Local Democrats celebrate taking top seats

Some of North Carolina's top offices fell into the hands of Democrats during Tuesday's historic general election.

A victory for Democrat Bev Perdue in the state gubernatorial race and Kay Hagan's win over Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole paced a successful night for the Democratic Party, which also claimed victories in eight of 13 races statewide for the U.S. House of Representatives.

A record 69 percent of Pitt County's 107,316 registered voters cast ballots during this year's election, according to the Pitt County Board of Elections. Statewide, a record 65 percent of registered voters participated.

“I am extremely happy and excited about what I have seen from all Pitt County Democrats and those across the state,” said Pitt County Democratic Party Chairman Johnny Rouse. “I thought this was a favorable year for us because I knew the motivation of Democratic voters was extremely high and we were going to turn out in mass. And the Republicans, a lot of them were a lot less motivated and they just didn't turn out like we did.”

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory conceded the governor's race around 11 p.m., meaning Perdue, the state's lieutenant governor, will become the state's first female governor. She will succeed Gov. Mike Easley, who has served the past two terms.

The gubernatorial race had been considered by many to be a toss-up, and recent polls showed McCrory with a small advantage. Perdue captured more than 50 percent of the vote statewide, and nearly 60 percent in Pitt County.

Dole and Hagan had been involved in one of the closest and most expensive races in the nation, a race that soured during the final days when Dole aired an ad questioning Hagan's credentials as a Christian.

Hagan captured more than 52 percent of the vote statewide, and 55 percent in Pitt County.

Other Democratic winners in the state included U.S. Reps. G.K. Butterfield, Bob Etheridge, David Price, Mike McIntyre, Larry Kissell, Heath Shuler, Mel Watt and Brad Miller.

With 95 percent of counties reporting, North Carolina's presidential selection was still too close to call.

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones was one of only five Republicans to claim victory in the races for the U.S. House. He said the Democratic dominance was not surprising, considering the failed administration of President George W. Bush.

“The results are not that surprising because George W. Bush is responsible for a lot of the problems the Republican Party is facing,” Jones said. “It has been a failed administration.”

He said members of the GOP need to put the losses behind them, however, and prepare to work with Democrats to benefit the country.

“It is time that we come together,” Jones said. “This country is in so much trouble and we have so many problems facing us with no easy answers to any of them. The only way we can deal with those problems is to bring people together.”

According to the Pitt County Board of Elections, 74,130 voters turned out countywide for this year's election. That number eclipsed the 2004 turnout by nearly 20,000.

Most of this year's voting was done during the early voting period when 51,032 ballots were cast, but the large turnout didn't discourage local representatives from trying to get more people to the polls.

Pitt County Republican Party Chairman Kim Hendrix said the local office for the Republican Party offered transportation for voters who needed a ride to the polls, while volunteers at the Obama headquarters in Greenville did the same.

Obama captured 54 percent of Pitt County's votes.

Contact Brock Letchworth at bletchworth@coxnc.com or (252) 329-9574.