The Green Papers: North Carolina 2004 General Election
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ North Carolina
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary & CD1 Special Election: Tuesday 20 July 2004
Second Primary (CD 5-Rep, CD 10-Rep, Public Instruction-Dem): Tuesday 17 August 2004
General Election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Electoral Votes:15(2.79% of 538)
Governor:1 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
2002-2010 Representatives:13(2.99% of 435)
2000 Census:8,067,673 (2.86% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):5,797,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):5,122,123
Capital:Raleigh
Tuesday 20 July 2004 polls close 7:30p EDT (2330 UTC) / 8:30p EDT (0030 UTC). NORTH CAROLINA allows its County Boards of Elections to decide whether to keep polls open until 8:30 p.m. EDT but, outside of metropolitan areas, this local option is not often utilized and so 7:30 p.m. EDT is the networks' earliest time of projection beacuse the vast majority of that state's polls will have closed by that hour.
Tuesday 17 August 2004 polls close 7:30p EDT (2330 UTC) / 8:30p EDT (0030 UTC). NORTH CAROLINA allows its County Boards of Elections to decide whether to keep polls open until 8:30 p.m. EDT but, outside of metropolitan areas, this local option is not often utilized and so 7:30 p.m. EDT is the networks' earliest time of projection beacuse the vast majority of that state's polls will have closed by that hour.
Tuesday 2 November 2004 polls close 7:30p EST (0030 UTC) / 8:30p EST (0130 UTC). NORTH CAROLINA allows its County Boards of Elections to decide whether to keep polls open until 8:30 p.m. EST but, outside of metropolitan areas, this local option is not often utilized and so 7:30 p.m. EST is the networks' earliest time of projection beacuse the vast majority of that state's polls will have closed by that hour.
 

  Alabama    Alaska    American Samoa    Arizona    Arkansas    California    Colorado    Connecticut    Delaware    District of Columbia    Florida    Georgia    Guam    Hawaii    Idaho    Illinois    Indiana    Iowa    Kansas    Kentucky    Louisiana    Maine    Maryland    Massachusetts    Michigan    Minnesota    Mississippi    Missouri    Montana    Nebraska    Nevada    New Hampshire    New Jersey    New Mexico    New York    North Carolina    North Dakota    Northern Marianas    Ohio    Oklahoma    Oregon    Pennsylvania    Puerto Rico    Rhode Island    South Carolina    South Dakota    Tennessee    Texas    Utah    Vermont    Virgin Islands    Virginia    Washington    West Virginia    Wisconsin    Wyoming 

North Carolina State and Local Government

North Carolina 2004 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions: Democrats   Republicans   Third Parties


The State Board of Elections met on 9 February 2004 and unanimously voted to postpone the Primary election from 4 May to 20 July 2004 and the Second Primary from 1 June to 17 August 2004. The candidate filing period is now 26 April to 7 May 2004.

If no candidate receives 40% of the vote in the 20 July Primary, the two leading candidates will proceed to a Tuesday 17 August 2004 run off.

 
           

President  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 15 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors. List of States: Details.
Up for election in 2004
  Elected Republican 1,961,166 56.02% President George W. Bush
(15 Electoral Votes)
Vice President: Vice President Richard "Dick" Cheney
Renominated by Convention - 2 September 2004
  Candidate Democrat 1,525,849 43.58% Senator John Kerry
Vice President: Senator John Edwards
  Candidate Libertarian 11,731 0.34% Michael Badnarik
Vice President: Richard Campagna
  Candidate Write-In 1,805 0.05% Ralph Nader
Vice President: Peter Camejo
  Candidate Write-In 348 0.01% Walter F. Brown
Vice President: Mary Alice Herbert
Socialist
  Candidate Write-In 108 0.00% David Keith Cobb
Vice President: Patricia Helen "Pat" LaMarche
Green
Total 3,501,007 100.00%  

