It was a big night for the Old Guard Republicans in North Carolina as they saw their first Republican Governor elected in 24 years. Pat McCrory defeated Democrat Walter Dalton 54.7 percent to 43.2 percent as the polls predicted. Below is McCrory’s full acceptance speech to a packed ballroom at the Charlotte Westin Hotal…
Governor McCrory will be able to make an immediate impact on elections in North Carolina. He’ll be able to revamp the State Board of Elections by naming a new Republican majority of three to two. McCrory will also make new appointments to boards and commissions. Those are staggered terms for board members so it will take a year or two to work through them all.
Republicans also reached a veto proof majority in the House to match the Senate but with a Republican Governor they probably won’t have to worry much about vetoes.
The race to preside over the state Senate as Lieutenant Governor is very close. Republican Dan Forest leads Democrat Linda Coleman by about 12,000 votes and Coleman won’t concede. She could ask for a recount.
The incumbents on the Council of State (the top elected state officials) all were able to hold back opposition.
The Republican Party was also glad to see incumbent State Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby retain his seat on the bench. He fended off Democrat Sam Ervin IV. That seat could be a deciding vote in not only redistricting but in other cases down the road. The chances are good Democrats and liberals will challenge changes a Republican General Assembly will want to make on such issues as school choice, immigration and tax reform.
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