1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election

1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election

← 1972 November 2, 1976 1980 →
 
Nominee Jim Hunt David Flaherty
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,081,293 564,102
Percentage 64.99% 33.90%

County results
Hunt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Flaherty:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

James Holshouser
Republican

Elected Governor

Jim Hunt
Democratic

The 1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Democratic nominee Jim Hunt defeated Republican nominee David T. Flaherty with 64.99% of the vote.

This election marked the last time an incumbent North Carolina governor was ineligible to run for reelection to a second term before the adoption of an amendment allowing such runs.

As of 2022, this marks the last occasion that the following counties have voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election: Caldwell, Clay, Davidson, Randolph, and Wilkes.[original research?]