North Carolina Auditor election, 2024 (May 14 Republican primary runoff)

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← 2020
North Carolina State Auditor
Election details
Filing deadline: December 15, 2023
Primary: March 5, 2024 Primary runoff: May 14, 2024 General: November 5, 2024 Pre-election incumbent(s): Jessica Holmes (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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Dave Boliek (R) won the Republican primary runoff for North Carolina State Auditor on May 14, 2024. Boliek defeated Jack Clark (R) 53.1% to 46.9%. Clark and Boliek were the top two finishers in the March 5 Republican primary with 23.2% and 22.1% of the vote, respectively. State law permitted Boliek to request a runoff because Clark did not receive more than 30% of the vote.

Both Boliek and Clark completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click here to read their responses.

Boliek was, at the time of the election, an attorney and member of the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill Board of Trustees. Boliek said his experience managing the university's investments and as a prosecuting attorney made him the best-qualified candidate. Boliek said the auditor's core responsibilities included "leading a highly effective team to accomplish work on behalf of the taxpayers" and "implementing a strategic plan to achieve accountability for the spending of taxpayer dollars."

Clark was, at the time of the election, a staffer working on budget policy in the General Assembly. Clark was a former auditor in the private sector. Clark said he was the most qualified candidate because he was "the only candidate with a Masters in Accounting, a CPA, and recent audit experience." Clark said the auditor's core responsibility was "to find the objective truth. Whoever is elected to this office must provide the proper 'tone at the top' to inspire the auditors working under them to approach every audit with the right mindset."

Boliek faced incumbent Jessica Holmes (D) and Bob Drach (L) in the general election. The last Republican elected as North Carolina Auditor was Leslie Merritt (R) in 2004.

Dave Boliek (R) and Jack Clark (R) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

This page covers the Republican primary runoff for North Carolina Auditor. Click here for more on the general election and here for more on the Republican primary.

Candidates and election results

Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for North Carolina State Auditor

Dave Boliek defeated Jack Clark in the Republican primary runoff for North Carolina State Auditor on May 14, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dave Boliek	53.2	67,173
		Jack Clark	46.8	59,130

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 126,303
= 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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Voting information

See also: Voting in North Carolina

Election information in North Carolina: May 14, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: May 11, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by April 19, 2024
• Online: April 19, 2024

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

N/A

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

• In-person: May 7, 2024
• By mail: Received by May 7, 2024
• Online: May 7, 2024

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

• In-person: May 14, 2024
• By mail: Received by May 14, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

N/A

What were the early voting start and end dates?

April 25, 2024 to May 11, 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)

About the office

The North Carolina State Auditor is the head of the Office of the State Auditor and a member of the Council of State. The auditor's office examines all facets of state government for tax dollars misuse and conducts special studies as requested by the general assembly. The auditor is elected to four-year terms with no term limits.

In 48 states, the auditor is a state-level position that supervises and has administrative rights over the state's accounting and financial functions. Of the 48 states with an auditor, 24 select theirs through partisan elections. The state auditor belongs to either the executive or legislative branch, depending on the state. Fifteen states have legislative auditor offices, 25 states have state executive auditor offices, and eight states have both auditor offices.

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.

Dave Boliek

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Conservative attorney who has a BA in Journalism from UNC-CH, Law Degree and MBA from Campbell University. Husband, father, Christian who has spent last several years as Chair of the Board of Trustees at UNC-CH focusing on budgeting and accountability."

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Key Messages

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

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Respected Leader

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Experience

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Conservative

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

Jack Clark

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am a CPA and former auditor now working on budget policy for the North Carolina General Assembly. I began my career in public accounting performing external audits, and then I joined a private company as an internal auditor."

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Key Messages

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

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I will bring integrity back to the Auditor's office.

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I have the necessary skills and experience needed for this role.

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The Auditor's office is a resource to help agencies and local municipalities run their financial processes better.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for North Carolina State Auditor 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?

