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U.S. Senate (N.C.)
Incumbent Republican US Sen. Richard Burr won his bid for re-election in a close race over Democrat challenger Deborah Ross with 51.11 percent of the vote to her 45.33 percent. Libertarian Sean Haugh received 3.56 percent of the vote.
“It was the highest honor of my lifetime to run for North Carolina’s United States Senator and garner the support of millions of citizens. If this election has shown me one thing, it’s that you can stare down the politics of hate and fear by meeting people in their communities and showing you care,” said Ross.
U.S. Congressional Districts (N.C.)
Incumbent Congresswoman Alma Adams retained her seat in the US House of Representatives District 12, with 67.05 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Leon Threatt, whom she faced in the 2012 election.
“I feel good about having another opportunity to continue what we started. Looking forward to getting back to work,” said Adams who added, “I will certainly miss President Obama, I think he’s done an extraordinary job setting our country on the right path. I am concerned about the direction our country will take, but we’ll have to see. Hopefully we will be able to work together and address the many needs of the people of North Carolina.”
The newly drawn US 13th Congressional District was the only race without an incumbent to defend the seat. Republican candidate Ted Budd captured 56.07 percent of the vote over Democrat Bruce Davis. In the 6th Congressional District, incumbent Republican Mark Walker remains in the seat after winning 59.28 percent of the votes over Democrat Pete Glidewell.
NC Attorney General Roy CooperDespite unofficial returns that appeared too close to call on Tuesday night, Democrat challenger and current NC Attorney General Roy Cooper continues to lead with 48.97 percent of the vote over current Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who received 48.86 percent of the vote. According to the unofficial numbers, Cooper won by 5,001 votes, although McCrory is hoping for an upset once thousands of provisional ballots in counties across the state are officially accounted for on November 18. Libertarian candidate Lon Cecil finished the race with 2.17 percent of the vote.
N.C. Lieutenant Governor
Incumbent Republican Dan Forest won with 51.87 percent of the vote over Democrat challenger Linda Coleman. This will be Forest’s second term. Libertarian candidate Jacki Cole received 2.85 percent of the votes.
N.C. Attorney General
Democrat Josh Stein won the N.C. Attorney General seat with 50.23 percent of the votes, beating out Republican challenger Buck Newton. Stein is a former campaign manager and deputy chief of staff for US Sen. John Edwards, and a former senior deputy attorney general serving under Roy Cooper.
N.C. General Assembly
Incumbent N.C. Sen. Trudy Wade (Guilford County) held on to the District 27 seat over Democrat challenger Michael Garrett with 53.33 percent of the vote. Democrat Sen. Gladys Robinson also retained the District 28 seat over Republican challenger Devin King with an overwhelming 83.85 percent of the vote.
“I’m very grateful to the citizens of District 28 for voting for me and putting confidence in me to continue to serve them. I’m excited as usual to continue to work,” said Robinson, who went on to say she was disappointed that the Democrats did not win the other seats.
“I’m a little disappointed but I am confident and happy to go back to work for the citizens of our state. Hopefully we can get the support of the Republicans to help meet the needs of the people,” she said.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Jon Hardister retained the N.C. House District 59 seat with 60.33 percent of the vote over Democrat challenger Scott A. Jones. Other house reps. in uncontested races will continue to serve: Republican Reps. John Blust in District 62, and John Faircloth in District 61, and Democrat Reps. Cecil Brockman in District 60, and Pricey Harrison in District 57. Democrat Amos Quick will be the new District 58 representative, succeeding the late Rep. Ralph Johnson (D), who passed unexpectedly this year on primary election day, March 15.
“I am thankful for all the community support. I’ll be going to work for the people very soon in the state house. I’m following in the footsteps of a great man, Ralph Johnson. My goal is to do as well as him and continue the work he was doing,” said Amos.
Portia Shipman, a Lora Cubbage supporter, with Deena Hayes Green, a GCS board member (District 8) ran unopposed and State Sen. Gladys Robinson. Photo by Charles Edgerton/Carolina PeacemakerIn the Guilford County Board of Commissioners races, District 4 Democrat Kirk Perkins lost to challenger Republican J. Alan Branson, the board’s current vice chairman, who took 54.24 percent of the vote. District 6, incumbent Republican Hank Henning took 51.13 percent of the vote to win the seat over Democrat Rick Forrester. Unopposed candidates Republican Jeff Phillips in District 5 and Democrat Ray Trapp in District 8 won their seats.
Guilford County School Board
Five of the nine seats on GCS Board of Education will be occupied by newcomers. The other four seats will be held by incumbents. The biggest upset of the night goes to District 7, with political newcomer, Democrat Bryon Gladden winning the seat with 69.67 percent of the vote over unaffiliated opponent, Bettye Jenkins.
“I am overwhelmed, excited, and ready to go to work. I was committed to my platform and I think people understood that. I am so humbled by the community support,” said Gladden who at 31, will be the youngest member elected to GCS Board of Education. He also wished his opponent, Jenkins, the best and said moving forward he would be open to working with her for the children and families of District 7.
Incumbent Democrat Alan Duncan, who serves as school board chairman, won the at-large seat with 61.33 percent of the vote over Republican challenger, Alan Hawkes. District 2, Republican and former board member Anita Sharpe defeated current District 6 Democrat Jeff Belton with 54.65 percent of the vote.
In District 3, Republican Pat Tillman defeated Democrat Angelo Kidd in a close race with 50.49 percent of the vote.
“I feel so honored and privileged to have been elected,” said Tillman who said he wants to start developing relationships with the rest of the board members. “Outside of getting to know my colleagues, I want to focus on a long-term plan for literacy and achievement, and aligning our business community with our schools to create career paths for our students.”
In District 5, incumbent Democrat Darlene Garrett beat two challengers, Republican Mary C. Sauer and unaffiliated candidate Lois Bailey, with 47.08 percent of the vote. District 6, Republican replacement for Ed Price, Wes Cashwell, won the seat over newcomer Democrat Khem Irby with 54.64 percent of the vote.
T. Dianne Bellamy-Small ran unopposed for School Board (District 1). Photo by Charles Edgerton/Carolina Peacemaker“I will work to be the best representative that District 1 has ever had,” said Bellamy-Small.
Guilford Judicial Races
In the N.C. District Court Judge District 18 races, the winners included Angela Foster with 61.52 percent over John Stone; Tonia Cutchin with 55.29 percent over incumbent Randle L. Jones; Bill Davis with 53.08 percent over Miranda Reynolds Reavis; Mark Cummings with 63.32 percent over Marc Tyrey; and Lora C. Cubbage took 53.89 percent of the votes over incumbent David Sherrill.
“I ran a clean and grassroots campaign so I feel amazingly great,” said Cubbage.
Greensboro Bonds
Greensboro voters also voted yes to the $126 million bond package slated to pay for a variety of projects across the city in housing, transportation, parks and recreation, and economic redevelopment. All four bonds passed anywhere with 68.4 percent to 72.7 percent of the vote, with transportation taking the lead in unofficial results.
The bonds are planned to be used to fund improvements for streets, sidewalks and bike lanes; improve access to adequate and affordable housing; beautify parks and recreation facilities; and spur economic development.
Projects from urban renewal in the Ole Asheboro neighborhood, a joint facility that will combine the Windsor Community Recreation Center and Vance Chavis Public Library, construction and rehabilitation for approximately 80 rental homes in East Greensboro and new bus shelters are just a few of the projects listed on the city’s Web site. It is important to note that in order to pay for the bonds, property taxes are expected to increase by about $30 a year for the homeowner of a $150,000 house.
