2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election

• Robert Brawley, former state representative{{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article48785570.html|title=Gov. Pat McCroy gets a challenger in Republican primary|work=The News & Observer|last=Campbell|first=Colin|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=December 10, 2015}}
• Pat McCrory, incumbent governor{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/mccrory-election-wins-no-mandate-for-gop/14152761/|title=McCrory: Election wins no mandate for GOP|publisher=WRAL.com|date=November 5, 2014|access-date=November 7, 2014}}
• Charles Moss, preacher, former Randolph County Soil & Water Conservation Board member, Democratic state senate candidate in 2004, and candidate for governor in 2012{{cite news|url=ftp://alt.ncsbe.gov/Candidate_Filing/Candidate_Listing_20160315.pdf|title=Candidate Listing|work=North Carolina State Board of Elections|access-date=December 21, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

• Greg Brannon, physician, Tea Party activist and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (running for U.S. Senate){{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article38147982.html|title=Former GOP Senate candidate Greg Brannon to make 'big announcement' Thursday|work=The News & Observer|last=Campbell|first=Colin|date=October 7, 2015|access-date=October 8, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/DrGregBrannon/videos/vb.552463691431298/1134648023212859/?type=2&theater|title=WATCH as I officially file as a Republican candidate for the United States Senate!|work=Facebook|last=Brannon|first=Greg|date=December 21, 2015|access-date=December 21, 2015}}
• Dan Forest, Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (running for re-election){{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/coleman-forest-to-run-again-for-lieutenant-governor/14455232/|title=Coleman, Forest to run again for lieutenant governor|work=WRAL-TV|last=Leslie|first=Laura|date=February 18, 2015|access-date=February 18, 2015}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

{{hidden end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results{{cite web|url=http://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=03/15/2016&county_id=0&contest_id=1047|title=NC SBE Election Contest Details|access-date=November 22, 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Pat McCrory (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 869,114

| percentage = 82.0%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Robert Brawley

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 112,624

| percentage = 11.0%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Charles Moss

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 81,315

| percentage = 7.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,063,053

| percentage= 100.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Roy Cooper, North Carolina Attorney General{{cite news|title=Attorney General Announces Candidacy For Governor|url=http://www.wfmynews2.com/story/news/local/2014/11/06/roy-cooper-for-governor/18594755/|access-date=November 7, 2014|newspaper=Charlotte Observer|date=November 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108001306/http://www.wfmynews2.com/story/news/local/2014/11/06/roy-cooper-for-governor/18594755/|archive-date=November 8, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
• Kenneth Spaulding, former state representative and candidate for North Carolina's 2nd congressional district in 1984{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/09/06/three-years-out-democrats-eye-mccrorys-seat/|title=Three years out, Democrats eye McCrory's seat|author=Reid Wilson|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 6, 2013|access-date=September 9, 2013}}

• James Protzman, businessman and former Chapel Hill town council member{{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/17/3289581/protzman-drops-out-of-governors.html|title=Protzman drops out of governor's race after 7 months|newspaper=The News & Observer|date=October 17, 2013|access-date=November 28, 2013|archive-date=October 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024134517/http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/17/3289581/protzman-drops-out-of-governors.html|url-status=dead}}

