D	D
Trending Democratic	R	D	D
Battleground Democratic	D	R	D
New Democratic	R	R	D
Republican
Status	2012	2016	2020
Solid Republican	R	R	R
Trending Republican	D	R	R
Battleground Republican	R	D	R
New Republican	D	D	R

Following the 2020 presidential election, 47.1% of North Carolinians lived in one of the state's 22 Solid Democratic counties, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2012 to 2020, and 46.3% lived in one of 68 Solid Republican counties. Overall, North Carolina was Solid Republican, having voted for Mitt Romney (R) in 2012, Donald Trump (R) in 2016, and Donald Trump (R) in 2020. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in North Carolina following the 2020 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.

North Carolina county-level statistics, 2020
Solid Democratic	22	47.1%
Solid Republican	68	46.3%
Trending Republican	6	2.7%
New Democratic	1	2.2%
Battleground Democratic	1	0.9%
Trending Democratic	1	0.5%
New Republican	1	0.3%
Total voted Democratic	25	50.7%
Total voted Republican	75	49.3%

Historical voting trends

North Carolina presidential election results (1900-2020)

• 18 Democratic wins
• 13 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020
Winning Party	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	R	R	R

This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.

U.S. Senate elections

See also: List of United States Senators from North Carolina

The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in North Carolina.

U.S. Senate election results in North Carolina
Race	Winner	Runner up
2022	50.5%	47.3%
2020	48.7%	46.9%
2016	51.1%	45.3%
2014	48.8%	47.3%
2010	55.0%	42.9%
Average	51.3	45.3

Gubernatorial elections

See also: Governor of North Carolina

The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in North Carolina.

Gubernatorial election results in North Carolina
Race	Winner	Runner up
2020	51.5%	47.0%
2016	49.0%	48.8%
2012	54.6%	43.2%
2008	50.3%	46.9%
2004	55.6%	42.9%
Average	52.2	45.8

See also: Party control of North Carolina state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of North Carolina's congressional delegation as of May 2024.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from North Carolina
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	4	4
Republican	2	10	12
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	14	16

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in North Carolina's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.

State executive officials in North Carolina, May 2024
Office	Officeholder
Governor	Roy Cooper
Lieutenant Governor	Mark Robinson
Secretary of State	Elaine Marshall
Attorney General	Josh Stein

State legislature

North Carolina State Senate

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	20
	Republican Party	30
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		50

North Carolina House of Representatives

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	48
	Republican Party	72
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		120

Trifecta control

The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.

North Carolina Party Control: 1992-2024
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

The table below details demographic data in North Carolina and compares it to the broader United States as of 2022.

Demographic Data for North Carolina
	North Carolina	United States
Population	10,439,388	331,449,281
Land area (sq mi)	48,623	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White	65%	65.9%
Black/African American	20.9%	12.5%
Asian	3.1%	5.8%
Native American	1%	0.8%
Pacific Islander	0.1%	0.2%
Other (single race)	4%	6%
Multiple	5.9%	8.8%
Hispanic/Latino	10%	18.7%
Education
High school graduation rate	89.4%	89.1%
College graduation rate	33.9%	34.3%
Income
Median household income	$66,186	$75,149
Persons below poverty level	9.5%	8.8%
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 2017-2022).
**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.

2024 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This was a battleground election. Other 2024 battleground elections included:

• Louisiana Public Service Commission election, 2024
• Mayoral election in Portland, Oregon (2024)
• Texas House of Representatives elections, 2024 (March 5 Republican primaries)

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• North Carolina Attorney General official website

Footnotes

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