2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election

The 2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000. The general election was fought between the Republican nominee, former mayor of Charlotte Richard Vinroot and the Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Mike Easley. Easley won by 52% to 46%, and succeeded fellow Democrat Jim Hunt as governor. This election was the first North Carolina gubernatorial election since 1980 in which the winner of the gubernatorial election was of a different party from the winner of the concurrent presidential election.

Candidates

 * Bob Ayers
 * Mike Easley, attorney general
 * Ken Rogers
 * Dennis Wicker, lieutenant governor

Results
[[File:2000 North Carolina gubernatorial Democratic primary county map.svg|thumb|200px|Primary results by county: Easley

{{legend|#001044|Easley—81-90%}}

{{legend|#011966|Easley—71-80%}}

{{legend|#0030c0|Easley—61-70%}}

{{legend|#154bef|Easley—51-60%}}

{{legend|#4872f1|Easley—41-50%}} Wicker

{{legend|#002400|Wicker—71-80%}}

{{legend|#006400|Wicker—51-60%}}

{{legend|#59d622|Wicker—41-50%}} ]]

Candidates

 * Leo Daughtry, state representative
 * Art Manning, candidate for governor in 1996
 * Charles Neely, attorney and former state representative
 * Richard Vinroot, former mayor of Charlotte and candidate for governor in 1996

Results
[[File:2000 North Carolina gubernatorial Republican primary county map.svg|thumb|200px|Primary results by county: Vinroot

{{legend|#6d0404|Vinroot—71-80%}}

{{legend|#a70808|Vinroot—61-70%}}

{{legend|#d60f0f|Vinroot—51-60%}}

{{legend|#ff0000|Vinroot—41-50%}}

{{legend|#f29b8a|Vinroot—31-40%}} Daughtry

{{legend|#353500|Daughtry—81-90%}}

{{legend|#909121|Daughtry—71-80%}}

{{legend|#ddde1f|Daughtry—61-70%}}

{{legend|#ffff00|Daughtry—51-60%}}

{{legend|#f2f26c|Daughtry—41-50%}}

{{legend|#f2f2a0|Daughtry—31-40%}} Neely

{{legend|#90ee90|Neely—31-40%}} {{legend|#c0c0c0|Tie between Daughtry and Neely—31-40%}} ]]

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, September 13, 2000
 * Complete video of debate, October 27, 2000

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Alamance (largest municipality: Burlington)
 * Onslow (largest town: Jacksonville)
 * Polk (Largest city: Tryon)
 * Rutherford (Largest city: Forest City)
 * Surry (Largest city: Mount Airy)
 * Carteret (Largest city: Morehead City)
 * Mecklenburg (largest municipality: Charlotte)