Live updates: See results for NC lieutenant governor and other Council of State races

Voters will elect a host of new faces to represent them in North Carolina's executive branch this Election Day.

That includes the state's top executive, the governor, and, at a minimum, more than half of the statewide offices on the Council of State.

The North Carolina Council of State is the group of 10 executive officials, including the governor and lieutenant governor, who are elected to statewide positions by voters. The additional offices included on the council are the attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, superintendent of public instruction, state treasurer and the commissioners of labor, insurance and agriculture.

Members of the Council of State oversee their respective state agencies, which include the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor and the Department of Agriculture, among others. The council meets monthly, mostly to handle state property matters and share information about their respective departments. The group also votes to concur on some actions of the governor, like enacting states of emergencies.

Over half of the incumbents on the Council of State sought higher office, did not seek reelection or lost their party's primary in March. The remaining four incumbents are defending their seats but face challengers in doing so.

Here are early, unofficial results in North Carolina's statewide races for the Nov. 5, 2024, election. (More comprehensive coverage of the races for governor, attorney general and state superintendent can be found in separate s at newsobserver.com.)

Lieutenant governor

The lieutenant governor is North Carolina's second-highest elected official. The office doesn't come with a lot of power, but the official presides over the state Senate — only voting when there is a tie — and sits on the State Board of Education and the State Board of Community Colleges, among other duties.

The governor and lieutenant governor run separately in North Carolina, not on a joint ticket. That means the officials can come from different political parties, as has been the case for the past eight years.

Incumbent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican, is running for governor. There are four candidates seeking the open office.

Democrat Rachel Hunt, of Charlotte, is an attorney, college counselor and state senator representing Mecklenburg County. In a News & Observer candidate questionnaire , Hunt said her top priority if elected would be to make North Carolina "the best state in the nation to live, work and raise a family," which she would accomplish by "advocating for more funding for local law enforcement, expanding job training programs in community colleges, increasing teacher pay, and expanding access to affordable child care."

She is the daughter of former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, who served as governor for a total of 16 years in two separate stints, from 1977 to 1985 and again from 1993 to 2001.

Republican Hal Weatherman, of Wake Forest, is the former chief of staff and campaign manager for former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who held the office from 2013 to 2021. Weatherman, who secured his party's nomination in a runoff election, said in an N&O questionnaire that his primary goal as lieutenant governor would be to "use the authority of the office to fundamentally remove the stigma our society has placed on working in the trades."

Libertarian Shannon Bray and Constitution Party member Wayne Jones are also running.

The state auditor oversees the Office of the State Auditor, which conducts audits of state agencies and their use of public funds. The auditor is the state's top watchdog of government and state spending.

The incumbent, Democrat Jessica Holmes, has held the office for about 11 months. Gov. Roy Cooper, also a Democrat, late last year appointed Holmes to serve the remainder of former Auditor Beth Wood's term. Wood, who was the longest-serving auditor in state history, resigned after a Wake County grand jury indicted her for misusing her state-owned vehicle for personal use.

Holmes is now seeking a full four-year term in the office. She is a Raleigh attorney who previously served on the Wake County Board of Commissioners, including terms as chair and vice chair. If elected, Holmes said in an N&O questionnaire, her top priority would be conducting "impactful audits and investigations to ensure federal and state taxpayer dollars serve their intended purpose to benefit North Carolinians." She cited "ensuring hurricane relief dollars get to people impacted by floods and storm damage" as one possible example of that work.

Holmes is facing a challenge from Republican Dave Boliek.

Boliek, of Fayetteville, is an attorney who also serves on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees. Boliek has campaigned on a promise of auditing the state Division of Motor Vehicles, among other priorities.

"Clearly, there is a breakdown in the way that agency is managed. Individual DMV offices are lacking the resources and support to accomplish the mission of issuing licenses, issuing IDs, registering vehicles and other regulatory functions," Boliek said in an N&O questionnaire. "A full audit with well thought out recommendations for reform is vital to all North Carolinians."

Bob Drach, a Libertarian, is also running for auditor. He is the only certified accountant in the race. By trade, auditors are generally certified accountants, but such certification is not a requirement for state auditors in North Carolina.

