# 2012 North Carolina Council of State election

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vte :
Elections in North Carolina :
Federal government
U.S. President
1792
1796
1800
1804
1808
1812
1816
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
Dem
Rep
2012
2016
Dem
2020
Dem
Rep
2024
Dem
Rep
U.S. Senate
1789
1792
1795
1798
1799
1800
1804
1805 (sp)
1806
1810
1812
1814 (sp)
1815 (sp)
1816
1816 (sp)
1818
1822
1825
1846 (sp)
1828
1828 (sp)
1829
1829 (sp)
1830
1835
1836
1836 (sp)
1840 (sp)
1841
1843
1847
1849
1854 (sp)
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1858 (sp)
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1868
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1872 (sp)
1876
1879
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1884
1889
1890
1894
1894 (sp)
1897
1901
1903
1907
1909
1913
1914
1918
1920
1924
1926
1930
1932
1932 (sp)
1936
1938
1942
1944
1948
1948 (sp)
1950
1950 (sp)
1954
1954 (sp)
1956
1958 (sp)
1960
1966
1968
1972
1974
1978
1980
1984
1986
1986 (sp)
1990
1992
1996
1998
2002
2004
2008
2010
2014
2016
2020
2022
2026
U.S. House of Representatives
1790
1791
1793
1795
sp:4
1796
sp:4
1798
sp:10
1800
1801
sp:8
1802
sp:8
1803
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sp:5
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sp:10
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sp:10
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1918
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1934
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1940
1942
1946
1948
1950
1952
1956
1958
1960
sp:12
1968
1972
1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
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2002
2004
sp:1
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
sp:12
2016
2018
9
2019
sp:3
sp:9
2020
2022
2024 :
State executive
Gubernatorial elections
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1810
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
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1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
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1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Lieutenant Governor elections
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Attorney General elections
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Council of State elections
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Secretary of State elections
1940
1944
1996
2024 :
State legislature
State Senate elections
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
State House elections
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State judiciary
Judicial elections
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
2012Amendment 1 :
Mayoral elections
Charlotte mayoral elections
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2022
Cary mayoral elections
2011
2015
2019
2023
Durham mayoral elections
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
Fayetteville mayoral elections
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2022
Greensboro mayoral elections
2011
2013
2015
2017
2022
Raleigh mayoral elections
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2022
2024
Winston-Salem mayoral elections
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2016
2020 :
vte :
The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2012 were held November 6, 2012 to select the nine officers of the North Carolina Council of State. This election coincided with the U.S. presidential election, U.S. House elections, the gubernatorial election and the statewide judicial elections. Primary elections were held on May 8, 2012; for races in which no candidate received 40 percent of the vote in the primary, runoff elections (officially known as "second" primaries) were held on July 17.
The nine members of the North Carolina Council of State are statewide-elected officers serving four-year terms. In the 2012 elections, all incumbents who ran for new terms were re-elected, while the Governor and Lieutenant Governor's seats were open following incumbent Bev Perdue's decision to retire, and Walter Dalton's decision to run for governor, respectively.
The partisan makeup of the Council of State changed from 8 Democrats and 2 Republicans before the election to 6 Democrats and 4 Republicans afterward, as Republicans flipped both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

## Governor

Republican Pat McCrory was elected governor.

## Lieutenant governor

Republican Dan Forest was elected lieutenant governor.

## Attorney general

Roy Cooper, the Democratic incumbent attorney general, ran for re-election unopposed.

### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Roy Cooper | 2,828,941 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,828,941 | 100 |

## Secretary of State
### Democratic primary

* Elaine Marshall, the Democratic incumbent Secretary of State, ran for re-election.