• Janet Cowell, North Carolina State Treasurer (not seeking re-election or running for any other office)
• Anthony Foxx, United States Secretary of Transportation and former Mayor of Charlotte{{cite magazine|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/what-you-need-to-know-about-obama-transportation-pick-anthony-foxx-20130429|title=What You Need to Know About Obama Transportation Pick Anthony Foxx|author=Matt Vasilogambros|magazine=National Journal|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=September 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926222704/http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/what-you-need-to-know-about-obama-transportation-pick-anthony-foxx-20130429|archive-date=September 26, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
• Kay Hagan, former U.S. Senator, and former State Senator{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article35987301.html|title=State Sen. Josh Stein makes formal announcement for attorney general|work=The News & Observer|last=Knopf|first=Taylor|date=September 21, 2015|access-date=October 13, 2015}}
• Charles Meeker, former mayor of Raleigh (running for Labor Commissioner){{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article26735941.html|title=Former Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker to run for labor commissioner|work=The News & Observer|last=Campbell|first=Colin|date=July 8, 2015|access-date=August 11, 2015}}
• Heath Shuler, former U.S. Representative{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25248907/ex-skins-qb-heath-shuler-says-he-wont-run-for-north-carolina-governor|title=Ex-Skins QB Heath Shuler says he won't run for NC Governor|work=CBS Sports|last=Brinson|first=Will|date=July 23, 2015|access-date=August 11, 2015}}
• Josh Stein, state senator and former deputy attorney general of North Carolina (running for Attorney General)

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[[File:North Carolina Democratic Gubernatorial Primary 2016.svg|thumb|300px|Results by county:

{{collapsible list

|title=Cooper

|{{legend|#214478|Cooper—80–90%}}

|{{legend|#2c5aa0|Cooper—70–80%}}

|{{legend|#3771c8|Cooper—60–70%}}

|{{legend|#5f8dd3|Cooper—50–60%}}

}}

{{collapsible list

|title=Spaulding

|{{legend|#5fd35f|Spaulding—50–60%}}

|{{legend|#37c837|Spaulding—60–70%}}

}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic primary results{{cite web|url=http://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=03/15/2016&county_id=0&contest_id=1046|title=NC SBE Election Contest Details|access-date=November 22, 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Roy Cooper

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 710,658

| percentage = 69.0%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Kenneth Spaulding

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 323,774

| percentage = 31.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,034,432

| percentage= 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Lon Cecil, retired engineer and nominee for NC-12 in 2010{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article50058280.html|title=Libertarians look to keep NC ballot status with candidate slate|access-date=November 22, 2016}}

• Ken Fortenberry, newspaper publisher, author, journalist and Republican candidate for North Carolina's 10th congressional district in 2012{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/12/31/4441291/libertarian-candidate-for-nc-governor.html|title=Libertarian candidate for NC governor announces|work=News & Observer|author=Lynn Bonner|date=December 31, 2014|access-date=January 5, 2015|archive-date=January 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106202931/http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/12/31/4441291/libertarian-candidate-for-nc-governor.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2015/08/fortenberry-withdraws-from-nc-governors-race/|title=Fortenberry withdraws from NC governor's race|work=Independent Political Report|last=Frankel|first=Paul|date=August 8, 2015|access-date=August 11, 2015}}

• Sean Haugh, pizza delivery man and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and 2014 (running for U.S. Senate){{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/01/05/4451457/sean-haugh-considers-another-libertarian.html|title=Sean Haugh considers another Libertarian bid|work=News & Observer|author=Craig Jarvis|date=January 5, 2015|access-date=January 5, 2015|archive-date=January 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106060136/http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/01/05/4451457/sean-haugh-considers-another-libertarian.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2015/10/sean-haugh-i-intend-to-run-for-u-s-senate-as-a-libertarian-in-north-carolina-in-2016/|title=Sean Haugh: "I Intend to Run for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian in North Carolina in 2016"|work=Independent Political Report|last=Ziggler|first=Jed|date=October 7, 2015|access-date=October 13, 2015}}

• Daniel Orr, navy veteran{{cite web|url=http://yourdailyjournal.com/news/local-news-5/17784/grassroots-n-c-governor-candidate-daniel-orr-seeks-mental-health-reform|title=Richmond County Daily Journal|date=October 28, 2015 }}

• [https://www.c-span.org/video/?415960-1/north-carolina-governors-debate Complete video of debate], October 11, 2016 - C-SPAN
• [https://www.c-span.org/video/?417237-1/north-carolina-gubernatorial-debate Complete video of debate], October 18, 2016 - C-SPAN

