There will be many new faces on North Carolina’s Council of State come January, including in the office of attorney general, which current AG Josh Stein will leave as he takes over as governor in the new year.

Democrat Congressman Jeff Jackson will take on the role of North Carolina’s next attorney general. He won with 51.3% (2,842,292) of the vote compared to his Republican opponent, fellow Congressman Dan Bishop, with 49% (2,695,167).

“To every voter who supported us in this election, thank you,” Jackson told supporters Tuesday night. “To every person in this state, whether you voted for me or not, it will be an incredible honor to serve as your next attorney general. I will give this job everything that I’ve got. The attorney general’s job is to be a shield for those in harm’s way, whether it’s violent crime, folks pushing fentanyl into communities, scammers going after your bank account, people polluting the air or the water, it will be my job to stand up to them on your behalf.”

Bishop sponsored an ad featuring Payton McNabb as his closing message.

In it, Bishop points to Jackson’s vote against HR 734 — Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023.McNabb, who was severely injured by a transgender opponent during a North Carolina high school volleyball game and still suffers from partial paralysis and a host of other medical problems, made a plea to voters in a video, stating that “Jackson voted to let transgender men play in women sports. A transgender man destroyed my dreams with one vicious hit. I had brain bleed, concussion, and permanent whiplash.”

But McNabb’s plea and a story with a video showing Jackson hugging a convicted sex offender after receiving an LGBTQ award in 2022 wasn’t enough to sway the result.

Bishop received the endorsement of the NC Police Benevolent Association and many other law enforcement officials. In August, he conducted a Crime and Safety Listening Tour throughout the state, including Raleigh, featuring crime victim families and pointing out differences between him and Jackson.

In his concession speech last night, he said he was disappointed to have fallen short for those who voted for him.

“I was eager to lead the restoration of law and order in North Carolina to be a champion for the men and women of law enforcement who richly deserve one and to reinvigorate the North Carolina Department of Justice to pursue the law and justice rather than ideology,” Bishop said. “But as I stand before you now, I’m filled with gratitude for the adventure of the past 10 years, the friendships Jo and I have been privileged to enjoy, and the rich memories we will take with us of having been in the arena, not for ambition or pride, but for the privilege of fighting on your behalf for the state and country that we love.”

In other Council of State races, longtime incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture Republican Steve Troxler defeated his Democrat challenger Sarah Taber. Troxler had 53% (2,901,019) of the vote compared to Taber’s 45% (2,467,944).

Holding the office since 2005, Troxler is well known for his love of the North Carolina State Fair, talking about it at almost every Council of State meeting, no matter the time of year.

Earlier this year, during his “State of Agriculture” address, he focused on preserving farmland, saying that by 2040, the state is projected to lose between 1.1 million acres of farmland on the low side and 1.6 to 1.9 million on the high side. 

Most recently, he has helped out with the efforts of helping Hurricane Helene victims.

Voters also decided to re-elect Republican incumbent Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey, who was first elected to the position in 2016. He garnered 52% (2,882,169) of the vote, while his challenger, Democrat State Sen. Natasha Marcus, received 48% (2,618,904).  

Marcus had been critical of Causey, giving him the moniker of “Rate-Hike Mike,” including most recently for an ongoing hearing to determine if a request by the North Carolina Rate Bureau to raise homeowner’s insurance rates would be accepted. They are seeking an average of 42%.

Republican newcomer Attorney Luke Farley will replace outgoing Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson in January.

Farley received 53% (2,882,169)of the vote compared to former Charlotte City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston II’s 47% (2,571,772).

He told Carolina Journal in March that, in addition to tax policy, an educated workforce, and the availability of higher education, one of the key things that businesses look at when relocating or expanding is the regulatory climate.

“The labor commissioner has a huge impact on that (regulatory climate), and I intend to run the office in a way that protects workers but doesn’t bankrupt businesses in the process,” he said.

Farley also received the endorsement of former labor commissioner and “Elevator Lady” Cherie Berry.

In a close race, incumbent Democrat Secretary of State Elaine Marshall won over her Republican challenger Chad Brown with 51% (2,806,239) compared to Brown’s 49% (2,702,257).

She has held the office since January 1997, the longest tenure of any current Council of State member.

Marshall, who touts the state’s job creations at each Council of State meeting, told Carolina Journal at the December candidate filings that if re-elected, she would prioritze her office’s Resources for Innovators, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs, or Rural RISE NC program.

The office of state treasurer will have a new occupant come January.

Republican newcomer Brad Briner won the contest with 53% of the vote, while challenger Democrat State Rep. Wesley Harris received 47% (2,599,883).  

The current State Treasurer, Republican Dale Folwell, decided to run for the Republican nomination for governor instead of running for re-election. He lost to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the primary. Robinson, in turn, lost to Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein for the governorship in Tuesday’s General Election.

Harris had been trailing Briner, who has worked for UNC Management, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Creek Capital Management, and Willett Advisors, managing the assets of the Bloomberg family. He retired last year after 12 years as its chief investment officer. Briner was appointed to the UNC-Chapel Hill board of trustees in 2023.

North Carolina is just one of three states with a state treasurer who is the sole fiduciary of the state’s pension fund. Harris said he would like to keep it that way, saying that eliminating it would give the legislature more power, which he opposes.

Briner, on the other hand, said he would like to move away from the sole fiduciary model, saying he believes small groups make better investment decisions than individuals and that the model enables potential for corruption.