### Republican primary

* Michael Beitler, business professor; Libertarian nominee for US Senator in 2010 (changed his registration to Republican to run for secretary of state)
* A.J. Daoud, business owner
* Kenn Gardner, former Wake County commissioner
* Ed Goodwin, Chowan County commissioner, retired Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Michael Beitler | A.J. Daoud | Kenn Gardner | Eddy Goodwin | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–6, 2012 | 496 | ± 4.4% | 8% | 11% | 23% | 14% | 45% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 486 | ± 4.4% | 7% | 9% | 20% | 11% | 52% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 20–22, 2012 | 521 | ± 4.3% | 6% | 6% | 17% | 10% | 61% |

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ed Goodwin | 246,641 | 35.94 |
| | Republican | Kenn Gardner | 204,630 | 29.82 |
| | Republican | Michael (Mike) Beitler | 166,061 | 24.2 |
| | Republican | A. J. Daoud | 68,834 | 10.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 686,166 | 100 |
As no candidate received 40 percent of the vote, state law allows the runner-up to request a second primary (or "runoff"). Gardner requested a runoff.
Republican 2nd primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ed Goodwin | 74,252 | 54.48 |
| | Republican | Kenn Gardner | 62,044 | 45.52 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 136,296 | 100 |

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Elaine Marshall (D) | Ed Goodwin (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 23–25, 2012 | 880 LV | ± 3.3% | 43% | 38% | 19% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 27–30, 2012 | 981 | ± 3.1% | 41% | 34% | 24% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 2–5, 2012 | 813 | ± 3.4% | 43% | 37% | 19% |

#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Elaine Marshall | 2,331,173 | 53.79 |
| | Republican | Ed Goodwin | 2,003,026 | 46.21 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,334,199 | 100 |

## State Auditor
### Democratic primary

* Beth A. Wood, the Democratic incumbent State Auditor, ran for re-election.

### Republican primary

* Joseph Hank DeBragga, auditor for North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
* Greg Dority, three-time congressional candidate, Beaufort County Republican Party chairman
* Debra Goldman, Wake County School Board member
* Fern Shubert, former state senator, former state representative, certified public accountant
* Rudy Wright, Mayor of Hickory, former certified public accountant

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Joseph DeBragga | Greg Dority | Debra Goldman | Fern Shubert | Rudy Wright | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–6, 2012 | 496 | ± 4.4% | 5% | 16% | 17% | 11% | 8% | 44% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 486 | ± 4.4% | 3% | 18% | 16% | 9% | 3% | 51% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 20–22, 2012 | 521 | ± 4.3% | 4% | 11% | 12% | 7% | 4% | 61% |

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Debra Goldman | 237,473 | 34.35 |
| | Republican | Greg Dority | 164,647 | 23.82 |
| | Republican | Fern Shubert | 126,983 | 18.37 |
| | Republican | Rudy Wright | 108,037 | 15.63 |
| | Republican | Joseph Hank DeBragga | 54,098 | 7.83 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 691,238 | 100 |
As the runner-up, Dority chose not to request a runoff, making Goldman the nominee.

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Beth Wood (D) | Debra Goldman (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 29–31, 2012 | 730 | ± 3.6% | 50% | 38% | 12% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 23–25, 2012 | 880 LV | ± 3.3% | 45% | 38% | 18% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 31–September 1, 2012 | 1,012 | ± 3.1% | 40% | 38% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–8, 2012 | 775 | ± 3.5% | 39% | 36% | 25% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 7–10, 2012 | 810 | ± 3.4% | 36% | 36% | 29% |

#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Beth Wood | 2,299,541 | 53.71 |
| | Republican | Debra Goldman | 1,981,539 | 46.29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,281,080 | 100 |

## State Treasurer
### Democratic primary

* Janet Cowell, the Democratic incumbent State Treasurer, ran for re-election.
* Ron Elmer, investment consultant

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Janet Cowell | Ron Elmer | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 50% | 11% | 39% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 20–22, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 38% | 11% | 51% |
| Public Policy Polling | March 23–25, 2012 | 505 | ± 4.36% | 34% | 12% | 55% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 29–March 1, 2012 | 499 | ± 4.4% | 32% | 14% | 54% |

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Cowell | 630,151 | 76.63 |
| | Democratic | Ron Elmer | 192,135 | 23.37 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 822,286 | 100 |

