Of 1,117 regular elections in North Carolina—619 (55%) are uncontested. An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. 

Of the 26 states where Ballotpedia is covering every election on Nov. 5, North Carolina has the 17th highest rate of uncontested elections. 

There are at least 23 office types up for election in North Carolina this year. 

District attorney has the highest rate of uncontested elections at 100%. That rate for district attorney mirrors three other states: Hawaii, Montana, and Ohio. Conversely, two states—Arizona and California—are the only states with a 100% contested election rate for the office of district attorney. Elections for the office of local judge have the next highest uncontested rate at 93%, followed by register of deeds at 89%.

Governor, state supreme court justice, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, auditor, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner, superintendent of schools, and treasurer have the highest rate of contested elections at 100%. The next highest contested office type in North Carolina is U.S. senator and state senator at 90%, followed by U.S. representative and state representative at 81%.

North Carolina has a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control. Among states with a divided government, 56% of elections are uncontested and 44% are contested. Those rates for Democratic trifectas are 55% and 45%, respectively. In states with Republican trifectas, 64% of elections are uncontested and 36% are contested.

Through October 2024, Ballotpedia has covered 36,068 elections in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories in 2024 alone. Of that total, 27,164 (75%) were uncontested and 8,904 (25%) were contested. To learn more about this analysis, click here!