Aggregate polls

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

with Pat McCrory

with Phil Berger

with Dan Forest

{{hidden end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = North Carolina's gubernatorial election, 2016[http://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=11/08/2016&county_id=0&contest_id=1016 11/08/2016 UNOFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE], North Carolina Board of Elections}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Roy Cooper

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 2,309,162

| percentage = 49.02%

| change = +5.79%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Pat McCrory (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 2,298,881

| percentage = 48.80%

| change = -5.82%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Lon Cecil

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| votes = 102,978

| percentage = 2.19%

| change = +0.06%

}}

{{Election box margin of victory

|votes = 10,281

|percentage = 0.22%

|change = -7.92%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 4,711,021

| percentage = 68.98%

| change = +1.68%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link without swing

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Polls closed at 7:30 pm on election day. On election night, as votes were tallied, Cooper held an early lead, but was overtaken by McCrory around 9:30 pm, and McCrory held the lead for most of the evening. Shortly before midnight, McCrory held a 60,000 vote lead until a block of 90,000 votes from Durham County was added to the total, putting Cooper back in the lead by fewer than 5,000 votes out of 4,500,000 cast.{{cite web|url=http://abc11.com/politics/cooper-claiming-victory-in-governors-race/1596556/|title=Cooper claiming victory in Governor's race|first=Jonah|last=Kaplan|website=ABC11 News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927184540/https://abc11.com/politics/cooper-claiming-victory-in-governors-race/1596556/|archive-date=September 27, 2021|date=November 8, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|url-status=dead}} Both candidates addressed supporters around 12:30 am; Cooper declared victory, while McCrory vowed the race was not over and that every vote needed to be counted.

Under North Carolina state law, absentee ballots postmarked on or before election day must be counted, and military and overseas ballots accepted through November 17 must also be counted.Nigel Duara, [http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-north-carolina-governor-20161118-story.html North Carolina governor's race still undecided with thousands of votes to be finalized], Los Angeles Times (November 18, 2016). Additionally, election administrators "must decide the eligibility of more than 60,000 provisional ballots and the validity of thousands of challenged votes." This process, plus a protracted legal challenge from the McCrory campaign, was likely to leave the election result not formally decided for some time after election day.

McCrory's campaign said that it had "grave concerns over potential irregularities in Durham County." Republican Party of North Carolina Chairman Robin Hayes called Cooper's declaration of victory "rude and grossly premature." On November 10, 2016, both campaigns announced they had retained attorneys in anticipation of a protracted legal battle: Cooper hired lawyers from Washington-based firm Perkins Coie (including Marc EliasVirginia Bridges, Colin Campbell & Craig Jarvis, [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/community/durham-news/article115681693.html Appeal planned after Durham County dismisses demand for hand recount], News & Observer (November 17, 2016).), while McCrory hired lawyers from Virginia-based firm Holtzman Vogel Josefiak.

Once all ballots are counted, North Carolina election law allows either candidate to request a recount if the margin is fewer than 10,000 votes.

On November 12, the general counsel of the Durham County Republican Party filed a formal protest with the Durham County Board of Elections alleging "malfeasance" in the tallying of votes in Durham County and calling for a recount.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article114262543.html|title=Provisional ballot count offers few hints in governor race|access-date=November 22, 2016}} McCrory's campaign said that the 90,000 votes added to the total late on election night appeared to have come from corrupted memory cards. A campaign spokesman said, "What transpired in Durham County is extremely troubling and no citizen can have confidence in the results at this point in time."