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 108th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 2   Republican   Senator Elizabeth H. Dole
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3
Seat up for election
  Democrat   Senator John Edwards
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat - Sunday 7 September 2003: Senator Edwards, a contender for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, announced that he will not seek re-election to the Senate in 2004. Tuesday 6 July 2004: Senator Edwards was named by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts to be his running mate.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  Elected Republican 1,791,450 51.60% Congressman Richard M. Burr
Congressman Burr currently represents NC's CD 5
  Candidate Democrat 1,632,527 47.02% Erskine Bowles
  Candidate Libertarian 47,743 1.38% Tom Bailey
  Candidate Write-In 362 0.01% Walker F. Rucker
Total 3,472,082 100.00%  

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors

Chair up for election   Democrat   Governor Mike Easley
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2004.
Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.
Renominated - 20 July 2004 - Primary
  Elected Democrat 1,939,154 55.62% Governor Mike Easley
  Candidate Republican 1,495,021 42.88% Patrick J. Ballantine
No candidate received 40% of the vote in the 20 July Republican Primary for Governor. Normally, the two leading candidates would compete in a Tuesday 17 August 2004 runoff. However, on 22 July Richard Vinroot, who came in second place, withdrew from the race giving the nomination to first place winner Patrick J. Ballatine. Results of the 20 July Primary: Patrick J. Ballantine (30.40%); Richard Vinroot (29.95%); Bill Cobey (27%); Commissioner Dan Barrett (5%); State Senator Fern H. Shubert (4%); George W. Little (4%)
  Candidate Libertarian 52,513 1.51% Barbara Howe
Total 3,486,688 100.00%  

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Democrat   Lieutenant Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 - Primary
  Elected Democrat 1,888,397 55.57% Lieutenant Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue
  Candidate Republican 1,453,705 42.78% Jim Snyder
  Candidate Libertarian 56,368 1.66% Christopher Cole
Total 3,398,470 100.00%  

108th U.S. House of Representatives  2 year term, Election Cycle 2004, 2006. No Term Limit. 108th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
6 Democrats (6 Renominated);
7 Republicans (5 Renominated, 2 Open)

CD 1
Seat up for election
  Democrat   Congressman G. K. Butterfield
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected in Special Election, 20 July 2004, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Congressman Frank W. Ballance, Jr.- effective 11 June 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 - Primary
  Elected Democrat 137,667 63.98% Congressman G. K. Butterfield
nominated for full term in 109th Congress (3 Jan 2005 to 3 Jan 2007)
  Candidate Republican 77,508 36.02% Greg Dority
nominated for full term in 109th Congress (3 Jan 2005 to 3 Jan 2007)
Total 215,175 100.00%  
 

Congressman Frank W. Ballance, Jr. who was first elected in 2002, submitted his resignation from Congress on Tuesday 8 June 2004, saying myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disorder which causes muscle weakness, has affected his ability to carry out his duties. His resignation is effective at 11:59 p.m. on 11 June 2004.

Governor Mark Easley called a special election for 20 July 2004, the date of the state's primary, to fill this vacant seat. The winner of this special election, Democrat G.K. Butterfield, will serve out former Congressman Ballance's term, which expires in January 2005. Results of 20 July 2004 Special Election: G.K. Butterfield (Democrat - 70%) - WINNER, Greg Dority (Republican - 28%), Tom Eisenmenger (Libertarian - 2%).


CD 2
Seat up for election
  Democrat   Congressman Bob Etheridge
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 145,079 62.30% Congressman Bob Etheridge
  Candidate Republican 87,811 37.70% Billy J. Creech
Total 232,890 100.00%  

CD 3
Seat up for election
  Republican   Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr.
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 1994
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Republican 171,863 70.70% Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr.
  Candidate Democrat 71,227 29.30% Roger A. Eaton
Total 243,090 100.00%  

CD 4
Seat up for election
  Democrat   Congressman David Price
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
Returned to House: 1996
[previously served in House]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 217,441 64.10% Congressman David Price
  Candidate Republican 121,717 35.88% Todd A. Batchelor
  Candidate Write-In 76 0.02% Maximilian Longley
Mr. Longley is officially endorsed as the Libertarian candidate by the LPNC Executive Committee
Total 339,234 100.00%  