Dave Boliek (R)

Respected Leader

Experience

Conservative

Jack Clark (R)

I will bring integrity back to the Auditor's office.

I have the necessary skills and experience needed for this role.

The Auditor's office is a resource to help agencies and local municipalities run their financial processes better.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Dave Boliek (R)

Looking after taxpayer dollars and making government work for the citizens of North Carolina.

Jack Clark (R)

I want North Carolina to be the best run state in the country. My passion is serving the people of NC by ensuring their tax dollars are being used efficiently and effectively.

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

Dave Boliek (R)

The NC Auditor's office is responsible for holding agencies, organizations and institutions who receive or hold state funds accountable both financially and with respect to efficient use of resources.

Jack Clark (R)

This office is a line of defense for taxpayer money. Everyone needs to have a system of accountability, and this office provides that.

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

Dave Boliek (R)

Former N.C. Governor Jim Martin because he achieved conservative governance working with a variety of different people in government.

Jack Clark (R)

My childhood celebrity hero is Cal Ripken Jr. In an era where the integrity of baseball had taken a major hit, his integrity, joy for the game, treatment of fans, and of course consistency, brought the MLB out of its slump. I want to have the same qualities to restore the integrity of North Carolina politics.

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

Dave Boliek (R)

An American Life, the Autobiography of Ronald Reagan.

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

Dave Boliek (R)

Experience leading an organization. Relevant skills to evaluate the effectiveness of the State Auditor's Office.

Jack Clark (R)

Integrity first and foremost. Without integrity, no one trusts your work. If no one trusts your work, that work is worthless. Integrity shows up differently in audit than in business or law. You need things like independence, professional skepticism, and to remain free of bias.

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

Dave Boliek (R)

As an Eagle Scout, I have strived to live by the Scout Law: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent

Jack Clark (R)

Passion. Integrity. Experience.

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

Dave Boliek (R)

Leading a highly effective team to accomplish work on behalf of the taxpayers. Implementing a strategic plan to achieve accountability for the spending of taxpayer dollars.

Jack Clark (R)

The core responsibility is to find the objective truth. Whoever is elected to this office must provide the proper "tone at the top" to inspire the auditors working under them to approach every audit with the right mindset.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Dave Boliek (R)

Loyal husband, father, friend and a servant of Jesus Christ.

Jack Clark (R)

I want to make NC the best run state in the country by setting up everywhere I audit with the processes and tools to prevent fraud and waste in the future. I also want to modernize the audit department, and as the youngest candidate I am agile enough to adjust to the changing world of audit.

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

Dave Boliek (R)

Watergate, President Nixon resigning.

Jack Clark (R)

9/11 when I was 9. My dad worked across the street from the White House and had to walk to my school miles away to pick me up.

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

Dave Boliek (R)

Newspaper Reporter at the Thomasville Times in Thomasville, N.C. Had the job for a year and a half before moving on

What is your favorite book? Why?

Dave Boliek (R)

1776 by David McCullough because it documents the extraordinary actions of everyday people to establish our great nation.

Jack Clark (R)

The Reason for God by Tim Keller. He understands the other side of his argument and makes arguments based on their perspective.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Dave Boliek (R)

Balancing work, family and my faith-life.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Dave Boliek (R)

Effective and Experienced Leadership. Accountability. Professionalism.

Jack Clark (R)

This office needs to find the objective truth of what is happening with your tax dollars. There’s no room for bias, personal agendas, or special interests.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Dave Boliek (R)

Ability to work with agencies, organizations and institutions to implement best practices with respect to financial matters as well as implementation of best practices for operational success.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Dave Boliek (R)

Yes. It is beneficial for holders of this office to have experience working within institutions and with organizations that receive state funding.

Jack Clark (R)

This office rarely has people who’ve held major prior offices. It’s not necessary based on the nature of the role. It also could be a hindrance to performing the role if someone has an agenda or personal vendettas.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Dave Boliek (R)

Experience leading a high-profile organization is helpful because the holder of the office is prepared to deal with hot-button issues that inevitably arise.

