Presidential race undecided; Republicans take almost every federal, district race
At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, five states were still unable to determine a winner in the 2020 Presidential race.
With votes from Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina still not fully tallied – some states citing a massive amount of mail-in ballots, others reporting that the final data was not available due to an overwhelming amount of ballots cast in an understaffed environment – Republican incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden were left with uncertainty over the outcome at The Graham Star’s press deadline.
Pennsylvania did not expect to announce results until 9 a.m. Wednesday; Georgia announced that tabulation of votes would resume at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning.
But Trump decisively picked up the victory in Graham County, securing 79.51 percent, or 3,667 votes. Biden finished with 896 votes in Graham County, or 19.43 percent.
Unofficial North Carolina results secured the state for Trump by a slim margin, with the President besting Biden with 2,732,084 to Biden’s 2,655,383. The percentage difference was 49.98 percent Trump; 48.57 Biden.
State, district races
U.S. Senate Republican incumbent Thom Tillis (3,320 votes, 73.83 percent) easily picked up a victory in Graham County, with Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham finishing second with 22.21 percent (999 Graham County votes). Tillis edged Cunningham in the statewide vote, 2,640,379 to 2,543,672 (48.73 percent Tillis; 46.94 Cunningham).
In Graham County, Republican Madison Cawthorn (77.14 percent, 3,483 votes) defeated Democrat Moe Davis (20.82, or 940 votes) in the U.S. House of Representatives, District 11 race. Cawthorn went on to clinch the race, securing 243,898 votes (54.52 percent) to Davis’ 189,516 votes (42.36 percent) overall.
In the race for Governor, Republican Dan Forest (75.26 percent) carried Graham County against Democratic incumbent Roy Cooper (23.72). However, Cooper (51.48 percent) bested Forest (47.06) – 2,803,782 to 2,562,258 – to remain in his role as Governor.
The Lieutenant Governor race in Graham County went to Republican Mark Robinson, as he secured 78.86 percent (3,491 votes) against Democratic nominee Yvonne Lewis Holley’s 21.14 percent (936 votes). The statewide race proved to be much closer, but Robinson won the race with 2,773,751 (51.66 percent) to Holley’s 2,595,868 (48.34 percent). With the victory, Robinson became the first-ever black lieutenant governor in North Carolina history.
Republican candidate Kevin Corbin wrapped up the local vote for N.C. Senate District 50 Representative, besting Democrat Victoria Fox 79.72 percent (3,401 votes) to Fox’s 20.28 (865 votes). Corbin secured the 91-precinct race by obtaining 73,467 votes. Fox finished with 36,759.
The local vote for N.C. House of Representatives, District 120 went to Republican Karl Gillespie (78.15 percent, or 3,270 votes), as Democratic opponent Susan Landis secured 21.85 percent, or 914 votes). Gillespie defeated Landis across the 44 precincts, with 34,745 votes to Landis’ 12,098.
Graham County’s choice for 30th District Court Judge, Seat 6 was Republican Kaleb Wingate, who picked up 74.08 percent (3,086 votes) to Democratic opponent Justin Greene’s 25.92 percent (1,080 votes). Across the 91 precincts in the district, Wingate finished with 71,188 votes, while Greene had 38,006.
A total of 4,655 Graham County voters cast their ballots in the 2020 general election, which equates to 76.55 percent of registered voters.
The number of voters for each precinct on election day is as follows:
* West Ward: 382 (with an additional 30 provisional ballots cast)
* East Ward: 295 (with 15 provisional ballots)
* Stecoah: 295 (with 10 provisional ballots)
* Tapoco: 119 (no provisional ballots)
A complete list of statewide winners can be found at er.ncsbe.gov.