The state treasurer oversees the State Health Plan, which provides coverage to more than 750,000 current and former government employees, as well as the state pension fund, which provides retirement benefits to nearly a million public employees. The treasurer is also charged with maintaining the state's credit rating, currently the top-level AAA.

The incumbent, Republican Dale Folwell, unsuccessfully sought his party's nomination for governor in the March primary. Two candidates are running for the open office.

Republican Brad Briner, of Chapel Hill, is a retired investment manager who most recently managed the philanthropic and personal assets of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Briner also serves on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees.

Briner said in an N&O questionnaire that his top priority as treasurer would be to "address the chronic underperformance" of the state's retirement system, arguing that such underperformance "has cost our taxpayers billions of dollars." Briner also advocated for renegotiating the short-term contract with the State Health Plan's pharmacy benefit manager, currently CVS Caremark, as one way to ensure the State Health Plan remains solvent.

Charlotte Democrat Wesley Harris is an economist, economic consultant and member of the state House of Representatives, representing Mecklenburg County.

Harris said in an N&O questionnaire that his top priority as treasurer would be "to improve the performance of the pension plan so that we can not only keep the system solvent for our current and future retirees, but also be able to deliver a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to keep pace with recent inflation." To keep the State Health Plan solvent, Harris suggested enhancing care, recruiting employees and negotiating with health care providers and pharmaceutical companies.

Both candidates support reinstating coverage under the State Health Plan of weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy, Saxenda and Zepbound.

Commissioner of Insurance

The commissioner of insurance is responsible for regulating the insurance industry in the state by negotiating rates, investigating fraud and licensing bail bond agents. The insurance commissioner also used to hold the role of state fire marshal until state lawmakers stripped that responsibility from the office last year.

The job has come under more scrutiny over the past year after reporting from The N&O about the hiring and travel practices of Mike Causey, the Republican incumbent who is seeking his third term in the office. The job has also received more attention as major natural disasters led insurance premiums to skyrocket, The N&O reported.

Causey said in an N&O questionnaire that his top priority if reelected would be "protecting consumers by maintaining a viable insurance market with more competition and more choices," as well as "fighting insurance fraud and prosecuting violators to hold down insurance costs."

Causey faces a challenge from Democrat Natasha Marcus, an attorney who represents Mecklenburg County in the state Senate. Marcus said in an N&O questionnaire that her top priority if elected would be "ending the excessive insurance rate hikes" under Causey's leadership. Marcus also committed to holding public rate-hike hearings.

Commissioner of Labor

The commissioner of labor oversees the state Department of Labor, which promotes the "health, safety and general well-being" of workers around the state and oversees workplace safety requirements for the public and private sectors. The department is also tasked with inspecting everything from rides at the State Fair to elevators — where former longtime Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, a Republican, became known for including her photo along with the inspection certificate.

The incumbent, Republican Josh Dobson, did not seek reelection. Two candidates are seeking the open office.

Republican Luke Farley is a construction and occupational and workplace safety attorney. In an N&O questionnaire, Farley said the top issue facing the Department of Labor is "the unfilled inspector positions, with vacancies around 25%." Farley committed to working with state legislators to secure funding to fill the positions. He also committed to reducing the wait-time for voluntary safety inspections.

Democrat Braxton Winston is a former member of the Charlotte City Council who currently works as a stagehand. In an N&O questionnaire, Winston said he would take a "whole worker" approach to the job if elected labor commissioner, and cited wage increases as a key way to fill vacancies in the Department of Labor. Winston also supports overturning the state's ban on collective bargaining for public employees.

Both candidates said they would include their photos on elevator inspection certificates.

Commissioner of Agriculture

The commissioner of agriculture leads the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees and regulates state farm operations, food, drug and cosmetic testing, operation of four state farmers' markets and the North Carolina State Fair, among several other areas. Agriculture is the top industry in North Carolina, contributing more than $103 billion to the state's economy each year.

The incumbent, Republican Steve Troxler, has held the office since 2005. Troxler owns and operates Troxler Farms in Browns Summit, the Guilford County community where he grew up. He did not respond to The N&O's candidate questionnaire.

Troxler faces two challengers in this election.

