While the Democratic primaries for sheriff and the board of county commissioners drove much of the turnout in Tuesday’s election in Cumberland County, voters made key decisions for November’s election in other primaries.
These primaries included candidates for the state House and state Senate, judge, and Congress. Here’s a wrap-up.
None of the vote totals below are final, as the county elections board still has provisional ballots to review and count, and absentee ballots from overseas and military voters may still arrive and be counted. Final totals are to be determined at a canvass scheduled for 11 a.m. March 13.
General Assembly
State House District 43
Janene Ackles of Fayetteville defeated Ronald Pittman of Cumberland County in the Democratic primary for state House District 43.
And state Rep. Diane Wheatley, a three-term incumbent from northern Cumberland County, beat challenger Clarence Goins of Eastover in the Republican primary.
Ackles will face Wheatley in the November election.
House District 43 includes the Linden area of northern Cumberland County, northern parts of Fayetteville in the Ramsey Street corridor, all of the county east of the Cape Fear River, and the Gray’s Creek area of southern Cumberland County.
The district’s political demographics favor Republican candidates. The Civitas Partisan Index, which analyzes voting histories and preferences in North Carolina legislative districts, rates House District 43 as R+4, lean Republican.
The preliminary results from Tuesday:
Democrats
- Janene Ackles, 3,900, 67.03%
- Ronald Pittman, 1,918, 32.97%
Republicans
- Diane Wheatley, 2,397, 59.54%
- Clarence Goins, Jr., 1,629, 40.46%
State House District 45
State Rep. Frances Jackson, a two-term incumbent from Hope Mills, defeated challenger QuDerrick R. Covington of Hope Mills in the Democratic primary for state House District 45.
The district includes Hope Mills plus areas of Fayetteville and Cumberland County south of Raeford Road.
No Republicans, Libertarians, or Green Party members filed for that election. Barring an unusual circumstance, Jackson will win the November election and begin her third term in January. The Civitas Partisan Index rates House District 45 as D+10, safe Democratic.
Tuesday’s preliminary results:
- Frances Jackson, 3,365, 60.01%
- QuDerrick R. Covington, 2,242, 39.99%
State Senate District 21
State Sen. Tom McInnis, a six-term incumbent from Pinehurst, knocked out challenger Ray Daly of Moore County in the Republican primary for state Senate District 21.
Their primary was heated, with McInnis threatening to sue Daly over allegedly defamatory advertising.
McInnis faces Democrat Paul Taylor of Cumberland County in the November election.
The district’s political demographics favor Republican candidates. The Civitas Partisan Index, rates Senate District 21 as R+10, safe Republican.
District 21 includes all of Moore County and most of Cumberland County, including Spring Lake, Fort Bragg, the Linden area, all areas east of the Cape Fear River, and the Gray’s Creek, Hope Mills and the Rockfish areas. It also has pieces of Fayetteville.
The results, including votes from both Moore and Cumberland counties:
- Tom McInnis, 11,537, 73.27%
- Ray Daly, 4,209, 26.73%
District Court Judge
There were two Democratic primaries for judge on the Cumberland County District Court bench. These were for Seat 3 and Seat 5. The District Court judge seats are elected in countywide votes.
District Court Judge Seat 3
Sherry Miller of Cumberland County defeated Tyran Jamail George of Fayetteville in the Democratic primary for District Court judge Seat 3.
This is for the seat held by Judge David Hasty, who is retiring at the end of his term.
No Republicans, Libertarians, or Green Party members filed for that election, so Miller should take office when Hasty departs.
The vote totals:
- Sherry Miller, 12,578, 56.81%
- Tyran Jamail George, 9,563, 43.19%
District Court Judge Seat 5
District Court Judge Cheri Siler-Mack of Cumberland County smacked away challenger Brenee Orozco of Fayetteville in the Democratic primary for District Court judge Seat 5.
Siler-Mack now faces Republican Jonathan C. Strange of Cumberland County in the November election.
The vote totals:
- Cheri Siler-Mack, 14,786, 66.17%
- Brenee Orozco, 7,558, 33.83%
U.S. House
Cumberland County is split between two Congressional districts—District 7 and District 9.
There was a Republican primary in District 7 and a Democratic primary in District 9.
7th Congressional District
U.S. House Rep. David Rouzer of Wilmington easily defeated challenger David Buzzard of New Hanover County in the GOP primary for the 7th Congressional District.
Rouzer now faces Democrat Kimberly Hardy of Cumberland County in the November election. The 7th District is generally a Republican-favoring district.
The 7th District runs from North Carolina’s southeast coast to the northern end of Cumberland County and northwest end of Sampson County. It includes most of Cumberland County, including Hope Mills and the southern side, parts of Fayetteville, all of the areas east of the Cape Fear River, and the northern side in the Linden area.
Tuesday’s results, including the entire district:
- David Rouzer, 43,399, 80.48%
- David Buzzard, 10,523, 19.52%
9th Congressional District
Four Democrats sought the nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of Southern Pines in November for the 9th Congressional District seat.
Richard N. Ojeda II of Moore County held off fellow Democrats Nigel W. Bristow of Richmond County (which is outside the district), Lent C. Carr II of Hoke County, and Loren Bibler of Raleigh (also outside the district). Members of Congress must live in their states, but are not required to live in their districts.
The 9th Congressional District includes Hoke County, plus Spring Lake, Fort Bragg, and much of Fayetteville in Cumberland County. It runs through Moore County to the north side of Greensboro in Guilford County.
The district’s voters tend to favor Republican candidates.
The results:
- Richard N. Ojeda II, 18,437, 41.79%
- Nigel W. Bristow, 11,788, 26.72%
- Loren Bibler, 6,948, 15.75%
- Lent C. Carr II, 6,942, 15.74%
Senior reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at pwoolverton@cityviewnc.com.
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