# 1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Democratic nominee Jim Hunt defeated Republican nominee David T. Flaherty with 64.99% of the vote.
This election marked the last time an incumbent North Carolina governor was ineligible to run for reelection to a second term before the adoption of an amendment allowing such runs.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 17, 1976.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Jim Hunt, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
* Edward O'Herron Jr., chairman of Eckerd Drugs and former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
* George Wood, former member of the North Carolina Senate
* Thomas Strickland, incumbent member of the North Carolina Senate
* Andy Barker, incumbent Mayor of Love Valley, North Carolina
17.6% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Hunt | 362,102 | 53.41 |
| | Democratic | Edward O'Herron Jr. | 157,815 | 23.28 |
| | Democratic | George Wood | 121,673 | 17.95 |
| | Democratic | Thomas E. Strickland | 31,338 | 4.62 |
| | Democratic | Andy Barker | 5,003 | 0.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 677,931 | 100.00 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* David Flaherty, former State Senator
* Coy Privette, Baptist pastor
* Jacob F. Alexander, former North Carolina Secretary of Transportation
* Wallace McCall
3% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Flaherty | 57,663 | 49.77 |
| | Republican | Coy Privette | 37,573 | 32.43 |
| | Republican | Jacob F. Alexander | 16,149 | 13.94 |
| | Republican | Wallace McCall | 4,467 | 3.86 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 115,852 | 100.00 |
Republican primary runoff results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David T. Flaherty | 45,661 | 60.50 |
| | Republican | Coy Privette | 29,810 | 39.50 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,471 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

Major party candidates
* Jim Hunt, Democratic
* David T. Flaherty, Republican
Other candidates
* Herbert F. Seawell Jr., American
* Arlan K. Andrews, Libertarian

### Results

1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Hunt | 1,081,293 | 64.99% |
| | Republican | David T. Flaherty | 564,102 | 33.90% |
| | American | Herbert F. Seawell Jr. | 13,604 | 0.82% |
| | Libertarian | Arlan K. Andrews | 4,764 | 0.29% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 517,201 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,663,763 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | |