State Board of Elections orders second primaries
The State Board of Elections ordered second primaries to be held on May 14, 2024, for the following contests under State Board jurisdiction:
Republican nomination for lieutenant governor (Hal Weatherman and Jim O’Neill)
Republican nomination for state auditor (Jack Clark and Dave Boliek),
Republican nomination for U.S. House District 13 (Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott).
While a fourth runoff race could have been necessary to determine the Republican nominee for the state’s 6th Congressional District, Former Congressman Mark Walker announced that he would not request a run-off. Since there is no Democratic candidate on the ticket, Walker's removal means the outcome is predetermined. Addison McDowell, a first-time, Trump-endorsed candidate, is expected to head to Congress in 2025.
Under state law, a second primary may be requested by the second-place candidate if no candidate receives more than 30% of the votes cast in that contest. The top two vote-getters would then be listed on the ballot for the second primary contest.
The Lieutenant Governor's Republican race saw Hal Weatherman, emerge as the top vote-getter with 19.59% of the vote. Second place finisher Jim O’Neill, who is currently serving his fourth term as Forsyth County District Attorney, received 15.84% of the vote. Mr. O-Neill subsequently requested a run-off.
In the Republican primary for State Auditor, Jack Clark, who currently works on budget policy in the General Assembly and is a certified public accountant, was the top vote-getter on March 5 with 23.24% of the vote. Dave Boliek, an attorney and Clark's contender, has requested a runoff in the contest after a tight race, receiving 22.10% of the vote.
North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District will hold a second primary contest to determine the Republican nominee between Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott. Mr. Knott received 18.67% of the vote.
In-person early voting for second primary elections begins Thursday, April 25, and ends Saturday, May 11, at 3:00 p.m.
