The ten members of the North Carolina Council of State are statewide-elected officers serving four-year terms.[1]
The 2020 elections resulted in a Council of State consisting of 4 Democrats and 6 Republicans.[2]
Governor
Incumbent Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is prevented by the state constitution from running for a third consecutive term.
Lieutenant governor
Incumbent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican, was eligible to run for a second term, but has decided instead to run for governor.[3]
Several candidates have announced intentions to run as either Democrats or Republicans.
Attorney general
Incumbent Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, was eligible to run for a third term, but has decided instead to run for governor.[4] The announced candidates include two US Congressmen: Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, and Dan Bishop, a Republican.[5]
Secretary of state
Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Elaine Marshall is running for re-election to an eighth term in office.[6]
Incumbent Democratic Auditor Beth Wood initially said she would run for re-election to a fifth term in office. However, her career was derailed when she pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run charge in March 2023.[7] On November 1, 2023, Wood announced that she would not seek re-election, and on November 9 announced that she would resign effective December 15.[8] Governor Roy Cooper appointed Democrat Jessica Holmes to replace Wood. Holmes is a former Wake County commissioner and was the Democratic nominee for North Carolina Commissioner of Labor in 2020.[9]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Jessica Holmes, incumbent state auditor (2023–present)[9]
Withdrawn
Luis Toledo, former assistant state auditor and candidate for state auditor in 2020[10][11]
Incumbent Republican Superintendent Catherine Truitt ran for re-election to a second term in office, [15] but was eliminated in the Republican primary.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Michele Morrow, nurse and former homeschooling cooperative teacher[15]
^"Article III". North Carolina Constitution. State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
^State Board of Elections: General Election results for Council of State. Accessed Nov. 14, 2020.
^Mikkelsen, Emily; Stamps, Brayden (April 22, 2023). "Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson announces run for governor at cloudy Ace Speedway rally". Fox 8. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
^"North Carolina AG Josh Stein announces 2024 bid for governor, takes aim at likely GOP rival". WUNC. January 18, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
^"2024 North Carolina attorney general race: A complete list of candidates". WUNC. October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
^ abMercer, Matt (March 30, 2023). "Council of State will look much different in 2025". North State Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^Specht, Paul (June 22, 2023). "State Auditor Beth Wood, who was convicted of hit-and-run, to seek reelection". WRAL-TV. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
^Mikelsen, Emily (November 9, 2023). "State Auditor Beth Wood to resign effective December 15 after grand jury indictment". WGHP. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
^ abFain, Travis; Lovingood, Chris (November 30, 2023). "Holmes to replace Wood as state auditor". WRAL-TV. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
^Bonner, Lynn (November 3, 2023). "Democrat Luis Toledo declares candidacy for NC state Auditor". NC Newsline. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
^"Ballot bites: A flurry of candidate filings and another redistricting lawsuit". NC Newsline. December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2024. Finally, Democrat Luis Toledo will drop out of the race for state auditor
^Campbell, Colin (November 1, 2023). "NC state auditor says she won't run for reelection". Associated Press. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
^Pender, Abby; Livingston, Walker (September 21, 2023). "David Boliek, member of BOT, to run for State Auditor". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
^ abcdFain, Travis (September 1, 2023). "UNC Board of Trustees chair may join crowded Republican field in 2024 NC auditor's race". WRAL-TV. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
^ abcdefghijklmn"2024 Primary Candidate List By Contest - Federal and State Only (PDF)". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
^"Jeff Tarte will run for NC Auditor in 2024". Cornelius Today. November 29, 2023.
^ abcBattaglia, Danielle; Bajpai, Avi (December 8, 2023). "Mecklenburg lawmaker leaves statewide race to run for Congress, setting up GOP primary". The Charlotte Observer. On Friday, A.J. Daoud, a former North Carolina lottery commissioner and state party leader who was running for state auditor, told The N&O he would run in the GOP primary for treasurer instead.
^Mildenberg, David (December 15, 2023). "Bloomberg's money manager running for NC state treasurer". Business NC.
^Doyle, Steve (March 27, 2023). "Guilford County commissioner who switched parties announces run for state treasurer as Republican". WGHP. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
^Yost, Scott (December 1, 2023). "Ex-Commissioner James Upchurch Finds Georgia Peachy". Retrieved December 11, 2023.
^Yost, Scott (May 19, 2023). "Commissioner James Upchurch Now Running For State Auditor". The Rhino Times of Greensboro. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
^Robertson, Gary. "North Carolina treasurer running for governor in 2024". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
^"Democrat Harris running for N. Carolina treasurer in 2024". Associated Press. March 13, 2023. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023.
^ abc"2024 North Carolina Council of State races: A complete list of candidates". WUNC. October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
^"Lee teacher announces bid for state superintendent". The Rant. June 30, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
^ abFain, Travis (December 6, 2022). "In a surprise, NC labor commissioner won't run for re-election". WRAL-TV.
^"Farley formally enters that GOP race for Labor Commissioner". NC Political News. July 24, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
^"Two NC House Republicans look to succeed Dobson". The North State Journal. December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
^ ab"Current and recent North Carolina labor commissioners back rival GOP candidates for the job". Associated Press. August 2, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
^"Moss ends bid for NC labor commissioner". The Carolina Journal. July 19, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
^ ab"North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson endorses state Rep. Hardister to succeed him". Associated Press. July 26, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
^Harrison, Steve (April 29, 2023). "Braxton Winston to run for NC labor commissioner in 2024; won't seek another City Council term". WFAE. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
^Roush, Chris (August 3, 2023). "Brawley files to run for NC insurance commissioner". Business North Carolina. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
^Fain, Travis (December 11, 2023). "Democratic senator, targeted in redistricting, jumps into NC insurance commissioner's race". WRAL-TV. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
^"David Wheeler of Spruce Pine Announces Run for NC Commissioner of Insurance - Vows to Fight for Rural NC in Raleigh". Concho Valley Homepage. May 31, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
External links
NC State Board of Elections
Official campaign websites for Treasurer
Wesley Harris (D) for Treasurer
Official campaign websites for Superintendent
Mo Green (D) for Superintendent
Official campaign websites for Labor Commissioner
Luke Farley (R) for Labor Commissioner
Jon Hardister (R) for Labor Commissioner
Braxton Winston (D) for Labor Commissioner
Official campaign websites for Insurance Commissioner