North Carolina state legislative Republican primaries, 2018

Elections in North Carolina, 2018

• General election: Nov. 6
• Voter registration deadline: Oct. 12
• Early voting: Oct. 17 - Nov. 3
• Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

• Online registration: No
• Same-day registration: No
• Voter ID: No
• Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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2018 North Carolina General Assembly elections
General	November 6, 2018
Primary runoff	June 26, 2018
Primary	May 8, 2018

2018 elections
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The Republican primary elections for the seats in the North Carolina State Senate and North Carolina House of Representatives were on May 8, 2018, and the Republican primary runoff elections were on June 26, 2018. For information about the Democratic primary elections in North Carolina, click here.

The general election was on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was February 28, 2018. In the state Senate, all 50 seats were up for election. In the state House, all 120 seats were up for election.

HIGHLIGHTS

As of November 2017, North Carolina was one of 18 states under divided government and not one of the 32 states under a state government trifecta. A state government trifecta is a term used to describe a single-party government where one political party holds the governor's office and a majority in both chambers of the state legislature. To find out more about state government trifectas, click here.

Incumbents who did not advance to the general election

Retiring state House incumbents

Fourteen Republican state House incumbents did not run for re-election in 2018:

• Bob Steinburg (District 1)
• Susan Martin (District 8)
• Bob Muller (District 16)
• Jeffrey Collins (District 25)
• Linda Hunt-Williams (District 37)
• John Faircloth (District 61)
• John M. Blust (District 62)
• Bert Jones (District 65)
• Carl Ford (District 76)
• Harry Warren (District 77)
• Julia Howard (District 79)
• Sam Watford (District 80)
• Larry G. Pittman (District 82)
• Linda Johnson (District 83)

Retiring state Senate incumbents

Ten Republican state Senate incumbents did not run for re-election in 2018:

• William Cook (R) (District 1)
• Ronald Rabin (District 12)
• John Alexander (District 15)
• Chad Barefoot (District 18)
• Phil Berger (District 26)
• Jerry W. Tillman (District 29)
• Shirley Randleman (District 30)
• Cathy Dunn (District 33)
• Dan Barrett (District 34)
• Tommy Tucker (District 35)

State House incumbents defeated in primary elections

Two Republican state House incumbents were defeated in a primary election in 2018:

• Beverly Boswell (District 6)
• Justin Burr (District 67)

State Senate incumbents defeated in primary elections

One Republican state Senate incumbent was defeated in a primary election in 2018:

• David Curtis (District 44)

Competitiveness

See also: 2018 primary election competitiveness in state and federal government and North Carolina state legislative Democratic primaries, 2018

There were 30 open seats in 2018, which was higher than the 21 open seats in 2016 and the 14 open seats in 2014. The 36 contested Democratic primaries was up from 26 in 2016 and 22 in 2014. The 41 contested Republican primaries was up from 35 in 2016 and 30 in 2014. The 435 candidates running in 2018 was up from 346 in 2016 and 339 in 2014.

Partisan control

The tables below show the partisan breakdowns of the North Carolina House of Representatives and the North Carolina State Senate as of July 2018:

North Carolina House of Representatives

Party		As of July 2018
	Democratic Party	45
	Republican Party	75
	Vacancies	0
Total		120

North Carolina State Senate

Party		As of July 2018
	Democratic Party	15
	Republican Party	34
	Vacancies	1
Total		50

Battleground races

Ballotpedia identified battleground races in the 2018 North Carolina state legislative Republican primary elections. These primaries had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could have led to changes in the membership of the Republican caucus or had an impact on general election races.

To determine the North Carolina state legislative Republican primary battleground races in 2018, Ballotpedia examined races that fit one or more of the three factors listed below:

1. Identified by the media as a notable primary election.
2. One or more of the candidates received a notable endorsement.
3. The primary was known to be competitive based on past results or because it was a rematch of a primary that was competitive in the past.

Senate battleground races

This map shows the 2018 North Carolina State Senate Republican primaries that we watched.

Senate District 39

Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?

Yes.

What made this a battleground race?

