Election Night Scoreboard: Columbus County & Statewide Midterm Returns

WHITEVILLE, NC — Polling places across Columbus County closed at 7:30 p.m., and precinct reporting is well underway. With 9 of 16 county precincts fully tabulated in the major contests, Republican candidates lead across local, judicial, and federal races in Columbus County, while early statewide returns show contrasting trends across North Carolina.

Below is the complete election night compiled report covering federal, statewide, judicial, legislative, local, and referendum contests impacting Columbus County voters.

Federal & Statewide Contests (Columbus County Totals)

U.S. Senate

• Michael Whatley (REP): 7,048 votes (52.63%)

• Roy Cooper (DEM): 6,079 votes (45.40%)

• Shannon W. Bray (LIB): 172 votes (1.28%)

• Michael Dublin (GRE): 92 votes (0.69%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

Statewide Context Note: While Michael Whatley leads in Columbus County, early statewide returns from major urban centers reflect an initial lead for Democrat Roy Cooper (42,683 votes / 71.43% to Whatley’s 15,996 votes / 26.77%) as rural precinct tallies continue to report in.

U.S. House of Representatives — District 7

• David Rouzer (REP): 7,704 votes (57.49%)

• Kimberly Hardy (DEM): 5,610 votes (41.87%)

• Maad Abu-Ghazalah (LIB): 86 votes (0.64%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

North Carolina Appellate & District Judicial Contests

N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice (Seat 1)

• Sarah Stevens (REP): 7,184 votes (54.05%)

• Anita Earls (DEM): 6,108 votes (45.95%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

N.C. Court of Appeals (Seat 1)

• Michael C. Byrne (REP): 7,459 votes (56.23%)

• John S. Arrowood (DEM): 5,807 votes (43.77%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

N.C. Court of Appeals (Seat 2)

• George Cooper Bell (REP): 7,441 votes (56.20%)

• Tobias (Toby) Hampson (DEM): 5,799 votes (43.80%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

N.C. Court of Appeals (Seat 3)

• Craig Collins (REP): 7,440 votes (56.21%)

• Christine Marie Walczyk (DEM): 5,797 votes (43.79%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

N.C. District Court Judge District 15 (Unopposed Local Judicial)

• Seat 2: Bryan D. Wilson (REP) — 8,758 votes (100.00%)

• Seat 5: Will M. Callihan, Jr. (REP) — 8,785 votes (100.00%)

• Seat 7: Sarah McPherson (REP) — 8,793 votes (100.00%)

• District Attorney District 15: J.K. Somers (REP) — 8,664 votes (100.00%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

North Carolina General Assembly Contests

N.C. State Senate — District 8

• Bill Rabon (REP): 7,514 votes (56.50%)

• Richard (Rick) Combes (DEM): 5,598 votes (42.10%)

• Tim White (LIB): 186 votes (1.40%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

N.C. House of Representatives — District 46

• Brenden H. Jones (REP): 7,562 votes (57.06%)

• Brittany Newton (DEM): 5,691 votes (42.94%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

Columbus County Local & School Board Contests

Columbus County Board of Commissioners

• District 1: Barbara Roseboro Featherson (DEM) — 1,444 votes (100.00%) (5 of 7 precincts)

• District 6: Jeanne McPherson (REP) — 1,245 votes (100.00%) (4 of 8 precincts)

• District 7 (Contested):

  • Scott Floyd (REP): 903 votes (55.09%)

  • Jeff Register (DEM): 736 votes (44.91%)

  • Precincts Reported: 3 of 5

County-Wide Constitutional Officers

• Clerk of Superior Court: Jess Hill (REP) — 9,728 votes (100.00%) (9 of 16 precincts)

• County Sheriff: W. A. (Bill) Rogers (REP) — 8,971 votes (100.00%) (9 of 16 precincts)

Columbus County Schools Board of Education

• District 2 (Contested):

  • Ronnie D. Strickland (REP): 5,181 votes (57.76%)

  • Beatrice Addison (DEM): 3,789 votes (42.24%)

  • Precincts Reported: 8 of 15

• District 3: Irvin Enzor (REP) — 6,017 votes (100.00%) (8 of 15 precincts)

• District 4: Chris Worley (REP) — 6,049 votes (100.00%) (8 of 15 precincts)

Whiteville City Schools Board of Education (Nonpartisan)

• At-Large (Contested):

  • R. Byron Fisher: 1,892 votes (53.06%)

  • Edward A. Squires: 1,630 votes (45.71%)

  • Write-In: 44 votes (1.23%)

  • Precincts Reported: 5 of 7

• District 1: Anna Richardson — 752 votes (97.28%) (2 of 2 precincts)

• District 2: David Flowers — 644 votes (98.92%) (3 of 4 precincts)

Columbus Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor (Vote for 2)

• Latoya Beatty: 4,820 votes (28.70%)

• Jimmy Malpass: 4,356 votes (25.94%)

• Frank Galloway: 3,847 votes (22.91%)

• Lanny Formyduval: 3,656 votes (21.77%)

• Write-In: 116 votes (0.69%)

• Precincts Reported: 9 of 16

State Constitutional Amendments & County Referendums

Statewide Constitutional Amendments (Columbus County Voting)

• Photo ID Requirement for Voting:

  • FOR: 9,937 (76.27%)

  • AGAINST: 3,091 (23.73%)

• Maximum Income Tax Rate (3.5% Cap):

  • FOR: 10,022 (76.89%)

  • AGAINST: 3,013 (23.11%)

• Property Tax Levy Limit:

  • FOR: 9,377 (72.09%)

  • AGAINST: 3,630 (27.91%)

Columbus County Local Referendums

• Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum:

  • AGAINST: 7,545 (58.78%)

  • FOR: 5,290 (41.22%)

• Mixed Beverage Referendum:

  • FOR: 6,937 (54.76%)

  • AGAINST: 5,731 (45.24%)

• Malt Beverage Referendum:

  • FOR: 6,422 (50.81%)

  • AGAINST: 6,218 (49.19%)

• Unfortified Wine Referendum:

  • FOR: 6,391 (50.70%)

  • AGAINST: 6,215 (49.30%)

Next Steps in Tabulation

The remaining 7 precincts in Columbus County are actively transporting their paper ballot tabulator memory units to the county board office for scanning. Live updating totals can be checked continuously on the North Carolina State Board of Elections Live Portal.

All vote counts reported tonight remain preliminary until verified during the official county canvass meeting scheduled ten days after Election Day.

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