Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.

North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search


Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge-smaller use.png
U.S. House • Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • All other local • How to run for office
Flag of North Carolina.png


← 2020
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Democratic primary
Republican primary
Republican primary runoff
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):
Mark Robinson (R)
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in North Carolina
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2024
Impact of term limits in 2024
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024
North Carolina
executive elections
Governor

Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
Auditor
Treasurer
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Labor Commissioner
Insurance Commissioner
Agriculture Commission

A Democratic Party primary took place on March 5, 2024, in North Carolina to determine which candidate would earn the right to run as the party's nominee in the state's lieutenant gubernatorial election on November 5, 2024.

Rachel Hunt advanced from the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.

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

Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina

Rachel Hunt defeated Ben Clark and Mark H. Robinson in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Rachel Hunt
Rachel Hunt Candidate Connection
 
70.4
 
477,196
Image of Ben Clark
Ben Clark Candidate Connection
 
16.5
 
111,836
Image of Mark H. Robinson
Mark H. Robinson
 
13.2
 
89,247

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 678,279
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

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.

Ben Clark

Image of Ben Clark

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I was born at Ft. Bragg. My dad was a helicopter pilot, my mom a teacher. I was in ROTC at NCA&T and commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the USAF. I served 20 years, and retired as a Lt. Col. For 20 years, I’ve worked in the private sector. I served five terms in the NC Senate."

Key Messages

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

As a retired Air Force officer who's spent the last 20 years training soldiers on the nation’s most sophisticated mission command systems AND a retired NC Senator who served five full terms, I am the most qualified candidate in this race on either side of the aisle - and it’s not even close.

I live east of I-95 and represented two of the five rural, low-wealth Leandro counties. I was the chief Democrat on the redistricting committee when we broke the last Republican supermajority and elected 7 Democrats to Congress. I brokered the historic 2021 budget that delivered $100s of millions for critical infrastructure projects in every corner of NC, including where you live.

I’ve been endorsed by the longest currently-serving woman in the NC Senate, Sen. Gladys A. Robinson who said: “Everyday, Ben brought his serious, sober leadership to the fight to fund HBCUs and expand healthcare access to everyone. The results speak for themselves. Ben is the type of leader we need in the Lt. Governor's office and he has my full support.” I’ve also been endorsed by the the longest currently-serving member of the NC House, Rep. Marvin Lucas, who said of me: "Ben is the most prepared, the most qualified, and the most experienced candidate on either side of the aisle to serve as our next Lt. Governor."

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

Rachel Hunt

Image of Rachel Hunt

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am running for Lt. Governor to help make North Carolina a better place to live, work, and raise a family. My priorities are investing in our public schools, expanding access to health care, and helping our local businesses thrive."

Key Messages

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

I’m proud to have started my family right here in North Carolina. As a mom who has faced childbirth complications and raised two kids in this state, and as an advocate for domestic violence victims, I understand the challenges North Carolina women, children, and families are facing. The ongoing maternal healthcare crisis impacts all women and disproportionately impacts Black Women. Childcare must be more affordable. It’s well past time for North Carolina’s Women, Children, and Families to have an advocate in the Lt. Governor’s office, and I’ll be that advocate.

Everyone should have the right to make decisions about their healthcare in consultation with their doctor. The government should not be involved. Unfortunately, when it comes to women’s bodies, MAGA politicians in Raleigh care more about control than improving the quality of life for mothers and children. That’s why, as a State Senator, I’ve voted against their attempts to eliminate freedoms North Carolina women have had for more than 50 years. I support and trust women to make their own decisions. Further, I support making maternal life-saving measures safe and legal. I will continue to stand up for reproductive rights and fight for access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.

I spent most of my childhood on a North Carolina farm, so I understand the unique challenges that our rural communities face. Working in the fields, taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and community. As your Lt. Governor, I'm committed to standing up for rural areas, ensuring they have a strong voice in the state government. Together, we will champion economic opportunities, access to quality education, and the good, affordable healthcare that rural North Carolinians deserve.

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

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)


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.


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 Electiondot.png Democratic R+1
North Carolina's 2nd Deborah Ross Electiondot.png Democratic D+15
North Carolina's 3rd Gregory Murphy Ends.png Republican R+11
North Carolina's 4th Valerie Foushee Electiondot.png Democratic D+21
North Carolina's 5th Virginia Foxx Ends.png Republican R+10
North Carolina's 6th Kathy Manning Electiondot.png Democratic R+11
North Carolina's 7th David Rouzer Ends.png Republican R+8
North Carolina's 8th Dan Bishop Ends.png Republican R+11
North Carolina's 9th Richard Hudson Ends.png Republican R+9
North Carolina's 10th Patrick McHenry Ends.png Republican R+10
North Carolina's 11th Chuck Edwards Ends.png Republican R+8
North Carolina's 12th Alma Adams Electiondot.png Democratic D+23
North Carolina's 13th Wiley Nickel Electiondot.png Democratic R+11
North Carolina's 14th Jeff Jackson Electiondot.png Democratic R+11

2020 presidential results by 2024 congressional district lines

2020 presidential results in congressional districts based on 2024 district lines, North Carolina[1]
District Joe Biden Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party
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:


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.

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%Republican Party 47.3%Democratic Party
2020 48.7%Republican Party 46.9%Democratic Party
2016 51.1%Republican Party 45.3%Democratic Party
2014 48.8%Republican Party 47.3%Republican Party
2010 55.0%Republican Party 42.9%Democratic Party
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%Democratic Party 47.0%Republican Party
2016 49.0%Democratic Party 48.8%Republican Party
2012 54.6%Republican Party 43.2%Democratic Party
2008 50.3%Democratic Party 46.9%Republican Party
2004 55.6%Democratic Party 42.9%Republican Party
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 Democratic Party Roy Cooper
Lieutenant Governor Republican Party Mark Robinson
Secretary of State Democratic Party Elaine Marshall
Attorney General Democratic Party 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.

State profile

Demographic data for North Carolina
 North CarolinaU.S.
Total population:10,035,186316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):48,6183,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:69.5%73.6%
Black/African American:21.5%12.6%
Asian:2.5%5.1%
Native American:1.2%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2.4%3%
Hispanic/Latino:8.8%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:85.8%86.7%
College graduation rate:28.4%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$46,868$53,889
Persons below poverty level:20.5%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in North Carolina.
**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.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in North Carolina

North Carolina voted Republican in six out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, six are located in North Carolina, accounting for 2.91 percent of the total pivot counties.[2]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. North Carolina had six Retained Pivot Counties, 3.31 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More North Carolina coverage on Ballotpedia

See also

North Carolina State Executive Elections News and Analysis
Seal of North Carolina.png
StateExecLogo.png
Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
North Carolina State Executive Offices
North Carolina State Legislature
North Carolina Courts
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
North Carolina elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012," accessed December 15, 2023
  2. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
v • e
2024 state executive official elections
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
Treasurer
Auditor
Commissioners
Education officials


Flag of North Carolina
v • e
State of North Carolina
Raleigh (capital)
Elections

What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

Government

Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=North_Carolina_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2024_(March_5_Democratic_primary)&oldid=9442538"