Beth Monaghan challenged state Sen. Dan Bishop. When serving in the state House in 2016, Bishop authored HB 2, a law that required individuals to use the bathroom that corresponded with the gender listed on their birth certificate and limited municipalities' abilities to pass ordinances related to non-discrimination and the minimum wage. HB 2 was replaced in 2017 by a new law that did not contain the bathroom provisions but still placed limits on local non-discrimination ordinances. In announcing her run, Monaghan said that Bishop was “not focused on individual dignity, on freedom, economic development [and] the virtues of limited government.” About HB 2, she said, “I wish it had never happened. Our brand wouldn’t be damaged. We wouldn’t have lost hundreds of millions of dollars. Maybe we could pay our teachers more. Our infrastructure would be stronger. But the damage has been done. But I really would like to see the whole thing repealed.” According to Yahoo, Monagan was receiving assistance from political consultants based in Washington D.C. who were interested in the symbolism of the race. Bishop did not comment on her announced run. In response to the primary challenge, Bishop said "that unpleasant controversy that has been put to rest." and that despite Monaghan's focus on the issue, "I'm not hearing that as the top thing on people's minds." When the bill originally passed, Bishop said that the media and activist groups were responsible for the negative response to it rather than the bill itself.

House battleground races

House District 59

Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?

Yes.

What made this a battleground race?

Former state Sen. James Mcdaniel Jr. challenged House Majority Whip Jon Hardister over his support for tax policy McDaniel said was not conservative enough. Since 2013, the state has reduced income and corporate rates and partially offset the costs by expanding its sales tax to services. McDaniel said the service tax penalizes people who need emergency home repair services like plumbing and the state could get by without the extra money. Hardister said the changes to tax code have improved North Carolina’s business climate and fiscal solvency.

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. North Carolina utilizes a semi-closed primary system. Parties decide who may vote in their respective primaries. Voters may choose a primary ballot without impacting their unaffiliated status.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In North Carolina, polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Any voter who is standing in line at the time polls close must be permitted to vote.

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in North Carolina, each applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which they are registering to vote for at least 30 days before the election, be at least 16 years old at the time of application and at least 18 years old by the time of the subsequent general election, and not be serving a felony sentence, including probation and parole The North Carolina voter registration application is available online.

Voter registration applications can be completed online or submitted to the appropriate county board of elections. Applications must be submitted at least 25 days before the election, but voters can also register and vote on the same day during the early voting period, but not on Election Day.

Voter registration services are also provided by the following agencies:

• Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
• Division of Services for the Blind
• Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Division of Health Benefits
• Division of Child and Family Well-Being/WIC
• Division of Social Services
• Division of Rehabilitation Services
• Division of Employment Security (DES)
• Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities

Automatic registration

North Carolina does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

North Carolina has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

North Carolina allows same-day voter registration during the early voting period only.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote for at least 30 days before the election.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

North Carolina does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who fraudulently or falsely registers is guilty of a "Class I felony under Chapter 163 of the NC General Statutes."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The North Carolina State Board of Elections allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

North Carolina requires voters to present photo ID when voting.

Note: According to the Board of Elections website, "On April 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court reversed an injunction against implementation of photo ID legislation. As a result, photo ID laws enacted in 2018 and 2019 will be implemented moving forward, starting with the municipal elections in September, October, and November 2023. A separate federal case challenging the same laws is pending, but no injunction against the laws exists in that case." The injunction was issued on December 16, 2022.

The following documents were acceptable forms of identification as of May 2024:

“

Any of the following that is unexpired, or expired for one year or less: North Carolina driver’s license State ID from the NCDMV (also called “non-operator ID”) Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election) U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport card North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections (...) College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections (...) State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections (...) Note: A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday. Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date: Military or veterans ID card (with photo) issued by the U.S. government Tribal enrollment card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina or the federal government ID card (with photo) issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program (Note: Although this is an acceptable form of ID under North Carolina law, the State Board is not aware of any such ID in circulation that contains a photo. All IDs for voting are required to have a photo.)

”

For a list of acceptable student and public employee IDs, click here.

Early voting

North Carolina permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in North Carolina. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.

An absentee ballot request form must either be submitted online or by mail before 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day. Completed ballots must be returned either in person or by mail and received no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

See also

• North Carolina state legislative Democratic primaries, 2018
• North Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2018
• North Carolina State Senate elections, 2018
• North Carolina State Legislature
• North Carolina elections, 2018