Two New Hanover County races are within 400 votes, with absentee and provisional ballots to count. Democrats lead every commission and school board seat.

Two races on Tuesday’s New Hanover County ballot are separated by fewer than 400 votes, with absentee and provisional ballots still to be counted.

  • N.C. House District 20: Democrat Tim Merrick leads Republican Dane Scalise by 101 votes, 22,054 to 21,953.
  • Superior Court District 6B, Seat 1: Democrat Kelly Colquette Hanley leads Republican G. Frank Jones by 384 votes, 22,062 to 21,678.

Both contests lie wholly inside New Hanover County. The figures come from the N.C. State Board of Elections results site, with all 41 county precincts reporting. Every result on this page is unofficial.

When the results become final

The New Hanover County Board of Elections meets at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, to run sample audit counts and to review and count absentee and provisional ballots. It holds the county canvass, which certifies the county’s results, at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13. Both meetings are at the Board of Elections office, 226 Government Center Drive, according to the county’s meeting notice. The public can attend in person or join by phone or online.

County races

Democrats lead for both Board of Commissioners seats and all four Board of Education seats.

Board of Commissioners (two seats):

Candidate Party Votes Share
Rob Zapple DEM 56,259 29%
LeShonda Wallace DEM 51,063 26.3%
LeAnn Pierce REP 42,217 21.7%
Richard M. Collier REP 39,369 20.3%
Bob Drach LIB 5,299 2.7%

Board of Education (four seats):

Candidate Party Votes Share
Jerry Jones Jr. DEM 54,132 14.4%
Brittnei LaRue DEM 54,083 14.4%
Margie Gewirtzman DEM 52,273 13.9%
Wendy Dale DEM 45,823 12.2%
Amy Dunning REP 42,897 11.4%
Chris Sutton REP 42,721 11.4%
Pat Bradford REP 41,837 11.2%
Josie Barnhart REP 41,028 10.9%

Wendy Dale holds the fourth school board seat by 2,926 votes over Amy Dunning.

Other county offices:

  • Clerk of Superior Court: Democrat Jennie Thomason 57,516 (56.9%), Republican Jan Giacalone Kennedy 43,614 (43.1%).
  • Sheriff: Republican Ed McMahon was unopposed and received 63,771 votes.
  • Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor (two seats): Kelly McConnell 51,902 and Cate Calson 41,537 lead Frank Christopher Meares at 32,187. The contest is nonpartisan.

School bond

The $320.5 million New Hanover County Schools bond passed with 65,712 votes for and 31,140 against, or 67.85% yes. Our story on the bond lists the schools it pays for and what happens next.

Legislature and Congress

Three districts cross the county line, so the county’s own vote can differ from the district result. The state board’s districtwide totals, also unofficial, are below.

Contest Districtwide result New Hanover County vote
U.S. House District 7 Republican David Rouzer 159,985 (49.9%), Democrat Kimberly Hardy 157,560 (49.1%) Hardy 56,851, Rouzer 44,414
N.C. Senate District 8 Republican Bill Rabon 59,369 (52.2%), Democrat Richard (Rick) Combes 51,954 (45.6%) Combes 8,780, Rabon 1,509
N.C. House District 19 Republican Charlie Miller 29,735 (55.2%), Democrat Scott Nasiff 24,093 (44.8%) Miller 11,351, Nasiff 11,310

Rouzer leads Hardy by 2,425 votes across the district.

Two more legislative districts lie wholly inside the county:

  • N.C. Senate District 7: Democrat Jessica Bichler 48,310 (52.6%), Republican Michael Lee 43,469 (47.4%).
  • N.C. House District 18: Democrat Deb Butler 24,899 (70.4%), Republican Latisha Grady 10,460 (29.6%).

Statewide

  • U.S. Senate: Democrat Roy Cooper leads statewide with 58.7% to Republican Michael Whatley’s 39.1%. In New Hanover County, Cooper had 61,640 votes (60%) and Whatley 38,636 (37.6%).
  • N.C. Supreme Court, Seat 1: Democrat Anita Earls had 59,878 votes in the county (58.8%) to Republican Sarah Stevens’ 41,946.
  • Constitutional amendments: all three on the ballot pass statewide. The state board’s results name them “Require photo ID for voting” (59.6% for), “Maximum income tax rate of 3.5%” (61.9% for) and “Property tax levy limit” (60.4% for).

What it means for you

  • Check a result yourself: every contest, precinct by precinct, is on the state results site. Choose New Hanover in the county list.
  • Watch the count: the absentee and provisional count on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and the canvass on Friday, Nov. 13, are open meetings. To comment in writing, email the board at newhanover.boe@nhcgov.com by noon the day before, with “Board of Elections” in the subject line, the county said.
  • Cast a provisional ballot? Ask the New Hanover County Board of Elections whether yours was counted once it has been reviewed: 910-798-7330. Our voting page carries the board’s other contact details.

Results are unofficial until the county canvass on Nov. 13 and state certification. This story reports vote counts only and does not endorse candidates or positions.