RALEIGH — Voters took to the polls for the May 14 second primary races to determine which candidates in certain statewide and local races would secure nominations heading into the November election.
Republican Hal Weatherman, the chief of staff for former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, defeated Forsyth District Attorney Jim O’Neill in the lieutenant governor’s race.
Weatherman pulled in more than 74% of the vote, beating O’Neill by a nearly three-to-one margin. Weatherman will now face Democrat statehouse Sen. Rachel Hunt in November.
“Congratulations to Hal Weatherman on his win in tonight’s runoff to become our nominee for Lieutenant Governor,” said NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons in a statement. “He is a strong candidate who will work seamlessly with our Council of State candidates to deliver for North Carolina families.”
During the March primary, Weatherman and O’Neill were the top vote-getters. Weatherman garnered 19.59% of the vote in the March primary and O’Neill brought in 15.84%.
Dave Boliek won his race to be the GOP’s nominee for state auditor. With more than 97% of precincts reporting, Boliek held a nearly 6-point lead over Jack Clark.
The March primary results were closer between Boliek — a member of the UNC Board of Trustees — and Clark, with vote percentages of 22.10% and 23.24% respectively.
In a post on his campaign’s Facebook page, Boliek thanked his wife and family and prepared for the general election.
“I’m honored and humbled that thousands of voters I’ve met as I campaigned across our great state trusted me to be the Republican nominee for State Auditor in 2024,” the post read. “For the next six months, we will continue to take our message of making North Carolina’s state government effective, efficient, and accountable to taxpayers to every corner of our state.”
Boliek will face Democrat Jessica Holmes, who was appointed to the position earlier this year by Gov. Roy Cooper following the resignation of State Auditor Beth Wood. Wood’s resignation followed her indictment related to a December 2022 hit-and-run accident in downtown Raleigh while she was driving a state vehicle.
Republican Brad Knott finalized his nomination for the 13th Congressional District seat over Kelly Daughtry, who was still on the ballot but had bowed out of the race at the start of May. Knott won nearly 91% of the vote and will face Democrat Frank Pierce in the November general election.
“Now that the primary is behind us, we can focus on winning in November so that we can get to work on addressing serious problems facing our country with smart, conservative solutions,” Knott said in a press release following his win.
In the South Point Township District for the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, Jim Bailey defeated Ronnie Worley with more than 62% of the vote. Both Bailey and Worley are Republicans.
The nonpartisan race for the third seat on the Orange County Public Schools Board of Education between Jennifer Moore and Bonnie Hauser went to Hauser with nearly 64% of the vote.