On November 14, WRAL reported that there was speculation among political operatives about whether the race could possibly be contested and handed to the North Carolina General Assembly to determine the winner, as was done in 2005, when the General Assembly made June Atkinson the winner of a disputed election for the office of North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction.{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/could-nc-lawmakers-choose-the-next-governor-/16234656/|title=Could NC lawmakers choose the next governor? :: WRAL.com|last=WRAL|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016}} North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore said getting the General Assembly involved would be "an absolute last resort".{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article114980628.html|title=Could NC legislators decide governor race? 'Last resort,' House speaker says|access-date=November 22, 2016}}

Also on November 14, WRAL reported that the State Bureau of Investigation was investigating whether crimes were committed in the mishandling of 1,000 ballots in the March 2016 primaries in Durham County, the likely epicenter of the battle over the gubernatorial race.{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/durham-defends-handling-of-90k-ballots-in-nc-governor-s-race/16234762/|title=SBI investigating mishandled primary ballots in Durham :: WRAL.com|last=WRAL|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119123641/http://www.wral.com/durham-defends-handling-of-90k-ballots-in-nc-governor-s-race/16234762/|archive-date=November 19, 2016|url-status=dead}} The Durham County electoral board chairman said there was no connection between the investigation and the gubernatorial race.

On November 15 Bladen County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor McCrae Dowless, a Republican and the incumbent for reelection, filed a protest with that county's board of elections over several hundred absentee ballots cast for Cooper and other Democrats, claiming that they were fraudulent; on the basis of similarity of the handwriting with which they were filled out. In his initial filing, Dowless claimed corroboration by a handwriting expert. The complainant had initially expressed concerns about voter fraud related to his own reelection campaign, and before election day.{{cite web|url=http://www.wect.com/story/33718588/hundreds-of-fraudulent-cooper-ballots-discovered-challenged-in-bladen-county|title=Protests filed in Bladen and 11 other counties over alleged fraudulent absentee ballots|author=WECT Staff|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164226/http://www.wect.com/story/33718588/hundreds-of-fraudulent-cooper-ballots-discovered-challenged-in-bladen-county|archive-date=November 16, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article115013278.html|title=Bladen County votes scrutinized|access-date=November 22, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.journalnow.com/news/state_region_ap/the-latest-state-board-investigates-bladen-absentee-ballots/article_59361bd9-d574-5ef7-a425-18a9fec2fefc.html|title=The Latest: State board investigates Bladen absentee ballots|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=November 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117163307/http://www.journalnow.com/news/state_region_ap/the-latest-state-board-investigates-bladen-absentee-ballots/article_59361bd9-d574-5ef7-a425-18a9fec2fefc.html|url-status=dead}} The McCrory campaign alleged that the ballots were filled out by paid employees of the Bladen County Improvement Association PAC, a political action committee that received funding from the North Carolina Democratic Party. The complaint alleged that one person served as a witness for at least 67 mail-in absentee ballots, and the same person appeared to have filled out the selections on 71 ballots.{{cite web|url=https://gallery.mailchimp.com/67f0361f3af450acafd9830a7/files/ElectionProtestForm_Bladen_Co_Soil_Water_Signed.pdf|title=Bladen Protest|access-date=November 22, 2016}} It said there were at least 250 questionable ballots connected to five people paid by the Bladen County Improvement Association PAC. That organization has responded that the people involved were volunteers with their get-out-the-vote effort, and that the only payments made to them were small stipends for expenses incurred as part of that activity; such as food and gas costs. The McCrory campaign stated, "A massive voting fraud scheme has been uncovered in Bladen County."{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/voter-fraud-complaints-emerge-in-tight-nc-gov-race|title=Voter fraud complaints emerge in tight NC gov race|first=Joseph|last=Weber| website=Fox News |date=November 16, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016}} In response, the Cooper campaign stated: "Governor McCrory has set a new standard for desperation in his attempts to undermine the results of an election he lost."[http://myfox8.com/2016/11/17/gov-mccrory-protests-votes-in-50-counties/ Gov. McCrory protests votes in 50 counties], WGHP (November 17, 2016).

