New poll shows tighter primary races for governor, AG ahead of NC's March 5 election
There is no clear front-runner in the Democratic race for attorney general and the Republican race for governor may be tightening, according to a new poll released just days before the March 5 primaries in North Carolina.
Former President Donald Trump holds a commanding lead over former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential contest. Both candidates will be in North Carolina on Saturday.
The High Point University poll was in the field from Feb. 16 through Feb. 23 as on online survey using 1,215 likely and self-identified voters in North Carolina. Early voting began in North Carolina in early February.
The overall poll has a rating of plus or minus 3.9% and the Republican and Democratic-only results have a plus or minus of 6%.
The poll found the U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, retired Marine Tim Dunn and Durham district attorney Satana Deberry in a statistical dead heat in their race to be the Democratic nominee for attorney general.
The winner of the Democratic attorney general contest will face U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican who is running unopposed for the nomination. Current Attorney General Josh Stein is running for governor along with four other Democrats.
Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson leads the GOP field in the race for governor at 51%, but former prosecutor Bill Graham is polling in the 30s. State treasurer Dale Folwell is at 17%.
In a late January poll from Merdith College poll, Robinson led 34% to Graham's 9% and Folwell's 4%.
High Point also tested generic ballot questions on president, governor and several other races.
Republican president (394 responses):
Donald Trump 69%
Nikki Haley 24%
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis 3%
The poll included several other Republican candidates who received two percent or less.
Democratic president (326 responses):
President Joe Biden: 87%
No preference: 13%
Republican governor (394 responses):
Mark Robinson: 51%
Bill Graham: 33%
Dale Folwell: 17%
Democratic governor (322 responses):
Josh Stein: 57%
Michael (Mike) Morgan: 14%
Gary Foxx: 10%
Chrelle Booker: 10%
Marcus W. Williams: 9%
Republican lieutenant governor (386 responses):
Jim O'Neill: 27%
Sam Page: 13%
Jeffrey Elmore: 11%
Seth Woodall: 11%
Deanna Ballard: 10%
Hal Weatherman: 7%
Peter Boykin: 7%
Allen Mashburn: 4%
Marlenis Hernandez Novoa: 4%
Ernest T. Reeves: 4%
Rivera Douthit: 2%
Democratic lieutenant governor (321 responses):
Rachel Hunt: 61%
Mark H. Robinson: 24%
Ben Clark: 14%
Democratic attorney general (317 responses):
Jeff Jackson: 36%
Tim Dunn: 33%
Satana Deberry: 31%
Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
Disapprove: 55%
Approve: 38%
Unsure: 7%
U.S. President, generic ballot:
Republican: 47%
Democrat: 41%
Another party: 4%
Unsure: 8%
N.C. governor, generic ballot:
Democrat: 46%
Republican: 45%
Another party: 2%
Unsure: 6%
