Trump, Biden win NC presidential primaries on Super Tuesday

Donald Trump has won the Republican primary and Joe Biden has won the Democratic primary in North Carolina, setting up a likely rematch in November.

North Carolina's primary has been watched on a national scale for its possible battleground status. With visits from Vice President Kamala Harris in Durham, presidential candidate Nikki Haley in Raleigh and Charlotte and Trump in Greensboro, the state was being courted just days before Super Tuesday.

In general elections, North Carolina voters have a record of voting Republican in recent presidential elections with the last Democrat winning being Barack Obama in 2008. The margins have been slim, though. In 2020, Trump won North Carolinian's ticket with 49.93% of votes over Biden's 48.59% of votes.

Presidential primary history in NC: North Carolina presidential primary results since 2008

In a statement released about Super Tuesday, Biden said the results showed that voters have a clear choice between him and Trump.

“If Donald Trump returns to the White House, all of this progress is at risk," he said. "He is driven by grievance and grift, focused on his own revenge and retribution, not the American people. He is determined to destroy our democracy, rip away fundamental freedoms like the ability for women to make their own health care decisions, and pass another round of billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy — and he’ll do or say anything to put himself in power."

In remarks about his Super Tuesday wins, Trump said Biden is "the worst president in the history of our country." He pointed to inflation and immigration as examples.

"They want open borders and open borders are going to destroy our country," he said. "We need borders and we need free and fair elections."

All results reported on election night are unofficial until canvassing occurs on Friday, March 15 and finalized results are determined on Tuesday, March 26.

Voice of NC voters

Anthony Ratto, 78, cast his vote for Trump in the primary.

“I just voted for my king,” Ratto declared.

Ratto, a Brunswick County resident, said border control, inflation and the economy are among top issues of concern.

Deanna Zenn, a 60-year-old teacher voting in the Democratic primary in Asheville, said she had to make her voice heard in this election. She voted for Joe Biden.

“He is doing an amazing job, given all the issues we are facing right now," Zenn said. "So, I thought it was really important that I come out and make my voice heard, saying I support him 100%.”

At the Pullen Community Center in Raleigh, issues of international affairs were on the forefront. Before voters walked in to vote, they were met with signs reading "Stand up to genocide. Vote no preference."

Isaac Hedges, 18, attends North Carolina State University and is a member of the Youth Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA). He and fellow YDSA member John Hanlon were encouraging voters to check 'no preference' as a form of protest.

"People who are voting in the Democratic primary we want them to know that it's a very easy action of protest to say 'no preference' on the ballot as it shows disapproval of Joe Biden's actions with the Israel-Palestine conflict and that we demand a ceasefire," Hedges said. "It's also a way for people with grievances with the system of only having one option in the primary to represent that as well."

Voters also expressed disappointment in the lack of presidential primary options. Bailey Ulm, 28-year-old Raleigh resident, voted in the Democratic primary.

"I wish that there was not just Joe Biden listed," Ulm said. "Which I think having the 'no preference' choice is a way to take a stand, but I think there should be other options. It's a democracy and so we should have a choice in who we're voting for."

What's next?

Hawaii will follow Super Tuesday with their Democratic presidential caucus on March 6 and several other states will vote on March 12. The last primaries take place in early June. Soon after, the Democratic and Republican national parties will convene at their respective conventions to apportion delegates and officially choose their presidential candidate. 

North Carolina will bring 116 delegates to the Democratic national convention in Chicago this August. North Carolina Republicans will bring 74 delegates to their July national convention in Milwaukee.

Nationally, to win the Republican nomination, a candidate will need 1,215 and 1,968 to win the Democratic nomination.

Reporters Joel Burgess from the Citizen Times in Asheville and Jamey Cross from the StarNews in Wilmington contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: North Carolina presidential primary: Donald Trump, Joe Biden win