North Carolina Supreme Court elections, 2020
| 2020 State Judicial Elections | |
|---|---|
2021 »
« 2019
| |
 | |
| Overview | |
| Supreme Courts Overview | |
| Appellate Courts Overview | |
| View judicial elections by state: | |
On December 15, 2020, a hand-to-eye recount in the race for chief justice showed Paul Martin Newby (R) defeated Cheri Beasley (D) by a margin of 412 votes in the partisan November 3 election for the North Carolina Supreme Court.[1] Beasley previously conceded the race on December 12.[2][3]
North Carolina election law allowed statewide candidates to request a recount if 10,000 votes or 0.5% of the total votes cast (whichever was less) separated them from an election winner. On November 17, Beasley's campaign officially requested a statewide machine recount.[4] The statewide machine recount was completed on December 2, with Newby maintaining his lead. Following the release of results, Beasley's campaign requested a hand-to-eye recount to be conducted in randomly selected precincts.[5]
Tamara Barringer (R) defeated incumbent Mark Davis (D) for Seat 4. Phil Berger Jr. (R) defeated Lucy Inman (D) for Seat 2, which was left open by Newby (R).
The outcome of the chief justice race affected the partisan composition of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Going into the election, Democrats had a 6-1 majority on the court. Republicans picked up Seat 4 and the chief justice seat to gain two net seats, giving Democrats a 4-3 majority.
The seats held by justices Robin Hudson (D) and Sam Ervin (D) were up for election on November 8, 2022, meaning Republicans could have gained control or Democrats could have held their majority.
Three seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court were up for election in 2020. Democrats held two and Republicans held one going into the election. The seven justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court are chosen by partisan election.[6] This became law in December 2016.[7] Before that, election of appellate judges had been nonpartisan since 2004.[8]
North Carolina was one of seven states where voters directly elect candidates to the position of chief justice. The chief justice was the head of the state's court system.
Aftermath
Chief justice election recount
On November 17, 2020, Cheri Beasley (D) requested a recount in the race for Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Based on official results, Paul Newby (R) had a 406 vote lead.[9] The initial machine recount was completed on December 2, and showed Newby ahead by 401 votes. Beasley then requested a hand-to-eye recount in a random sample of precincts, which was completed on December 15. It showed Newby to be the winner by a margin of 412 votes.[10][11][1]
Beasley previously conceded the race on December 12 with one county’s hand-to-eye recount outstanding.[12] In a statement she said: "I offer my very best to [Justice Newby] and his family as he moves into that new role. My enduring gratitude belongs to the dedicated volunteers, staff, and supporters who allowed me to join them in helping move North Carolina forward."[12] Newby released a statement saying, "Though Chief Justice Beasley and I ran opposed to one another, I am grateful for her hard work and contributions to our justice system during these challenging times. [...] I am truly humbled that the people of North Carolina have elected me to serve as their next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court."[13]
Timeline of election results
- Hand-to-eye recount on Dec. 15, 2020: Newby +412[1]
- Statewide machine recount on Dec. 2, 2020: Newby +401[10]
- Initial official result on Nov. 17, 2020: Newby - 2,695,982; Beasley - 2,695,576 (Newby +406)[14]
Recount laws in North Carolina
- See also: Recount laws in North Carolina
In the 2020 North Carolina statewide elections, a recount could be requested if the difference between the votes for the requester and the winning candidate was less than or equal to 10,000 votes or 0.5% of the votes cast, whichever is less. Additionally, a candidate can request a subsequent hand-to-eye recount within 24 hours of the initial recount results.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
North Carolina modified its absentee/mail-in voting and early voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: The witness signature requirement on completed absentee ballots decreased from two to one. The receipt deadline was extended to 5 p.m. on November 12, 2020, for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day.
- Early voting: Early voting sites were required to be open for at least 10 hours on the weekends of October 17-18, 2020, and October 24-25, 2020. Counties had to open at least one early voting site per 20,000 registered voters.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and election results
Chief justice: Beasley's seat
General election
General election for North Carolina Supreme Court
Paul Martin Newby defeated incumbent Cheri Beasley in the general election for North Carolina Supreme Court on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Paul Martin Newby (R) | 50.0 | 2,695,951 | |
| Cheri Beasley (D) | 50.0 | 2,695,550 | ||
| Total votes: 5,391,501 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Cheri Beasley advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina Supreme Court.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Paul Martin Newby advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina Supreme Court.
