RALEIGH, N.C. — State Sen. Rachel Hunt has won North Carolina's Democratic primary for lieutenant governor on Tuesday, the Associated Press projected.
As of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, Hunt, the daughter of former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, was leading the race with 70% of the votes.
The Republican primary appears to be headed to a May 14 runoff since none of the candidates reached the 30% threshold required. Hal Weatherman is currently leading a crowded field of 11 candidates with 20% of the vote. Jim O'Neill is the next candidate, with 16% of the vote.
In a statement Wednesday morning, Weatherman thanked those who voted for him, and the people who volunteered for and donated to his campaign.
"Thanks be to God and let all glory go to Him, through whom all blessings flow," Weatherman wrote in a social media post. "Onward to the May 14th runoff. We will not be outworked and will settle for nothing but all out victory!”
Whoever wins in the November election will succeed the sitting Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who on Tuesday night won the Republican nomination for governor. If elected in November, Robinson would become the first Black governor in North Carolina history.
It's been more than a decade since a Democrat has won an election for lieutenant governor in North Carolina. The lieutenant governor is mostly a ceremonial position, but they do preside over the state Senate and serve as a tie-breaking vote on legislation.
There is one Libertarian candidate for lieutenant governor. Because she is running uncontested, UNC Chapel Hill graduate Dee Watson automatically advanced to the general election without a primary.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.