On November 16, the McCrory campaign announced it had filed election protests alleging fraud in 11 more counties.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article115143258.html|title=McCrory team: Election protests filed in 12 counties|access-date=November 22, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/local/mccrory-campaign-filing-protests-in-12-counties/353374505|title=McCrory Campaign Now Protesting Votes In 50 Counties|last=TEGNA|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118040347/http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/local/mccrory-campaign-filing-protests-in-12-counties/353374505|url-status=dead}} On November 17, the McCrory campaign announced the number of counties in which it had filed protests alleging voter fraud had grown to 50 counties,Jim Bradley, [http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/undecided-gubernatorial-race-presents-problems-for-candidates/468201866 Gov. Pat McCrory protesting vote counts in 50 counties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118101345/http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/undecided-gubernatorial-race-presents-problems-for-candidates/468201866 |date=November 18, 2016 }}, WSOC (November 18, 2016). which the Associated Press reported were "without offering detailed proof."

Every county election board in the state has three members: two Republican appointees and one Democrat.Bill Chappell, [https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/19/502719928/n-c-challenger-to-gov-mccrory-remains-in-lead-as-final-ballots-counted N.C. Challenger to Gov. McCrory Remains In Lead As Final Ballots Counted], NPR (November 19, 2016).

Durham County has been seen as the most pivotal county, as it has the most votes at stake. On November 16, the Durham County Board of Elections voted 2–1 to hold an evidentiary hearing on election protest about the ballots in Durham County.[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article115137173.html#wgt=trending Durham County board to hold hearing on election protest], News & Observer (November 16, 2016). At the hearing on November 18, the board unanimously dismissed the protest, with the board's Republican chairman, William Brian Jr., saying that all the evidence shows that the count is correct.Gary D. Robinson, [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article115794358.html Cooper's ballot count grows over McCrory as challenges continue], Associated Press (November 178, 2016).

By November 18, Cooper's unofficial advantage over McCrory had grown to about 6,600 votes, out of almost 4.7 million cast.

On November 20, the state Board of Elections held an emergency meeting. They declined a McCrory campaign petition for the state board to take jurisdiction over all 50 county election protests, except for the one in Bladen County, which they took over.{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/election-board-weighing-mccrory-request-in-governor-s-race/16258266/|title=N Carolina election board takes Bladen protest, not others :: WRAL.com|last=WRAL|date=November 20, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122025826/http://www.wral.com/election-board-weighing-mccrory-request-in-governor-s-race/16258266/|archive-date=November 22, 2016|url-status=dead}} They decided to convene another meeting on November 22 to issue guidance to county boards on how to handle the protests.{{cite web|url=http://myfox8.com/2016/11/20/nc-board-of-elections-to-hold-emergency-meeting-on-sunday/|title=NC Board of Elections votes to reconvene Tuesday|date=November 20, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016}}

On November 22, the McCrory campaign formally requested a statewide recount.

Also on November 22, the Civitas Institute filed a federal lawsuit seeking an injunction to delay the State Board of Elections' count of ballots of unverified same-day registrants, alleging that there is not enough time to verify the eligibility of voters who registered to vote on election day.[http://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/civitas-institute-lawsuit-wants-same-day-vote-count-delayed/article_1fda4bfd-34aa-5525-a63c-9587fdda16dc.html Civitas Institute lawsuit wants same-day vote count delayed] Civitas said that neither the McCrory campaign nor the state Republican Party were involved in the lawsuit.[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article116403158.html Civitas sues to stop final NC vote count, cites concerns about same-day registration] Civitas cited a 2012 review conducted by the state Board of Elections that found 2.44% of voters who used same-day registration in 2012 failed the verification process, but the process was not completely finished when the ballots were counted. A court hearing is scheduled for December 8.[https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/29/us/north-carolina-governor-race.html?_r=0 In North Carolina, No End in Sight to Governor’s Race]

