Trump, Biden take North Carolina in presidential primary
*Editor's note: This story was printed with two errors in the March 5 edition of The Graham Star. The errors have been corrected for the version you are viewing now.
The three Republican finalists for the Graham County Board of Commissioners has been determined.
At the conclusion of the 2020 primary election Tuesday night, Raymond Williams, Sr. (722 votes, 20.74 percent) edged Steven Pressley (644 votes, 18.50 percent) for the third Republican nomination for the Board.
Incumbents Keith Eller (1,075 votes, 30.88 percent) and Connie Orr (1,044 votes, 29.88) were the top vote-getters in the race.
The three Democratic nominees for the Board of Commissioners – Scotty Hooper, Jacob Nelms and Kent Williams – will join Raymond Williams, Eller and Orr on the General ballot in November.
The Board of Commissioners race was the only local primary race, but plenty of Graham County voters made their voices heard in the election.
All results listed below are just for Graham County.
U.S. President
Incumbent Donald Trump ran away with the Republican nod for Presidential Preference in Graham County, tallying 97.11 percent of the vote (1,510). Joe Walsh had 17, while Bill Weld totaled 15.
On the Democratic ticket, Joe Biden (162 votes, 43.03 percent) bested Bernie Sanders (97) in the county race. Other nominees to receive votes were Mike Bloomberg (69), Elizabeth Warren (33), Tom Steyer (29), Amy Klobuchar (28), Pete Buttigieg (12), Tulsi Gabbard (6), Michael Bennet (5), Marianne Williamson (2), Andrew Yang (2) and Cory Booker (1).
Libertarians’ Steve Richey, Ken Armstrong and Jacob Hornberger received two votes each in the county, with John McAfee earning one nod.
No votes were cast on either the Constitutional or Green parties’ primary ballots.
U.S. Senate
Thom Tillis (1,178 votes, 81.98 percent) easily took the Graham County Republican nod for U.S. Senate, with Paul Wright (105) finishing second. Larry Holmquist (86) and Sharon Hudson (68) rounded out the Republican ticket.
Cal Cunningham (390 votes, 74.29 percent) was far and away the winner on the Democratic ticket, with Erica Smith (86) taking second.
Also receiving votes was Trevor Fuller (22), Steve Swenson (21) and Atul Goel (6).
U.S. House
Moe Davis (284 votes, 55.15 percent) won the Democratic nod for U.S. House of Representatives, District 11, with Gina Collias (90) finishing second. Phillip Price (68), Michael O’Shea (42) and Steve Woodsmall (31) rounded out the vote-getters.
Republican candidate Jim Davis (471 votes, 31.42 percent) surpassed Wayne King (398) in a tight race for House of Representatives. Others to receive votes in the crowded field were Lynda Bennett (254), Dan Driscoll (94), Madison Cawthorn (86), Joey Osborne (83), Chuck Archerd (70), Matthew Burril (10), Vance Patterson (10), Albert Wiley, Jr. (4), Steven Fekete, Jr. (4) and Dillon Gentry (1).
N.C. Governor
Incumbent Roy Cooper (454 votes, 81.80 percent) defeated Ernest Reeves (101) in the Democratic race for Governor.
Meanwhile, Dan Forest (1,394 votes, 93.49 percent) ran past Holly Grange (97) for the Graham County Republican nod for the post.
Lt. Governor
Mark Robinson (663 votes, 50.46 percent) easily beat Mark Johnson (176) in the Republican race for N.C. Lieutenant Governor. Also receiving votes were John Ritter (152), Scott Stone (81), Andy Wells (76), Greg Gebhardt (67), Deborah Cochran (60), Renee Ellmers (23) and Buddy Bengel (16).
Democratic nominee Yvonne Lewis Holley (129 votes, 28.92) won a surprisingly-close race against Terry Van Duyn (85), Allen Thomas (76), Chaz Beasley (65), Ron Newton (50) and Bill Toole (41).
N.C. Senate
Kevin Corbin (1,260 votes, 89.30 percent) trumped Sarah Conway (151) in the Republican race for N.C. Senate, District 50.
District Judge
Jim Moore (698 votes, 52.92 percent) attained the most Republican votes in Graham County for District Court Judge, District 30, Seat 6.
Also receiving votes were Kaleb Wingate (446), Mitchell Keith Brewer (100) and Rich Cassady (75).
Attorney General
Jim O’Neill (758 votes, 58.99 percent) won the Republican nod in Graham County for N.C. Attorney General. Finishing behind O’Neill was Sam Hayes (454) and Christine Mumma (73).
N.C. Auditor
Anthony Wayne Street (600 votes, 50.76 percent) just barely prevailed over Tim Hoegemeyer (582 votes, 49.24) in the Republican race for N.C. Auditor.
On the Democratic ballot, Beth Wood’s 361 votes (81.67 percent) handily defeated Luis Toledo (81).
Comm. Insurance
Mike Causey (773 votes, 62.85 percent) knocked off Ronald Pierce (457) in the Republican race for the N.C. Commissioner of Insurance.
Comm. Labor
Josh Dobson (719 votes, 59.62 percent) toppled Chuck Stanley (372) and Pearl Burris Floyd (115) in the Republican race for the N.C. Commissioner of Labor.
Secretary of State
In another Republican-only vote, Chad Brown (513 votes, 42.82 percent) defeated Michael LaPaglia (433) and E.C. Sykes (252) in the race for N.C. Secretary of State.
State Superintendent
Catherine Truitt (690 votes, 56.79 percent)) defeated Craig Horn (525) for the Republican vote in the race for N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Jen Mangrum (134 votes, 30.18 percent) picked up the most Democratic votes in the same race, with Keith Sutton (95), Constance Johnson (82), James Barrett (79) and Michael Maher (54) rounding out the docket.
Comm. Agriculture
In a Democratic-only race, Walter Smith (218 votes, 49.10 percent) won Graham County’s vote for N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture.
Others to receive votes in the race were Jenna Wadsworth (172) and Donovan Alexander Watson (54).
N.C. Treasurer
Matt Leatherman (248 votes, 56.49 percent) won the most votes on the Democratic-only, Graham County ballot for N.C. Treasurer. His opponents were Dimple Ajmera (98) and Ronnie Chatterji (93).
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The 2020 general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3.