RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — State Sen. Rachel Hunt, a first-term Democratic state senator is projected to become North Carolina’s next lieutenant governor.

Hunt, who represents the 42nd district, has strong North Carolina political bloodlines — her father is Jim Hunt, the longest-serving governor in North Carolina history, with terms from 1977-1985 and again from 1993-2001.

With all precincts reporting, Hunt led Republican challenger Hal Weatherman, a longtime political strategist.

She previously served two terms in the state House of Representatives, winning the seat in 2018 and 2020.

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Hunt, a lawyer, said during the campaign that she was running “to get us back on track, fight for our basic freedoms, create safer communities, and make our education system the best it can be.”

Her stated priorities include investing in public schools, expanding access to health care, and helping local businesses succeed.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Republican Brad Briner has been elected North Carolina’s next state Treasurer, defeating his Democratic challenger State Rep. Wesley Harris.

The Associated Press projected Briner early Wednesday morning. As of 1:20 a.m., Briner lead Harris 52.46% to 47.54% according to the state Board of Elections.

The race pitted the only PhD economist in the legislature (Harris), against an investment manager and current member of the UNC Board of Trustees (Briner).

Both men campaigned on how they would improve upon the underperformance of the North Carolina Retirement System. They agree that too much of the state pension fund is sitting in cash.

The office also oversees the State Health Plan, serving more than 750,000 current and retired public employees. Current state Treasurer Dale Folwell has served in the position for two terms. Folwell unsuccessfully ran in the Republican gubernatorial primary, losing back in March to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted Tuesday to extend hours for two polling places due to delays at the beginning of the day.

Voting will be extended by 30 minutes at Wilson County’s Gardners Elementary School and the Pilot Mountain polling place in Burke County. These locations will now close at 8 p.m.

In Wilson County, poll workers were unable to print authorization to vote forms from about 6:40 a.m. to 8:07, resulting in about 10 voters leaving the location. If a voter casts a ballot at this location after 7:30 p.m., they will vote by provisional ballot, the board said. In Pilot Mountain, voting was delayed due to laptop technological issues. Around five voters left at the Pilot Mountain location.

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This extension will only impact results being processed in Wilson and Burke counties. All other counties can close like there were no extensions, the board’s general counsel Paul Cox said in the meeting.

Polling location hours can be extended if there is a delay that extends more than 15 minutes, State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell said.

Out of the over 2,600 polling places across the state, those were the only two reported extensions as of 4:30 p.m.