1984 North Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1984 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Democratic incumbent Jim Hunt was unable to run for another consecutive term under the North Carolina Constitution. Hunt ran instead for the U.S. Senate against Jesse Helms and lost, although he later announced his campaign for a third gubernatorial term in the 1992 election. Popular 9th District Congressman James G. Martin ran as the Republican nominee against Democratic Attorney General Rufus L. Edmisten, who defeated Hunt's Lt. Governor, James Green, among other candidates, in a hotly contested primary.

For related races, see 1984 United States gubernatorial elections.

1984 North Carolina gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee James G. Martin Rufus L. Edmisten Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,208,167 1,011,209 Percentage 54.26% 45.41%

County results Martin:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Edmisten:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election Jim Hunt Democratic Elected Governor James G. Martin Republican

Martin won by a comfortable margin on Election Day thanks to the surprise endorsement of Green, and to President Ronald Reagan's coattails (see also 1984 United States presidential election). Martin became just the second Republican elected to the state's highest office in the 20th century.

An offhand remark by Edmisten during the 1984 campaign became part of the state's political lore. He was quoted as complaining about all the barbecue pork he had to eat on the campaign trail, saying he could not eat anymore of "that damnable stuff", which is widely popular. ^[1] Edmisten later said he was joking.^[2]

Primary election results

Democratic primary

1984 NC Governor Democratic primary election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Rufus L. Edmisten	295,051	30.87%
	Democratic	H. Edward Knox	249,286	26.08%
	Democratic	Lauch Faircloth	153,210	16.03%
	Democratic	Thomas O. Gilmore	82,299	8.61%
	Democratic	James C. Green	80,775	8.45%
	Democratic	John R. Ingram	75,248	7.87%
	Democratic	Robert L. Hannon	9,476	0.99%
	Democratic	Frazier Glenn Miller	5,790	0.61%
	Democratic	Andy Barker	3,148	0.33%
	Democratic	J. D. Whaley	1,516	0.16%

1984 NC Governor Democratic primary runoff election results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Rufus L. Edmisten	352,351	51.91%
	Democratic	H. Edward Knox	326,278	48.08%	−3.83%

Republican primary

1984 NC Governor Republican primary election results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim Martin	128,714	91.71%
	Republican	Ruby T. Hooper	11,640	8.29%

General election results

1984 NC Governor election results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	James G. Martin	1,208,167	54.26%
	Democratic	Rufus L. Edmisten	1,011,209	45.41%	−9.49%
	Libertarian	H. Fritz Prochnaw	4,610	0.21%
	Socialist Workers	Gregory McCartan	2,740	0.12%
Turnout			2,226,743	100%

Footnotes

1. "Swing". The Washington Post. August 27, 2012. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016.
2. WBUR
3. "Our Campaigns - NC Governor - D Primary Race - May 08, 1984".
4. "Our Campaigns - NC Governor - D Runoff Race - Jun 05, 1984".
5. "Our Campaigns - NC Governor - R Primary Race - May 08, 1984".
6. "Atlas Forum Index". Atlas Forum. March 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2009.