Elections in North Carolina |
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Several judges of the North Carolina Supreme Court and the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the state's two appellate courts, were elected on November 2, 2004. The Presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Gubernatorial, Council of State, State Senate, and State House elections were also held on the same day.
Appellate judges in North Carolina are elected to eight-year terms in statewide judicial elections. In 2004, for the first time, all these elections were non-partisan. If more than two candidates filed for a given seat, a non-partisan primary would be held, and the two highest vote-getters, regardless of party, would advance to the general election. The only 2004 race in which more than two candidates filed for the primary was the Thornburg Court of Appeals seat. [1] [2]
The resignation of Associate Justice Bob Orr, too late for a primary election to be held, led to a situation in which there was no primary election to eliminate candidates, but rather, the winner was simply determined by plurality. Eight candidates filed: Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Martin Newby (who received the endorsement of the state Republican Party), North Carolina Superior Court Judge Howard Manning, Pre-Paid Legal Services attorney and former judicial law clerk Rachel Hunter, Administrative Law Judge Fred Morrison, attorney Ronnie Ansley, former appeals court judge Betsy McCrodden, current appeals court judge James Andrew Wynn, and attorney Marvin Schiller (who had just lost in the primary for the Thornburg Court of Appeals seat). [3]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | Paul Martin Newby | 582,684 | 22.59% | |
Nonpartisan | James Andrew Wynn | 508,416 | 19.71% | |
Nonpartisan | Rachel Lea Hunter | 452,298 | 17.53% | |
Nonpartisan | Howard E. Manning Jr. | 312,319 | 12.11% | |
Nonpartisan | Betsy McCrodden | 281,777 | 10.92% | |
Nonpartisan | Ronnie Ansley | 213,657 | 8.28% | |
Nonpartisan | Fred Morrison Jr. | 163,601 | 6.34% | |
Nonpartisan | Marvin Schiller | 64,824 | 2.51% | |
Total votes | 2,679,576 | 100% |
Associate Justice Sarah Parker, the incumbent, was challenged by Court of Appeals Judge John Tyson.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | Sarah Parker (incumbent) | 1,732,399 | 63.92% | |
Nonpartisan | John Tyson | 977,861 | 36.08% | |
Total votes | 2,710,260 | 100% |
Incumbent Judge Linda McGee was challenged by attorney Bill Parker. [3]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | Linda McGee (incumbent) | 1,520,455 | 57.76% | |
Nonpartisan | Bill Parker | 1,112,128 | 42.24% | |
Total votes | 2,632,583 | 100% |
Incumbent Judge Wanda Bryant had been appointed to the Court by the Governor following her 2002 defeat for a different seat. [7] She was challenged by Wake County District Court Judge Alice Stubbs. [3]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | Wanda Bryant (incumbent) | 1,416,123 | 54.46% | |
Nonpartisan | Alice C. Stubbs | 1,183,962 | 46.54% | |
Total votes | 2,600,085 | 100% |
Incumbent Judge Alan Thornburg had been appointed to the court by the Governor. Three candidates filed to challenge Thornburg for a full term: Barbara Jackson, who was then general counsel at the N.C. Department of Labor, along with attorneys Marcus W. Williams and Marvin Schiller. Jackson and Thornburg finished first and second, respectively, in the July primary, thereby qualifying them to compete in the general election. [9] [10]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | Barbara Jackson | 240,110 | 36.69% | |
Nonpartisan | Alan Thornburg (incumbent) | 227,764 | 34.80% | |
Nonpartisan | Marcus W. Williams | 109,187 | 16.68% | |
Nonpartisan | Marvin Schiller | 77,412 | 11.83% | |
Total votes | 654,473 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | Barbara Jackson | 1,399,528 | 55.07% | |
Nonpartisan | Alan Thornburg (incumbent) | 1,141,896 | 44.93% | |
Total votes | 2,541,424 | 100% |