CD 5
Seat up for election
  Republican   Congressman Richard M. Burr
First elected: 1994
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat - Candidate for Class 3 Senate seat in 2004.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  Elected Republican 167,546 58.83% Virginia Foxx
Since no candidate received 40% of the vote in the 20 July Primary, the two leading candidates participated in a Tuesday 17 August 2004 runoff. The runoff was won by Virginia Foxx. Results of the 20 July Primary: Councilman Vernon L. Robinson (24%) vs. Virginia Foxx (22%). Primary candidates not proceeding to the runoff: Ed Broyhill (22%); State Senator Jay Helvey (15%); Nathan Tabor (13%); Joseph H. "Joe" (2%); Byrd; Edward L. "Ed" Powell (2%); David Stephen Vanhoy (1%)
  Candidate Democrat 117,271 41.17% Jim A. Harrell, Jr.
Total 284,817 100.00%  

CD 6
Seat up for election
  Republican   Congressman Howard Coble
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Republican 207,470 73.15% Congressman Howard Coble
  Candidate Democrat 76,153 26.85% William W. Jordan
Total 283,623 100.00%  

CD 7
Seat up for election
  Democrat   Congressman Mike McIntyre
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 180,382 73.19% Congressman Mike McIntyre
  Candidate Republican 66,084 26.81% Ken Plonk
Total 246,466 100.00%  

CD 8
Seat up for election
  Republican   Congressman Robert C. "Robin" Hayes
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Republican 125,070 55.54% Congressman Robert C. "Robin" Hayes
  Candidate Democrat 100,101 44.46% Beth Troutman
Total 225,171 100.00%  

CD 9
Seat up for election
  Republican   Congressman Sue Myrick
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 1994
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Republican 210,783 70.24% Congressman Sue Myrick
  Candidate Democrat 89,318 29.76% Jack Flynn
Total 300,101 100.00%  

CD 10
Seat up for election
  Republican   Congressman T. Cass Ballenger
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat - Announced retirement 2 December 2003.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  Elected Republican 157,884 64.15% Patrick T. McHenry
Since no candidate received 40% of the vote in the 20 July Primary, the two leading candidates participated in a Tuesday 17 August 2004 runoff. The results of the 17 August runoff reflecting the recount: Patrick McHenry (15,015 votes), David Huffman (14,930 votes). The results of the 20 July Primary (from the North Carolina State Board of Elections): David Huffman (35%) vs. Patrick McHenry (26%). Primary candidates not proceeding to the runoff: Sandy Lyons (20%); George A. Moretz (19%)
  Candidate Democrat 88,233 35.85% Anne N. Fischer
Total 246,117 100.00%  

CD 11
Seat up for election
  Republican   Congressman Charles H. Taylor
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Republican 159,709 54.90% Congressman Charles H. Taylor
  Candidate Democrat 131,188 45.10% Patsy Keever
Total 290,897 100.00%  

CD 12
Seat up for election
  Democrat   Congressman Mel Watt
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 154,908 66.83% Congressman Mel Watt
  Candidate Republican 76,898 33.17% Ada M. Fisher
Total 231,806 100.00%  

CD 13
Seat up for election
  Democrat   Congressman Brad Miller
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 160,896 58.79% Congressman Brad Miller
  Candidate Republican 112,788 41.21% Virginia Johnson
Total 273,684 100.00%  

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Democrat   Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 1,911,585 57.32% Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall
  Candidate Republican 1,423,109 42.68% Jay Rao
Total 3,334,694 100.00%  

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Democrat   Attorney General Roy Cooper
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 1,872,097 55.61% Attorney General Roy Cooper
  Candidate Republican 1,494,121 44.39% Joe Knott
Total 3,366,218 100.00%  

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Democrat   Treasurer Richard Hancock Moore
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 1,812,201 54.51% Treasurer Richard Hancock Moore
  Candidate Republican 1,512,619 45.49% Edward A. Meyer
Total 3,324,820 100.00%  

Auditor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Democrat   Auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr.
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1996, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Republican 1,662,354 50.44% Leslie "Les" Merritt
  Candidate Democrat 1,633,639 49.56% Auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr.
Total 3,295,993 100.00%  

