On Tuesday, March 3, election day for North Carolina’s Democratic primary concluded, and as of 7:45 p.m., the Associated Press has called former Vice President Joe Biden as the winning presidential candidate for the state.
As of 12:41 a.m., with nearly all precincts reporting, the North Carolina State Board of Elections has Biden in the lead with 42% of the vote, while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has received 24% of the vote. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has received 13% of the vote, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has received 10% of the vote.
North Carolina offers 122 delegates for Democratic presidential candidates, the third most out of all Super Tuesday states to California’s 500 and Texas’s 261. In order for a candidate to win the nomination, they must receive at least 1,991 of the total 3,979 delegates available, according to NBC. Only candidates who receive over 15% of the vote in states will be allocated delegates.
The North Carolina Democratic party held a primary election watch party on March 3 at Traine Raleigh. Wayne Goodwin, party chair, spoke at the event in celebration of the primary.
“No matter who wins the primaries tonight, our future as a party and as a nation is bright,” Goodwin said. “Make no mistake: North Carolina is the most important battleground state in the country, hands down.”
Other attendees included Gov. Roy Cooper, Chief Justice Cheri Beasley and Cal Cunningham, winner of the Democratic primary for Senate.
Beasley spoke about her experience and thanked supporters for voting over the years.
“I just want you to know that I’ve served for over 20 years as a judge for courts across the state of North Carolina, and it’s been so important to me to make sure that I’ve made fair and non-ideological decisions for the people that come before the courts,” Beasley said.
Beasley also called for unity in elections and said that the North Carolina Supreme Court is the most diverse in the country. Cunningham spoke after her, speaking first about his experience in the military and as state attorney general. He said that getting rid of corrupt practices in Washington is among his highest priorities and said North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis did not think of the interests of people in the state.
“On my first day in office, I will file a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United,” Cunningham said. “In the push and pull of Washington politics, Thom Tillis has decided that there is something more important than representing us. He has put his own political interests and special interests ahead of North Carolina’s interests.”
Cunningham said that although he may not agree with voters on every issue, he will listen to constituents’ concerns.
“I will always honor your North Carolina story first,” Cunningham said. “I will work to take that story to Washington to be your champion too. I’m going to go places that haven’t seen a candidate and certainly haven’t seen a Democrat in far too long.”
The last speaker at the event was Cooper, speaking of his accomplishments in office, such as creating thousands of jobs and having state district maps declared unconstitutionally gerrymandered.
“We’re fighting for real teacher pay raises, real investments in our schools and healthcare coverage for the people of North Carolina,” Cooper said. “We’ve done a lot, but I’m not satisfied, are you? I won’t be satisfied until teachers and educators get the pay raises they deserve, until all students are in quality classrooms and out of trailers, until we close that healthcare coverage gap and reduce healthcare costs for all North Carolinians.”
Cooper said that this upcoming general election is crucial, and called on voters to turn out.
“Now, in 2020, the very foundation of our republic is at stake, and we have to make sure we leave this place, ready to go, go, go and win!”
Caryl J Espinoza Jaen contributed to this reporting.
This is a developing story. Vote totals and details from the watch party have been updated since publication.
Governor Roy Cooper speaks at the North Carolina Democratic primary watch party on Tuesday, March 3 2020, alongside his wife Kristin Cooper (left), and daughters Hillary (center-right) and Natalie Cooper (right).
