Voters in western North Carolina made choices in several Congressional races Tuesday. In the closest race, Democrats Rick Bryson and Tom Hill battled in the 11th District. Bryson just barely eked out a win, 50.75 % of the vote to Hill's 49.25%. The vote count was 9,636 to 9,351. Bryson will face incumbent Republican Congressman Mark Meadows in November.
Meanwhile, incumbent Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry had no trouble dispatching three challengers in the Republican race for the 10th District. McHenry had about 78% of the vote. The nearest challenger reached only about 12%. McHenry will face Democrat Andy Millard, who ran unopposed, in November.
In the only statewide race, which narrowed the candidates for a state Supreme Court justice seat from 4 candidates to 2, incumbent Bob Edmunds finished first with about 48% of the vote. Mike Morgan came in second with about 34%. Those two will face off in November, with the court's ideological split hanging in the balance. The court currently has a 4-3 Republican advantage. Edmunds, the only sitting justice up for re-election, is a registered Republican. Morgan is a registered Democrat.
Statewide, turnout for the special election was weak, as was expected. Just 7.68% of registered voters cast a ballot.