Democrat Sarah Taber describes herself as a small farmer and farm consultant. In an N&O questionnaire, Taber said her top priority if elected would be "rebuilding our failing farm economy," and said the state needs "grants and private investment to build facilities that turn high-value crops like hazelnuts, hemp, & produce into groceries."

Taber faced scrutiny in the closing days of the election over her farming credentials and the accuracy of her self-described experience, but defended her claims to The N&O.

Libertarian Sean Haugh said in an N&O questionnaire that his "single issue" if elected "is the full legalization of marijuana." Haugh also said he is "most famous for delivering pizzas," referencing media coverage he received while running unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2014 and 2016. He also ran for a state House seat in 2020 and 2022.

Secretary of State

The secretary of state oversees the state's businesses, registers trademarks, manages land records and oversees legislative lobbyists. Unlike in some other states, the secretary of state in North Carolina does not have a role in overseeing elections.

The incumbent, Democrat Elaine Marshall, has held the office since 1997. Marshall, an attorney and former state senator, said in an N&O questionnaire that her top priorities if reelected would be cybersecurity and ensuring the success of small business owners.

Marshall faces a challenge from Republican Chad Brown. Brown is the former mayor of Stanley and chair of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners. In an N&O questionnaire , Brown said his top priority as secretary of state would be to "foster a strong and vibrant business community by reducing unnecessary regulations and streamlining processes" and to "make it easier for entrepreneurs and small businesses to succeed and create jobs."

State superintendent of public instruction

The superintendent of public instruction leads the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, which oversees the state's public schools and implements the laws regarding them.

One-term incumbent Catherine Truitt lost her bid for reelection in the primary, defeated by challenger and fellow Republican Michele Morrow, a nurse who home-schools her children.

Morrow receiving the Republican nomination for superintendent thrust the race into the national spotlight, particularly because of her attendance at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and her previous social media posts that, among other remarks, called for former President Barack Obama to be executed on pay-per-view television. She also falsely claimed during the election that the "+" in LGBTQ+ included pedophilia. Morrow did not respond to The N&O's candidate questionnaire.

Democrat Mo Green is also running for superintendent. Green, the former superintendent of Guilford County Schools and executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, said in an N&O questionnaire that his top priority as state superintendent would be to "advocate for increased salaries for public school educators and to help North Carolina be a state that reveres teachers."

Attorney general

The attorney general is North Carolina's top law enforcement official, leading the Department of Justice and representing the state in legal matters. The office has been held by Democrats for more than 125 years.

Two-term incumbent Josh Stein, a Democrat, is running for governor. Two candidates are seeking the open office.

Republican Dan Bishop is an attorney who currently represents North Carolina's 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House. He previously served in the state House and Senate and as a member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners.

Bishop, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, said in an N&O questionnaire that his top priority as attorney general would be "restoring law and order in North Carolina."

Democrat Jeff Jackson is a former prosecutor who currently represents North Carolina's 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House. He previously served in the state Senate.

Jackson, who rose to TikTok fame during his only term in Congress , said in an N&O questionnaire that his top priority as attorney general would be addressing the fentanyl epidemic through "a two-front approach that targets both supply and demand."

The governor of North Carolina is the state's top executive official, responsible for signing bills into law, or — as has increasingly become the case in recent years — vetoing the legislation.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has held the office for eight years, reached his term limit and was unable to run again. Five candidates are seeking the open office.

Republican Mark Robinson has served as the state's lieutenant governor since 2021. Robinson, a previously inexperienced politician who rose to fame in the state for a viral speech he gave about gun rights in 2018 , faced intense scrutiny in the closing weeks of the election after after a CNN investigation alleged he wrote racist and lewd posts on a porn website more than a decade ago. If he is elected, Robinson would be the state's first Black governor.

Democrat Josh Stein has served as the state's attorney general since 2017. An attorney by profession, Stein previously served in the state Senate representing Wake County. In an N&O questionnaire, Stein said his top priority as governor would be investing in the state's public schools, and he also vowed to "defend women's rights." If he is elected, Stein would be the state's first Jewish governor.

Libertarian Mike Ross, Constitution Party member Vinny Smith and Green Party member Michael Wayne Turner are also running for governor.