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North Carolina

Presidential primary: Tuesday, May 6, 2008 (original)
Congressional filing deadline: February 2008
Congressional primary: May 2008

President (15 Electoral Votes)

North Carolina hasn't gone to the Democrats since 1964, which was the year when the South began to move to the Republicans after the Civil Rights Bill was passed. Democrats nearly won the state in 1992, because Ross Perot took a large share of the vote, but that was the last time this state was in play. The state will likely go red in 2008.

U.S. Senate - Elizabeth Dole (Rep)

Several Democratic Party officials believe that Senator Elizabeth Dole is a vulnerable target in 2008, as the field of Democratic challengers vying for the nomination continues to expand. Howard Staley, a podiatrist from North Carolina, has recently entered the race for the Democratic nomination. State Senator Kay Hagan and businessman Jim Neal round out the field of Democratic candidates. The latest Survey USA poll of the 2008 Democratic Senate primary, taken before Staley entered the race, shows Kay Hagan leading Jim Neal by a 37-29 margin, with still more than a third of the poll respondents undecided.

Elizabeth Dole (Rep) - Incumbent
Kay Hagan (Dem) - State Senator and Attorney
John Ross Hendrix (Dem) - Graphic Artist, Former Republican, 2004 Candidate and 2006 US Representative Candidate
Ted Kaplan (Dem) - Forsythe County Commissioner, Former State Senate and Former State Representative
Grier Martin (Dem) - State Representative, Attorney and Afghan War Veteran
Hugh Shelton (Dem) - Retired Army General and Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman
David Young (Dem) - Buncombe County Commissioner, Travel Agency Owner and 1998 Congressional Nominee

North Carolina Governor - Mike Easley (Dem)

Mike Easley (Dem) - Term-Limited in 2008
Bill Faison (Dem) - State Representative, Attorney and Farmer
Richard Moore (Dem) - State Treasurer, Former State Representative, Former State Public Safety Director and Attorney
Bev Perdue (Dem) - Lieutenant Governor, Former State Senate, Former State Representative and Former Teacher
Bill Graham (Rep) - Attorney and Conservative Activist
Richard Morgan (Rep) - State House Speaker Pro Tem
Bob Orr (Rep) - Former State Supreme Court Justice and Former State Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner
Robert Pittenger (Rep) - State Senator and Real Estate Investor
Fred Smith (Rep) - State Senator, Attorney, Golf Course Owner and Army Veteran
Michael Munger (Libertarian) - College Professor
Dennis Nielsen (Ind) - Retired USAF Officer

1st District - G.K. Butterfield (Dem)

East and northeast, parts of Rocky Mount and Fayetteville

G K Butterfield (Dem) - Incumbent

2nd District - Bob Etheridge (Dem)

North central, parts of Rocky Mount and Durham

Bob Etheridge (Dem) - Incumbent

3rd District - Walter Jones (Rep)

East and coast, part of Greenville, the Outer Banks

Walter Jones Jr (Rep) - Incumbent
Joe McLaughlin (Rep) - Onslow County Commissioner, Financial Planner and Retired Army Officer
Marshall Adame (Dem) - Aviation Management/Logistics Consultant and USMC Veteran

4th District - David Price (Dem)

Central, Raleigh, Chapel Hill

David Price (Dem) - Incumbent
Steven Acuff (Rep) - Retired USAF Officer, Businessman and 2006 Nominee

5th District - Virginia Foxx (Rep)

Northwest border, Winston-Salem

Virginia Foxx (Rep) - Incumbent
Seth Chapman (Dem) - Alexander County Clerk of Courts

6th District - Howard Coble (Rep)

Central, part of Greensboro

Howard Coble (Rep) - Incumbent

7th District - Mike McIntyre (Dem)

Southeast border, part of Fayetteville

Mike McIntyre (Dem) - Incumbent
William James Breazeale (Rep)

8th District - Robin Hayes (Rep)

South central, part of Charlotte, Fayetteville

Democrat Larry Kissell is back for another race against Republican Robin Hayes. Kissell took more than 49 percent of the vote in 2006, and lost by less than a percentage point. A rematch is sure to be competitive.

Robin Hayes (Rep) - Incumbent
John Autry (Dem)
Rick Glazier (Dem) - State Representative and Attorney
Larry Kissell (Dem) - Teacher, Former Textile Plant Manager and 2006 Nominee

9th District - Sue Myrick (Rep)

Southwest, part of Charlotte

Sue Myrick (Rep) - Incumbent
Bill Glass (Dem) - 2006 Nominee
Ross Vincent Overby (Dem)

10th District - Patrick McHenry (Rep)

West central, Hickory

Patrick McHenry (Rep) - Incumbent
Donnie Young (Rep) - State Christian Coalition Chair and GOP Activist
Bryan Greene (Independent/Constitution) - Maintenance Engineer, USMC Veteran and Church Deacon

11th District - Heath Shuler (Dem)

West, Asheville

Freshman Democrat Heath Schuler is one of the most vulneralbe members of the new majority in 2008. This largely rural district, which includes the city of Ashville, has a Republican lean to it. This district has the smallest African-American population of any district in North Carolina. Strong performance in Buncombe County is key to Schuler's prospects for reelection.

Two Republicans, Ashville city councilman Carl Mumpower and Henderson County Republican Party chairman Spence Campbell, have announced bids for the GOP nomination.

The Presidental race complicates the situation for Schuler, the eleventh district went to President Bush by 14 percent in 2004. Schuler will once again need to syphon off a decent number of Republican votes in order to win the race.

Heath Shuler (Dem) - Incumbent
John Armor (Rep) - Attorney, Author and 2006 Candidate
Carl Mumpower (Rep) - Ashville city councilman
Nathan Ramsey (Rep) - Buncombe County Commissioner
Charles Taylor (Rep) - Former Congressman and Banker

12th District - Mel Watt (Dem)

Central/I-85 Corridor, parts of Charlotte, Greensboro and Durham

Mel Watt (Dem) - Incumbent

13th District - Brad Miller (Dem)

Central Wake county

Brad Miller (Dem) - Incumbent
Jane Coswell (Dem) - State Senator
Kay Hagan (Dem) - State Senator
Grier Martin (Dem) - State Representative
Steve Smith (Dem) - Attorney, NC Environmental Management Commission Member and Army Veteran
Vernon Robinson (Rep) - Former Winston-Salem City Councilman, USAF Veteran and frequent candidate