Commissioner of Agriculture  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Democrat   Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb
Appointed June 2003 by Governor Mike Easley as interim agriculture commissioner to fill the seat formerly held by Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps (first elected: 2000). Appointed December 2003 to serve as commissioner for the remainder of the term that expires in January 2005.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Candidate Republican 1,666,197 50.03% Steve Troxler
  Candidate Democrat 1,663,910 49.97% Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb
Total 3,330,107 100.00%  
 

2 November 2004 Results Contested
Protests filed because an electronic voting system failed to record 4,438 votes in Carteret County. Republican Steve Troxler leads Democrat Britt Cobb by 2,287 votes. History--

  • December 2004: The State Board of Elections decided that voters in Carteret County whose ballots were lost due to a machine malfunction, as well as registered voters in the county who didn't vote in the general election voters should cast new ballots on 11 January. Both agriculture commissioner candidates opposed the 11 January election.
  • 18 December 2004: Visiting Superior Court Judge Henry W. Hight Jr. determined that the election board's re-vote in Carteret County was illegal.
  • 29 December 2004: The Elections board decides to hold a new statewide election.
  • As of 31 December 2004, the election remains contested. Link to 2005 events.

Commissioner of Insurance  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Democrat   Insurance Commissioner Jim Long
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996; re-elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Democrat 1,934,076 57.64% Insurance Commissioner Jim Long
  Candidate Republican 1,421,398 42.36% C. Robert Brawley
Total 3,355,474 100.00%  

Commissioner of Labor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Republican   Labor Commissioner Cherie Killian Berry
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2004
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Renominated - 20 July 2004 Primary
  Elected Republican 1,723,004 52.09% Labor Commissioner Cherie Killian Berry
  Candidate Democrat 1,584,488 47.91% Wayne Goodwin
Total 3,307,492 100.00%  

Superintendent of Public Instruction  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004

Seat up for election   Democrat   Public Instruction Superintendent Mike Ward
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat
  Elected Democrat 1,655,719 50.13% June S. Atkinson
Since no candidate received 40% of the vote in the 20 July Primary, the two leading candidates participated in a Tuesday 17 August 2004 run off. June S. Atkinson won the runoff. 20 July 2004 Primary results: Marshall Stewart (35%) vs. June S. Atkinson (34%). Primary candidate not proceeding to the runoff: J. B. Buxton (30%)
  Candidate Republican 1,647,184 49.87% Bill Fletcher
Total 3,302,903 100.00%  
 

November 2004 Results Contested
Democrat June Atkinson leads Republican Bill Fletcher by 8,535 votes. The State Board of Elections convened in public session on Tuesday 30 November and unanimously certified Democrat June Atkinson as the winner. Republican Bill Fletcher appealed. On 18 December 2004 Visiting Superior Court Judge Henry W. Hight Jr. denied Mr. Fletcher's request to order the elections board to disregard 11,310 provisional ballots cast by voters who went to the wrong precincts. Following this, Mr. Fletcher obtained a court order barring the inauguration of June Atkinson. As of 31 December 2004, the election remains contested. Link to 2005 events.


 


  2004 General Election Home  
 
Electoral College
  Allocation     How Appointed     Meeting Place (13 December)  
  Duly Appointed Electors     Tabulation by Congress (6 January)  
  May Electors Defect?  
  THE "FAITHLESS ELECTORS" - Presidential Electors who have defected in the past  
 
  Contests to Watch and Polling Data  
 
2 November Poll Closing Times:   Alphabetically   --   Electoral College Chronologically  
2004 Primary/Runoff dates:   Alphabetically   --   Chronologically   --   Poll Closing Times  
....
  President (Details)     Governors     Senate     House  
....
  Senators by 'Class'   --   Senate Seats by Region and Subregion  
  Governors' by election 'cycle'   --   Governors by Region and Subregion  
....
  Senatorial Primaries at a Glance     Gubernatorial Primaries at a Glance  
....
  Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats (the incumbent is not running for re-election)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with no incumbent running for them  
  Uncontested Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats (one candidate running for office)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with multiple incumbents running for them  
....
  2004 Partisan Composition by State  
....
  2004 Congressional Districts  
  Senate Electoral Classes  
....
  Relative Political Party Strength / Sectional and Regional Politics in Presidential Elections  
  1972-2000 Presidential Election State Voting Trends  
....
  Statewide Political Party Strength