On November 26, the Durham County Republican Party's general counsel asked the state Board of Elections to hold an expedited hearing on his appeal of the Durham County Board of Elections' refusal to conduct a recount of that county's votes.[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article117403393.html NC elections board could consider key ballot appeal this week] The campaign stated they would withdraw their request for a statewide recount if a manual recount of Durham County votes produced the same results as were reported on election day.[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article117284658.html McCrory will withdraw recount demand if Durham votes recounted]

On November 30, the State Board of Elections ordered a recount of the Durham County votes. The recount was to be completed by 7 p.m. on December 5. However, by that morning, early results showed no change in the tally. McCrory announced on his campaign's YouTube channel that he was conceding the race to Cooper, saying that it was now clear that "the majority of our citizens had spoken."

{{Election box begin

| title = North Carolina's gubernatorial election, 2016{{cite web |url=http://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2016&county_id=0&office=COS&contest=0 |title=North Carolina Official General Election Results |publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections |date=November 8, 2016 |access-date=January 5, 2017}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Roy Cooper

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 2,309,157

| percentage = 49.02%

| change = +5.79%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Pat McCrory (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 2,298,880

| percentage = 48.80%

| change = -5.82%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Lon Cecil

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| votes = 102,977

| percentage = 2.19%

| change = +0.06%

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 4,711,014

| percentage = 100.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link without swing

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{align|right|{{Switcher

|300px|Shift by county

|300px|Trend by county

{{collapsible list | title = Legend

|{{legend|#d40000|Republican — >15%}}

|{{legend|#ff0000|Republican — +12.5−15%}}

|{{legend|#ff2a2a|Republican — +10−12.5%}}

|{{legend|#ff5555|Republican — +7.5−10%}}

|{{legend|#ff8080|Republican — +5−7.5%}}

|{{legend|#ffaaaa|Republican — +2.5−5%}}

|{{legend|#ffd5d5|Republican — +0−2.5%}}

|{{legend|#d5f6ff|Democratic — +0−2.5%}}

|{{legend|#aaeeff|Democratic — +2.5−5%}}

|{{legend|#77e3ff|Democratic — +5−7.5%}}

|{{legend|#4bdbff|Democratic — +7.5-10%}}

|{{legend|#09ceff|Democratic — +10−12.5%}}

|{{legend|#00bdec|Democratic — +12.5−15%}}

|{{legend|#00a1c8|Democratic — >15%}}}}}}}}

• Bladen (largest town: Elizabethtown)
• Gates (largest town: Gatesville)
• Martin (largest town: Williamston)
• Robeson (largest city: Lumberton)

• Chatham (largest municipality: Siler City)
• Forsyth (largest town: Winston-Salem)
• Granville (largest city: Oxford)
• Jackson (largest town: Sylva)
• Mecklenburg (largest municipality: Charlotte)
• Nash (largest city: Rocky Mount)
• New Hanover (largest municipality: Wilmington)
• Wake (largest town: Raleigh)
• Watauga (largest town: Boone)

Following the election, the General Assembly, controlled by Republicans, passed legislation that would limit the incoming governor's powers.{{cite news | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-carolina-lawmakers-head-for-showdown-1481908974 | newspaper = The Wall Street Journal | date = December 16, 2016 | title = North Carolina Governor Signs Bill Limiting His Successor's Power }} Democrats have referred to the move as a power grab, and Republicans have countered that Democrats have made similar moves when they controlled the legislature.{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/16/us/pat-mccrory-roy-cooper-north-carolina.html | newspaper =The New York Times | date = December 16, 2016 | title = North Carolina Governor Signs Law Limiting Successor's Power}}

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161103172211/https://www.patmccrory.com/ Pat McCrory (R) for Governor]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161103172144/http://www.roycooper.com/ Roy Cooper (D) for Governor]
• [http://www.facebook.com/dano4gov/ Daniel Orr (L) for Governor]

{{2016 United States elections}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:United States Gubernatorial Elections, 2016}}

Governor

2016

North Carolina