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Incumbent NC House District 27 Representative Michael Wray will advance to November’s General Election following a landslide win in this past Tuesday’s Democratic Primary.

Wray, a native of Northampton County who is currently in his ninth term as a member of the NC House, captured nearly 80 percent of the vote (10,832 – 2,879) against his opponent Jerry McDaniel.

Wray won by wide margins in all three counties comprising the 27^th House District: Northampton (3,121 – 665); Halifax (5,046 – 1,833); and Warren (2,665 – 381).

In November’s General Election, Wray will face Republican challenger Wes Tripp, the current Sheriff of Halifax County. Tripp did not have a Republican challenger in the Primary.

In other regional races from Tuesday’s Primary, incumbent State District 3 Senator Ernestine (Byrd) Bazemore was defeated in her effort to represent the Democratic Party in the General Election.

Bazemore, a former Bertie County Commissioner now in her first term in the NC Senate, lost to Valerie Jordan of Warren County, 13,601 – 9,179.

Jordan carried eight of the 10 counties in the Third District, to include Hertford (1,147 – 906); Northampton (3,094 – 484); and Gates (587 – 397).

Bazemore topped the ballot in her home county (2,206 – 823) and in Martin County (1,364 – 858).

Jordan advances to the General Election where she faces no Republican opposition.

In the Republican Primary for the NC House of Representative’s 5th District, Bill Ward of Pasquotank County defeated Donald Kirkland of Ahoskie, 3,340-1,548 according to the unofficial results. Over one-half of Ward’s winning total came in his home county (1,929 – 653). He also won Camden County (986 – 410).

Kirkland topped the ballot in his home county (247 – 209) as well as Gates County (238 – 216).

Ward advances to November’s General Election where he’ll face Howard Hunter III of Ahoskie, a four-term incumbent in NC House District 5. Hunter, a Democrat, was not challenged in the Primary.