Republican Party primaries in North Carolina, 2018

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Republican Party primaries, 2018
North Carolina Republican Party.jpg
Primary Date
May 8, 2018
Federal elections
Republican primaries for U.S. House
State elections
Republican primaries for North Carolina legislature
State party
Republican Party of North Carolina
State political party revenue

Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on the party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.

Heading into the 2018 election, the Republican Party's legislative record during Donald Trump’s presidency figured into several Republican primaries. This record included the passage of major tax legislation in December 2017 and the confirmation of federal judges. It also included a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill in March 2018, which Trump opposed, and unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.[1][2]

Trump, himself, also played a role in Republican primaries. His approval rating reached 90% in June among self-described Republicans, according to a Gallup survey.[3] Many Republican candidates campaigned on their support for Trump, and negative ads accusing opponents of criticizing the president were common.[4][5][6] A May report found Trump's name or image had appeared in 37% of all Republican campaign ads at that point in 2018.[7]

This page focuses on the Republican primaries that took place in North Carolina on May 8, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.

Battleground primaries

Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.

Federal elections

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in North Carolina (May 8, 2018 Republican primaries)
See also: Statistics on U.S. Congress candidates, 2018

District 1

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 2

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 3

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 4

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 5

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 6

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 7

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 8

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 9

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 10

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 11

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 12

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 13

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


State elections

North Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
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 25
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 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 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 R

State legislative elections

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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."[11] 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.[12]


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.[13]


State party overview

See also: Republican Party of North Carolina

State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:

Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016


Primary election scheduling

North Carolina was one of four states to hold a primary election on May 8, 2018.

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.[14]

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.[15]

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 [16][17] 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.[18]

Voter registration services are also provided by the following agencies:[19]

  • 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.[20]

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.[20]

Same-day registration

North Carolina allows same-day voter registration during the early voting period only.[21][22]

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."[23]

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.[24] 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. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. 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.[25]

The following documents were acceptable forms of identification as of October 2025. Click here for the North Carolina State Board of Elections page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“ 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.)[26]
 ”

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

County boards of elections can issue free photo IDs for voting purposes to voters who live in their county. Voters must provide their name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Voters must also have their photo taken.[25] North Carolina residents also can get a free ID card from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.[27]


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.[28]

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.[28][29]


Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Six of 100 North Carolina counties—6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Bladen County, North Carolina 9.39% 1.97% 2.07%
Gates County, North Carolina 9.07% 4.11% 5.22%
Granville County, North Carolina 2.49% 4.54% 6.58%
Martin County, North Carolina 0.43% 4.65% 4.64%
Richmond County, North Carolina 9.74% 2.95% 1.50%
Robeson County, North Carolina 4.27% 17.41% 13.78%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won North Carolina with 49.8 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 46.2 percent. In presidential elections between 1792 and 2016, North Carolina voted Democratic 53.5 percent of the time and Republican 25 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, North Carolina voted Republican all five times with the exception of the 2008 presidential election.[30]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in North Carolina. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[31][32]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 40 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 38.3 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 44 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 36.4 points. Clinton won three districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 80 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 22.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 76 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 27.7 points. Trump won five districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

See also

Federal primaries in North Carolina State primaries in North Carolina North Carolina state party apparatus North Carolina voter information
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Footnotes

  1. ↑ ‘’National Review’’, “Trump Is Not Blameless in the Spending-Bill Disaster,” March 28, 2018
  2. ↑ The New York Times, "A New Guide to the Republican Herd," August 26, 2012
  3. ↑ Gallup, "Trump Job Approval Slips Back to 41%," June 25, 2018
  4. ↑ Daily Commercial, "Trump hurdle looms large in Florida GOP governor primary," July 30, 2018
  5. ↑ Daily Commercial, "These 2018 Primaries Are Worth Watching," July 25, 2018
  6. ↑ Washington Post, "Republican primary candidates have one goal: Securing Trump’s endorsement or denying it to an opponent," July 25, 2018
  7. ↑ USA Today, "Donald Trump once divided Republicans; ads for midterms signal that's no longer true," May 17, 2018
  8. ↑ WFAE, "Confusion Around North Carolina's Newest Law Goes Beyond Bathrooms," March 26, 2016
  9. ↑ CNN, "North Carolina repeals 'bathroom bill'," March 30, 2017
  10. ↑ Yahoo, "'Bathroom bill' author gets a Republican primary challenger in North Carolina," February 1, 2018
  11. ↑ Winston-Salem Journal, "North Carolina 'bathroom bill' saga lingers in election year," March 30, 2018
  12. ↑ Keep My NC Safe, "CHARLOTTE REP DAN BISHOP ON HB2 BATHROOM BILL," May 17, 2016
  13. ↑ Rhino Times, "Heated Republican State House Primary," April 19, 2018
  14. ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163–119," accessed October 21, 2025
  15. ↑ Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 163-166.01 (2022) Hours for voting," accessed May 1, 2023
  16. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Registering to Vote,” accessed October 7, 2024
  17. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Who Can Register,” accessed October 7, 2024
  18. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Register in Person During Early Voting,” accessed October 7, 2024
  19. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “National Voter Registration Act (NVRA),” accessed October 7, 2024
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 30, 2024
  21. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Register in Person During Early Voting,” accessed May 1, 2023
  22. ↑ Justia, “NC Gen Stat § 163-227.2 (2022),” accessed May 1, 2023
  23. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "North Carolina Voter Registration Application," accessed November 2, 2024
  24. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Voter ID," accessed October 8, 2025
  26. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  27. ↑ North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, "State IDs," accessed October 8, 2025
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "FAQ: Voting By Mail," accessed October 7, 2024
  29. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request Form," accessed October 7, 2024
  30. ↑ 270towin.com, "North Carolina," accessed June 1, 2017
  31. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  32. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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Party primaries by state, 2018
Republican primaries, 2018
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