Jack Clark (R)

Holders of this office MUST have audit experience. The department performs audits and issues audit reports. Without training and background in the field, the officeholder won't understand what is being reported. Knowledge of the NC budget is also helpful, and as a Research Assistant to a budget chair, I have that experience as well.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Dave Boliek (R)

Speaker of the N.C. House Tim Moore

Jack Clark (R)

Rep. Kyle Hall - NC Appropriations Committee Co-Chair

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.

Dave Boliek

December 15, 2023

View more ads here:

• YouTube

Jack Clark

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Jack Clark while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.

Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Ballotpedia researchers did not identify any candidate websites that provide endorsement information. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

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 North Carolina State Auditor candidates in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in North Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for North Carolina State Auditor candidates, 2024
Candidate type	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Partisan	N/A	$1,683.84	12/15/2023	Source
Partisan (petition)	10,000	N/A	12/11/2023	Source
Unaffiliated	83,188	$1,683.84	4/8/2024	Source
Write-in	500	N/A	8/7/2024	Source

Past elections

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2012.

2020

See also: North Carolina Auditor election, 2020

General election candidates

• Beth Wood  (Incumbent) (Democratic Party) ✔
• Anthony Wayne Street  (Republican Party) 

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
 Democratic primary candidates

• Beth Wood (Incumbent) ✔
• Luis Toledo 

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
 Republican primary candidates

• Tim Hoegemeyer 
• Anthony Wayne Street ✔ 

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

2016

See also: North Carolina Auditor election, 2016

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

Incumbent Beth Wood defeated Charles Stuber in the North Carolina auditor election.

North Carolina Auditor, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Beth Wood Incumbent	50.03%	2,232,554
	Republican	Charles Stuber	49.97%	2,230,147
Total Votes				4,462,701
Source: ABC11

2012

See also: North Carolina down ballot state executive elections, 2012

Incumbent Beth Wood (D) successfully won re-election, defeating Debra Goldman (R) in the November 6, 2012 general election.

North Carolina State Auditor General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Beth Wood Incumbent	53.7%	2,299,541
	Republican	Debra Goldman	46.3%	1,981,539
Total Votes				4,281,080
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 State Auditor, click [show] to expand the section.

2012 See also: North Carolina down ballot state executive elections, 2012 Incumbent Beth Wood (D) successfully won re-election, defeating Debra Goldman (R) in the November 6, 2012 general election. North Carolina State Auditor General Election, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Beth Wood Incumbent 53.7% 2,299,541      Republican Debra Goldman 46.3% 1,981,539 Total Votes 4,281,080 Election results via NC State Board of Elections 2008 On November 4, 2008, Beth A. Wood won election to the office of North Carolina Auditor. She defeated Leslie Merritt (R) in the general election. North Carolina Auditor, 2008 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Beth A. Wood 53.6% 2,175,242      Republican Leslie Merritt Incumbent 46.4% 1,885,229 Total Votes 4,060,471 Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections. 2004 On November 2, 2004, Leslie Merritt won election to the office of North Carolina Auditor. He defeated Ralph Campbell (D) in the general election. North Carolina Auditor, 2004 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Leslie Merritt 50.4% 1,662,354      Democratic Ralph Campbell Incumbent 49.6% 1,633,639 Total Votes 3,295,993 Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections. 2000 On November 7, 2000, Ralph Campbell won election to the office of North Carolina Auditor. He defeated Leslie Merritt (R) in the general election. North Carolina Auditor, 2000 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Ralph Campbell 50.5% 1,392,211      Republican Leslie Merritt 49.5% 1,363,890 Total Votes 2,756,101 Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections.

2024 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

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

• Missouri's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Democratic primary)
• Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District election, 2024 (April 23 Democratic primary)
• South Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Republican primary)

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• North Carolina auditor official website

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