Races to watch in North Carolina, Mecklenburg in 2016
U.S. Senate
Monday brought the entry of Greg Brannon into the primary against Republican Richard Burr.
In 2014, the Cary physician and tea party favorite finished second to Thom Tillis in a crowded GOP primary. He and Burr face Greensboro businessman Larry Holmquist and retired Superior Court Judge Paul Wright in the primary.
The Democratic contest pits former Rep. Deborah Ross of Raleigh against Chris Rey, mayor of a small Cumberland County town, Durham businessman Kevin Griffin and Army veteran Ernest Reeves of Greenville.
Congress
U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger faces a 9th District primary against George Rouco, a former CIA officer. The winner meets Democrat Christian Cano.
In the 8th District, GOP U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of Concord faces Democratic activist and blogger Thomas Mills of Carrboro.
U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a 10th District Republican, faces a primary against Albert Wiley Jr. of Carteret County. The winner meets Democrat Andy Millard of Tryon.
And in the 12th District, which runs from Charlotte to Greensboro, incumbent Democrat Alma Adams faces newcomers Gardenia Henley of Winston-Salem and Juan Antonio Marin Jr. of Hickory in the primary. The winner meets Republican Leon Threatt of Matthews or Ryan Duffie of Charlotte.
Governor
Republican Pat McCrory faces a three-way primary. His top opponent is expected to be former Rep. Robert Brawley of Mooresville. Charles Moss also is running.
Attorney General Roy Cooper and Durham businessman Ken Spaulding are battling for the Democratic nomination. Libertarian Lon Cecil will take on the major party candidates.
Attorney General
Two primaries will determine the fall candidates to replace Cooper.
Democrat Josh Stein, a state senator from Raleigh, faces Marcus Williams. Williams is a Wilmington attorney who has run for U.S. Senate and governor.
The Republican primary matches Sen. Buck Newton of Wilson against Forsyth County district attorney Jim O’Neill.
Council of State
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will have a GOP primary challenge from fellow Republican Andy Stevens of Greensboro.
Former Onslow County Commissioner Joe McLaughlin has joined two other Republicans challenging insurance commissioner Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat who has no opposition from within his party.
Mazie Ferguson, who leads the Greensboro Pulpit Forum ministerial alliance, is running in the Democratic primary for labor commissioner against former Raleigh mayor Charles Meeker. No Republicans have challenged incumbent Cherie Berry.
N.C. Senate
Every Mecklenburg incumbent has some opposition. Democratic incumbent Joyce Waddell faces former Charlotte City Council member Nasif Majeed in the primary. The winner takes on Republican Marguerite Cook.
In District 36, which spans Cabarrus and Union counties, the departure of Republican Sen. Fletcher Hartsell after 25 years drew four Republicans who signed up to replace him. Paul Newton, the former Duke Energy state president for North Carolina, faces Navy veteran Parish Moffitt, anesthesiologist Scott Aumuller and educator Amy Blake. There’s also a Democratic primary, though the district is heavily Republican.
Meanwhile, Sen. David Curtis, an optometrist from Denver, is being challenged by Chris Carney, a former Mooresville town commissioner. Carney filled the unexpired term of the late Sen. Jim Forrester in 2011 but lost to Curtis in a GOP runoff in 2012. The winner faces Libertarian Nic Haag of Denver.
N.C. House
In Mecklenburg, the most competitive primaries are for seats being vacated.
City County member John Autry and former council member Billy Maddalon are vying for the District 100 seat Democrat Tricia Cotham is giving up. The district runs through east Charlotte from uptown to Matthews.
In southeast District 105, former school board member Tim Morgan faces former Charlotte mayoral candidate Scott Stone, with the primary winner advancing to meet Democrat Connie Green-Johnson.
And District 107 incumbent Kelly Alexander Jr., a Democrat, faces a primary against Robert Blok, a former Army doctor.
Three other lawmakers – Republican Rep. Charles Jeter and Democrat Beverly Earle – also face primaries as well as general elections.
Former Republican City Council member Andy Dulin faces Democratic newcomer Peter Noris in heavily Republican District 104. GOP Rep. Rob Bryan faces Democrat Mary Belk in District 88.
Mecklenburg commissioner
Two district incumbents and three at-large Democrats on the board of county commissioners will face primary challengers.
Democratic Commissioner Vilma Leake will defend her seat against Lula Dualeh, third vice chair for the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party, and Angela G. Edwards, a community and mental health advocate. Leake has held her seat since 2008.
Outspoken Republican Commissioner Bill James, who has served on the board for nearly 20 years, faces Joel Levy, a portfolio manager and senior research analyst at TIAA-CREF. Levy lost a crowded school board race in 2009. He’s vice chair of the county’s 15-member citizen board of equalization and review.
The Rev. Damiko Faulkner, pastor of Ben Salem Presbyterian Church, is vying for one of the board’s three at-large seats, currently held by Commissioners Trevor Fuller, Ella Scarborough and Pat Cotham. The top three will go on to face Jeremy Brasch, the lone Republican challenger.
District 5 Republican Matthew Ridenhour, first elected in 2012, faces Marc Friedland, former chairman of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party.
Staff writers Jim Morrill and Jonathan McFadden and Colin Campbell and Patrick Gannon of the (Raleigh) News & Observer contributed.
This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Races to watch in North Carolina, Mecklenburg in 2016."