Ballance Takes Over Eva Clayton's Seat

RALEIGH, N.C. — Longtime state lawmaker Frank Ballance beat out a security consultant and a third-party candidate Tuesday in a race for the 1st District seat being vacated by five-term Rep. Eva Clayton.

With 49 percent of the precincts reporting, the Democratic state senator from Warrenton had 41,606 votes, or 62 percent, in the majority-black district, according to unofficial returns.

Republican Greg Dority of Washington, making his first run at political office, had 24,504 votes, or 36 percent.

Libertarian Mike Ruff of Greenville had 1,107 votes, or 1 percent.

In 1992, Clayton became the first black woman elected to the House of Representatives from North Carolina. Clayton had endorsed Ballance, who also is black and is a law partner of her husband's.