### Republican primary

* Frank Roche, talk radio host
* Steve Royal, certified public accountant

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Frank Roche | Steve Royal | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–6, 2012 | 496 | ± 4.4% | 24% | 30% | 47% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 486 | ± 4.4% | 17% | 27% | 57% |

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Royal | 389,188 | 57.69 |
| | Republican | Frank Roche | 285,439 | 42.31 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 674,627 | 100 |

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Janet Cowell (D) | Steve Royal (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 29–31, 2012 | 730 | ± 3.6% | 46% | 41% | 13% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 31–September 1, 2012 | 1,012 | ± 3.1% | 42% | 38% | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–8, 2012 | 775 | ± 3.5% | 38% | 35% | 27% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 12–14, 2012 | 1,084 | ± 3% | 34% | 33% | 33% |

#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Cowell | 2,313,877 | 53.83 |
| | Republican | Steve Royal | 1,984,827 | 46.17 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,298,704 | 100 |

## Superintendent of Public Instruction
### Democratic primary

* June Atkinson, the Democratic incumbent Superintendent, ran for re-election.
Withdrawn Candidates
* Rick Glazier, state representative

### Republican primary

* Richard Alexander, South Carolina teacher and former small business owner
* Mark Crawford, former state representative
* Ray Martin, teacher
* David Scholl, businessman and Union County School Board member
* John Tedesco, Wake County School Board member

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Richard Alexander | Mark Crawford | Ray Martin | David Scholl | John Tedesco | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–6, 2012 | 496 | ± 4.4% | 14% | 12% | 6% | 6% | 16% | 45% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 486 | ± 4.4% | 13% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 16% | 52% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 20–22, 2012 | 521 | ± 4.3% | 13% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 16% | 57% |

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Tedesco | 195,352 | 28.35 |
| | Republican | Richard Alexander | 167,354 | 24.28 |
| | Republican | Mark Crawford | 150,404 | 21.82 |
| | Republican | Ray E. Martin | 90,889 | 13.19 |
| | Republican | David Scholl | 85,145 | 12.36 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 689,144 | 100 |
As the runner-up, Alexander requested a runoff.
Republican 2nd primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Tedesco | 75,366 | 54.42 |
| | Republican | Richard Alexander | 63,119 | 45.58 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 138,485 | 100 |

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | June Atkinson (D) | John Tedesco (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 23–25, 2012 | 880 LV | ± 3.3% | 42% | 40% | 18% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 27–30, 2012 | 981 | ± 3.1% | 44% | 34% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 2–5, 2012 | 813 | ± 3.4% | 44% | 37% | 19% |

#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | June Atkinson | 2,336,441 | 54.24 |
| | Republican | John Tedesco | 1,971,049 | 45.76 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,307,490 | 100 |

## Commissioner of Agriculture
### Republican primary

* Bill McManus, real estate investor, former attorney and accountant, former Democratic member of Massachusetts House of Representatives
* Steve Troxler, the Republican incumbent Commissioner, ran for re-election.

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bill McManus | Steve Troxler | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 486 | ± 4.4% | 17% | 48% | 35% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 20–22, 2012 | 521 | ± 4.3% | 17% | 41% | 42% |

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Troxler | 532,664 | 68.95 |
| | Republican | Bill McManus | 239,920 | 31.05 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 772,584 | 100 |

### Democratic primary

* Scott Bryant, farmer and former law enforcement officer
* Walter Smith, farmer, former USDA official, former mayor of Boonville

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott Bryant | Walter Smith | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–6, 2012 | 500 | ± 3.1% | 21% | 19% | 60% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 505 | ± 4.36% | 20% | 17% | 63% |
| Public Policy Polling | March 23–25, 2012 | 505 | ± 4.36% | 17% | 12% | 71% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 29–March 1, 2012 | 499 | ± 4.4% | 14% | 13% | 73% |

