Unofficial 2024 election results announced

Unofficial results are in for North Carolina, with former President Trump taking the lead with 2,876,398 votes counted. In Duplin County, he won with 64.15% of the votes over Democratic vice president Kamala Harris.

Congressman Greg Murphy won North Carolina’s 3rd District with 245,964 votes, prevailing by 77.50% of the vote over Libertarian Gheorghe Cormos. In Duplin Murphy amassed 79.65% of the votes. Attorney General Josh Stein defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the governor’s race, with Stein receiving 54.82% of the vote to Robinson’s 40.18%. Locally, Duplin favored Robinson with 56.45% of the votes. 

Senator Rachel Hunt won by over 93,000 votes against Republican Hal Weatherman for lieutenant governor. Congressman Jeff Jackson (NC-14) defeated Republican Dan Bishop (NC-08) with 51.33% of the votes to become North Carolina Attorney General. Republican Dave Boliek defeated Democrat Jessica Holmes for state auditor by more than 106,000 votes.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler won reelection with 52.73% of the votes, over Democratic challenger Sarah Taber, securing a fifth term. Republican Mike Causey will head to a third term as insurance commissioner with 52.22% of the votes, defeating Natasha Marcus.

Republican Luke Farley has been elected the next North Carolina Commissioner of Labor, Farley brought in 52.85% of the vote to Democrat Braxton Winston’s 47.15%.

Incumbent Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, retained her seat with 50.94% of the votes over Republican challenger Chad Brown, securing her eighth term in the role. Maurice “Mo” Green narrowly defeated Michele Morrow for state superintendent of schools, with 51.09% of the votes. Republican Brad Briner won the State Treasurer race over Democrat Wesley Harris, with 52.54% of the votes.

The race for North Carolina’s State Supreme Court seat between Democrat incumbent and gubernatorial appointee Associate Justice Allison Riggs and Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin is headed for a recount due to a margin of less than 1%. 

Republican Tom Murry defeated incumbent Carolyn Thompson for Court of Appeals seat 12 with 50.99% of the vote, while Republican Valerie Zachary retained seat 14 against challenger Democrat Ed Eldred with 52.37% of the vote. Republican Chris Freeman won against Democrat Martin Moore for seat 15 with 51.82% of the vote. 

Republican Senator Brent Jackson prevailed by 65.12% of the votes over Democrat Jamie Campbell Bowles in the ninth state Senate district, winning an eighth term in office. In Duplin Jackson received 14,327 votes.

“I would like to thank all the citizens of District 9 that exercised their rights and took the time and effort to go vote. I also would like to thank them for their vote of confidence in me. It has been truly a humbling honor to serve the citizens of District 9 and I look forward to continuing that service for the next two years,” Jackson said.

Senator Jackson has held public office for the last 14 years, 11 representing District 10 and two after it changed to District 9, which includes Duplin, Sampson, Bladen, Jones, and Pender counties. He chairs the Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee, and the Appropriations Budget Committee.

Representative Jimmy Dixon secured an eighth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 4, defeating Democrat challenger Vernon Moore with 63.11% of all votes. In Duplin he received 14,336 votes.

“Very strong Republican victories across NC and Nation. I’m very thankful the citizens of Duplin and Wayne counties have chosen me to represent them for another two years,” said Dixon. “My main task will be to continue supporting policies ensuring Public Safety, Food security, and to improve public education especially K12 and our Community Colleges. Also we must give a lot of attention to re-assessing and eliminating many of the radical “woke” crazy ideas from our University System. I will never abandon the needs of our hard working farm families who produce the food and fiber that is necessary to keep America a free and prosperous nation. President Trump will have my full support and we will make North Carolina and America great again. I will always support and fight to keep our Judo-Christian heritage alive and vibrant.”

Dixon has represented District 4 (Duplin and southern Wayne County) for the last 13 years. He chairs the House Agriculture Committee, is vice-chairman of Appropriations, senior chair of Appropriations on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources Committee, and serves on the Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Energy and Public Utilities Committee, Environment Committee, Health Committee, House Redistricting Committee, and the Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Committee.

Referendum results

County voters approved a constitutional amendment with 18,750 votes, stating that only U.S. citizens aged 18 or older can vote in state elections.

Local voters also supported a proposed referendum allowing the sale of unfortified wine with 13,071 favorable votes and 12,845 favorable votes allowing the sale of malt beverages both on and off premises.

Uncontested races

Running unopposed in this year’s Duplin County Board of Commissioners election, incumbents Elwood Garner, Wayne E. Branch, and Jesse Dowe won additional four-year terms in office.

Garner, a Republican serving District 1, was re-elected with 3,156 votes. Branch, a Democrat serving District 5, was re-elected with 2,697 votes. Democrat Dowe was re-elected with 3,000 votes to serve District 4.

Incumbents Brent Davis, Reginald Kenan, and Claudius Morrisey also sought reelection to the Duplin County Board of Education.

Davis, a Republican serving District 1, was re-elected with 3,254 votes.  Kenan, a District 4 Democrat, was re-elected with 3,045 votes. Morrisey, a Democrat serving District 5, was re-elected with 2,655 votes.

All NC District Court Judge District 5 candidates have secured another four-year term. All candidates in this race are Republicans. District 5 encompasses Duplin, Jones, Onslow, and Sampson counties.

Incumbent Christopher J. Welch, Rep, received 15,913 votes for District Court Judge, seat 3.

Michael C. Surles, Rep, received 15,795 votes for District Court Judge, seat 4.

Robert H. Gilmore, Rep, received 15,664 votes for District Court Judge, seat 5.

Jim Moore Jr., Rep, received 15,631 votes for District Court Judge, seat 6.

William Shanahan, Rep, received 15,522 votes for District Court Judge, seat 7.

Billy Sutton, Rep, received 15,544 votes for District Court Judge, seat 8.

Walter Bateman, Rep, received 15,517 votes for District Court Judge, seat 9.

Melissa Blizzard Stevens, Rep, received 15,839 votes for District Court Judge, seat 10.

Democrat incumbent Anita Marie Savage, received 14,131 votes securing a second 4-year term.

Incumbent Billy Kilpatrick also secured another term as the Duplin Soil And Water Conservation District Supervisor with 98.31% of all votes. Kilpatrick has held this position for the last three decades.

As Duplin County continues its canvass process unofficial results will be updated.