Here’s how Rowan voted in state, national primary races

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 4, 2020

By Natalie Anderson and Liz Moomey

news@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — In Tuesday’s primary election Rowan County’s results were similar to the state’s when local voters supported U.S. President Donald Trump on the Republican presidential ticket and former Vice President Joe Biden on the Democrat side.

The county also supported Cunningham, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate; Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat running for re-election; and Republican gubernatorial challenger and current Lt. Gov. Dan Forest during the Super Tuesday primary race. Those three candidates also won their statewide primaries.

While Rowan County overwhelmingly supported Trump, with 14,393 votes, Biden easily won local Democratic support, with 4,776 votes or 46.2%. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, came in second place on the Democratic presidential ticket, with 2,379 votes or 23%. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg came in third in the county with 14.5% of the vote.

Cooper won in the county with 83.8% of the vote against challenger Ernest Reeves, while Forest, with 90.85% of the local vote, won in a match-up against N.C. Rep. Holly Grange, R-20, for Republican candidate for governor.

Rowan County Democrat voters chose Cunningham with 63.8% of the vote. Sen. Erica Smith followed with 27.8% of the vote. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis led in the Republican primary race with 79.8%. Tillis will face Cunningham in the general election.

Rowan County voters picked the following candidates in other races

• Democratic primary for lieutenant governor: N.C. Rep. Yvonne Lewis Holley, D-38, with 34%.

• Republican primary for lieutenant governor: Mark Robinson, a Greensboro native, with 33.3%.

• Republican primary for N.C. attorney general: Jim O’Neill, North Carolina 31st Prosecutorial District Attorney, with 42.9%

• Democratic primary for auditor: incumbent Beth Wood with 79.8%.

• Republican primary for auditor: Anthony Wayne Street with 64.9%

• Democratic primary for agriculture commissioner: Jenna Wadsworth with 48%

• Republican primary for insurance commissioner: Mike Causey with 63.6%

• Republican primary for labor commissioner: Chuck Stanley with 41.9%

• Republican primary for secretary of state: Chad Brown with 48%

• Democratic primary for superintendent of public instruction: Constance Johnson with 32%

• Republican primary for superintendent of public instruction: Catherine Truitt with 50%

• Democratic primary for treasurer: Matt Leatherman, Rowan County native, with 51%

• Kannapolis City Schools Board of Education Area I: Anita Parker and Kevin Clark

• Kannapolis City Schools Board of Education Area II: Todd Adams

About Natalie Anderson

Natalie Anderson covers the city of Salisbury, politics and more for the Salisbury Post. She joined the staff in January 2020 after graduating from Louisiana State University, where she was editor of The Reveille newspaper. Email her at natalie.anderson@salisburypost.com or call her at 704-797-4246.

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