The 2020 Election: What’s Going on Down the Ballot?

No one is coming to the North Carolina Criminal Law blog for late-breaking election news. And I have no insight into whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden will garner the 270 electoral votes necessary to serve as the next commander in chief. Nevertheless, I’m writing this post for posterity – and to highlight some down-ballot election results that may impact courts and criminal justice in our state. The election results described below were taken from WRAL.com and the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. NC Governor. Incumbent Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, defeated his Republican challenger Lieutenant Governor, Dan Forest, by a 4-percentage point margin. Candidates from the Libertarian and Constitution parties secured less than 2 percent of the vote combined. Lieutenant Governor. Mark Robinson, a Republican, defeated Democrat Yvonne Holley by four percentage points. Robinson, a Greensboro native, will be the state’s first Black Lieutenant Governor. Robinson has said he wants to focus on funding for police and ensuring that NC veterans are cared for. NC Attorney General. The race between incumbent Josh Stein, a Democrat, and challenger Jim O’Neill, a Republican, is still too close to call. Stein, who leads by more than 10,000 votes in the current count, won a nail-biter four years ago, defeating his then-opponent Buck Newton by less than one percent of the vote. O’Neill currently serves as the district attorney for Forsyth County, a position he has held since 2009. NC Supreme Court. The race for who will serve as the state’s next [...]