Election Day brought thousands of people to the polls across Western North Carolina on Tuesday and when the final results rolled in, both major parties shared a mixed bag of wins and losses.
In the race for the White House, former Republican President Donald Trump won the state with nearly 200,000 more votes than current Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump was declared the winner nationally in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Josh Stein will be North Carolina’s next governor, taking over for Roy Cooper whose term is ending. Stein, a Democrat, claimed one of the night’s most decisive victories beating Republican Mark Robinson by 14 percentage points and almost a million total votes.
Democrats swept North Carolina’s three highest offices, as Rachel Hunt was named Lieutenant Governor and Jeff Jackson won the Attorney General’s seat.
Republicans held on to all the regional offices that cover Macon and Jackson counties. Congressman Chuck Edwards (Rep) held off a challenge by Caleb Rudow (Dem). NC Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) and NC Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) were each reelected by wide margins. NC Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Jackson) retained his seat in NC District 119.
Locally, it was a good night for Republicans and incumbent candidates.
In Macon County, Republican county commissioner candidates Josh Young and Barry Breeden were both unopposed.
The only contested seat on the Macon County School Board was claimed by incumbent Jim Breedlove, who defeated Danny Reitmeier and John deVille. Highlands school board representative Hilary Wilkes will start another term after being unopposed as will Nantahala representative Melissa Evans.
A referendum to institute a quarter-cent sales tax in Macon County to increase public school funding failed by a narrow 51 percent to 49 percent margin.
In Jackson County, Republican county commissioner candidates Jenny Lynn Hooper and Michael Jennings each defeated their Democratic counterparts.