Seat 2: Newby's seat
General election
General election for North Carolina Supreme Court
Phil Berger Jr. defeated Lucy N. Inman in the general election for North Carolina Supreme Court on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Phil Berger Jr. (R) | 50.7 | 2,723,704 | |
| Lucy N. Inman (D) | 49.3 | 2,652,187 | ||
| Total votes: 5,375,891 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Lucy N. Inman advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina Supreme Court.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Phil Berger Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina Supreme Court.
Seat 4: Davis' seat
General election
General election for North Carolina Supreme Court
Tamara Barringer defeated incumbent Mark A. Davis in the general election for North Carolina Supreme Court on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Tamara Barringer (R) | 51.2 | 2,746,362 | |
| Mark A. Davis (D) | 48.8 | 2,616,265 | ||
| Total votes: 5,362,627 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Mark A. Davis advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina Supreme Court.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Tamara Barringer advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina Supreme Court.
Past elections
2018
General election
General election for North Carolina Supreme Court
Anita Earls defeated incumbent Barbara Jackson and Chris Anglin in the general election for North Carolina Supreme Court on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Anita Earls (D) | 49.6 | 1,812,751 | |
| Barbara Jackson (R) | 34.1 | 1,246,263 | ||
| Chris Anglin (R) | 16.4 | 598,753 | ||
| Total votes: 3,657,767 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Click [show] at the right to view more past election results. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016November 8 general electionMichael R. Morgan defeated incumbent Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. in the general election for the North Carolina Supreme Court, Seat 2.
June 7 primary election
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About the North Carolina Supreme Court
- See also: North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court and is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices has varied from time to time.
Political composition
This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2020 election. Since 2016, justices on the North Carolina Supreme Court are selected by partisan election. Because North Carolina previously used nonpartisan elections to choose judges, a majority of the judges listed below had not run on a party ticket for this court.
| ■ Cheri Beasley | Appointed by Gov. Bev Perdue (D) in 2012; elected in 2014 | |
| ■ Mark Davis | Appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper (D) in 2019 | |
| ■ Anita Earls | Elected in 2018 | |
| ■ Sam Ervin | Elected in 2014 | |
| ■ Robin Hudson | Elected in 2006 and 2014 | |
| ■ Michael R. Morgan | Elected in 2016 | |
| ■ Paul Martin Newby | Elected in 2004 and 2012 |
Selection
The North Carolina Supreme Court has seven justices. Starting with the 2018 election, the justices began to be chosen by partisan election.[6] This became law in December 2016.[7] Before that, election of appellate judges had been nonpartisan since 2004.[8] In the event of a midterm vacancy, the outgoing judge is replaced via merit selection. With the help of a judicial nominating commission, the governor appoints a successor to serve until the next general election occurring more than 60 days after the vacancy occurred. A judge is then elected.[6]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
Selection of the chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is elected by voters to serve in that capacity for a full eight-year term. North Carolina is one of only seven states in which the chief justice is elected by voters.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 North Carolina Board of Elections, "State Board Certifies Supreme Court Contest, Removes County Board Member During Final Meeting of 2020," December 18, 2020
- ↑ The Raleigh News & Observer, "Paul Newby wins NC chief justice race as incumbent Cheri Beasley concedes," December 13, 2020
- ↑ North Carolina Board of Elections, "11/03/2020 UNOFFICIAL LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE," accessed December 9, 2020
- ↑ Times Union, "Close race for North Carolina chief justice going to recount," accessed November 17, 2020
- ↑ WBTV, "Hand-to-eye recount to begin as Newby leads by 400 votes in race for N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice," accessed December 9, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: North Carolina," accessed March 20, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 General Assembly of North Carolina, "Session Law 2016-125 Senate Bill 4," December 16, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 General Assembly of North Carolina, "Session Law 2002-158 Senate Bill 1054," October 10, 2002
- ↑ Times Union, "Close race for North Carolina chief justice going to recount," accessed November 17, 2020
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 WBTV, "Hand-to-eye recount to begin as Newby leads by 400 votes in race for N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice," accessed December 9, 2020
- ↑ Carteret County News-Times, "County wraps up hand-eye recount; protest appeal withdrawn," December 15, 2020
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Twitter, "Cheri Beasley on December 12, 2020," accessed December 14, 2020
- ↑ Twitter, "Paul Newby on December 12, 2020," accessed December 14, 2020
- ↑ WFMY News, "North Carolina 2020 Election Results," accessed December 22, 2020
Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina
State courts:
Supreme Court of North Carolina • North Carolina Court of Appeals • North Carolina Superior Courts • North Carolina District Courts
State resources:
Courts in North Carolina • North Carolina judicial elections • Judicial selection in North Carolina
| ||||||||||
