NC approves 27 candidates for presidential primary ballot
Published January 7, 2016
by Mark Binker, WRAL, January 6, 2016.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections on Tuesday formally set the ballots Republican, Democratic and Libertarian voters will see during the March 15 primary.
Four Democrats will appear on the ballot, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who were recommended as "nationally recognized" candidates by the state Democratic Party. Board members also put Rocky De La Fuente, a San Diego-based businessman, on the ballot after he gathered more than the 10,000 signatures needed to appear despite lacking the Democratic Party's recommendation.
The board approved a dozen Republican presidential candidates recommended by the party, including businessman Donald Trump, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas. The state's Republican Party originally tapped 14 potential candidates, but South Carolina U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and former New York Gov. George Pataki have dropped out.
The board declined to take up a request by Tim Cook, a perennial candidate from Guilford County who has run for a number of offices, to appear on the Republican primary ballot.
Board members approved the slate of 11 presidential candidates submitted by the state's Libertarian Party.