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Walter Smith | 424,287 | 55.11 |
| | Democratic | Scott Bryant | 345,644 | 44.89 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 769,931 | 100 |

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Troxler (R) | Walter Smith (D) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 29–31, 2012 | 730 | ± 3.6% | 48% | 38% | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 31–September 1, 2012 | 1,012 | ± 3.1% | 45% | 35% | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–8, 2012 | 775 | ± 3.5% | 46% | 34% | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 7–10, 2012 | 810 | ± 3.4% | 45% | 31% | 25% |

#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Troxler | 2,303,586 | 53.22 |
| | Democratic | Walter Smith | 2,025,054 | 46.78 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,328,640 | 100 |

## Commissioner of Labor
### Republican primary

* Cherie Berry, the Republican incumbent Commissioner, ran for re-election.

### Democratic primary

* John C. Brooks, former Commissioner of Labor
* Marlowe Foster, public affairs director for Pfizer (registered lobbyist), former Winston-Salem State University official
* Ty Richardson, 2008 candidate

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | John Brooks | Marlowe Foster | Ty Richardson | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–6, 2012 | 500 | ± 3.1% | 18% | 14% | 30% | 38% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 20% | 12% | 26% | 42% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 20–22, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 18% | 10% | 18% | 54% |
| Public Policy Polling | March 23–25, 2012 | 505 | ± 4.36% | 18% | 8% | 22% | 51% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 29–March 1, 2012 | 499 | ± 4.4% | 13% | 9% | 26% | 52% |

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John C. Brooks | 289,356 | 37.14 |
| | Democratic | Marlowe Foster | 256,964 | 32.98 |
| | Democratic | Ty Richardson | 232,730 | 29.87 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 779,050 | 100 |
As the runner-up, Foster requested a runoff.
Democratic 2nd primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John C. Brooks | 31,216 | 54.15 |
| | Democratic | Marlowe Foster | 26,431 | 45.85 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,647 | 100 |

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Cherie Berry (R) | John Brooks (D) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 23–25, 2012 | 880 LV | ± 3.3% | 43% | 37% | 19% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 27–30, 2012 | 981 | ± 3.1% | 41% | 37% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 2–5, 2012 | 813 | ± 3.4% | 44% | 34% | 22% |

#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cherie Berry | 2,300,500 | 53.26 |
| | Democratic | John Brooks | 2,019,266 | 46.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,319,766 | 100 |

## Commissioner of Insurance
### Democratic primary

* Wayne Goodwin, the Democratic incumbent Commissioner, ran for re-election.

### Republican primary

* Mike Causey, former lobbyist
* James McCall, insurance agent
* Richard T. Morgan, former state representative

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mike Causey | James McCall | Richard Morgan | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–6, 2012 | 496 | ± 4.4% | 20% | 14% | 19% | 47% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 27–29, 2012 | 486 | ± 4.4% | 12% | 12% | 25% | 51% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 20–22, 2012 | 521 | ± 4.3% | 13% | 10% | 17% | 60% |

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Morgan | 258,935 | 37.01 |
| | Republican | Mike Causey | 245,430 | 35.08 |
| | Republican | James McCall | 195,348 | 27.92 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 699,713 | 100 |
As the runner-up, Causey requested a runoff. Of all the statewide runoffs held on July 17, the Republican primary for Insurance Commissioner was the only one in which the top vote-getter changed from the first to the second primary.
Republican 2nd primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Causey | 80,704 | 57.39 |
| | Republican | Richard Morgan | 59,910 | 42.61 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 140,614 | 100 |

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Wayne Goodwin (D) | Mike Causey (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 23–25, 2012 | 880 LV | ± 3.3% | 45% | 36% | 19% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 27–30, 2012 | 981 | ± 3.1% | 41% | 36% | 23% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 2–5, 2012 | 813 | ± 3.4% | 40% | 36% | 24% |
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wayne Goodwin | 2,226,344 | 51.86 |
| | Republican | Mike Causey | 2,066,601 | 48.14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,292,945 | 100 |