Elaine Marshall
1996 - Present
2025
28
Elaine Marshall (Democratic Party) is the North Carolina Secretary of State. She assumed office in 1996. Her current term ends on January 1, 2025.
Marshall (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for North Carolina Secretary of State. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source] The Democratic primary for this office on March 5, 2024, was canceled.
Marshall is the first woman to be elected North Carolina secretary of state and the first woman elected to statewide executive office in North Carolina.[1]
Biography
Elaine Marshall was born and raised in Maryland. She earned a B.S. in home economics from the University of Maryland in 1968 and a J.D. in 1981 from Campbell University School of Law. She was also given honorary doctorate degrees from Campbell University, Lees-McRae College, and Meredith College.[2] Her professional experience includes teaching in the Lenoir County School System, running a book and gift store, teaching at the Lenoir Community College and Johnston Tech Community College, being the owner and decorator of the Custom House, working as an adjunct faculty member for the Trial Advocacy Program at Campbell University School of Law, working as an associate for the office of Edgar R. Bain in Harnett County, and working as a partner for two law firms.[3]
Marshall was named National Committee Woman for the Young Democrats of North Carolina organization in 1974. She remained in that role until 1977 when she became National Secretary for the Young Democrats of America. She also served as the president of the Democratic Women's Committee and as the county’s Democratic Party Chairwoman.[3] She went on to serve in the North Carolina State Senate from 1993 to 1996.[4]
Political career
Secretary of State (1996-present)
Issues
Stated priorities
According to her campaign site, one of her main focuses since taking office has been the protection of copyrights and deterring counterfeit goods. She has also highlighted reducing the cost of doing business for companies and individuals and improving information technology.[1]
North Carolina State Senate (1993-1996)
In 1993, Marshall was elected to serve the people of the 15th Congressional District in the North Carolina State Senate.[5]
Elections
2024
See also: North Carolina Secretary of State election, 2024
General election
General election for North Carolina Secretary of State
Incumbent Elaine Marshall and Chad Brown are running in the general election for North Carolina Secretary of State on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Elaine Marshall (D) | ||
| Chad Brown (R) | ||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Elaine Marshall advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina Secretary of State.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Carolina Secretary of State
Chad Brown defeated Christine Villaverde and Jesse Thomas in the Republican primary for North Carolina Secretary of State on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Chad Brown | 43.3 | 373,166 | |
| Christine Villaverde | 30.0 | 258,569 | ||
| Jesse Thomas | 26.8 | 230,829 | ||
| Total votes: 862,564 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Darren Eustance (R)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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2020
See also: North Carolina Secretary of State election, 2020
North Carolina Secretary of State election, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)
North Carolina Secretary of State election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for North Carolina Secretary of State
Incumbent Elaine Marshall defeated E.C. Sykes in the general election for North Carolina Secretary of State on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Elaine Marshall (D) | 51.2 | 2,755,571 | |
| E.C. Sykes (R) | 48.8 | 2,630,559 | ||
| Total votes: 5,386,130 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Elaine Marshall advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina Secretary of State.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Carolina Secretary of State
E.C. Sykes defeated Chad Brown and Michael LaPaglia in the Republican primary for North Carolina Secretary of State on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | E.C. Sykes | 42.9 | 296,457 | |
| Chad Brown | 38.0 | 262,595 | ||
| Michael LaPaglia | 19.1 | 131,832 | ||
| Total votes: 690,884 | ||||
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Campaign finance
2016
Marshall ran for re-election as North Carolina Secretary of State. No Democratic candidates filed paperwork to challenge her in the primary, but two Republicans announced campaigns for the office: AJ Daoud and Michael LaPaglia. LaPaglia won the Republican primary and competed with Marshall in the 2016 general election.
Incumbent Elaine Marshall defeated Michael LaPaglia in the North Carolina secretary of state election.
| North Carolina Secretary of State, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Elaine Marshall Incumbent |
52.22% | 2,339,783 | |
| Republican | Michael LaPaglia | 47.78% | 2,141,132 | |
| Total Votes | 4,480,915 | |||
| Source: ABC11 | ||||
2012
Marshall ran unopposed in the Democratic primary contest. She won re-election in the general election against Ed Goodwin (R), who was the chairman of the Chowan County Board of Commissioners, on November 6, 2012.
| North Carolina Secretary of State General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Elaine Marshall Incumbent |
53.8% | 2,331,173 | |
| Republican | Ed Goodwin | 46.2% | 2,003,026 | |
| Total Votes | 4,334,199 | |||
| Election results via NC State Board of Elections | ||||
Endorsements
2010
| United States Senate |
|---|
|
| Elections, 2010 |
| Primary election dates, 2010 |
Elaine Marshall advanced from the primary with Cal Cunningham. She defeated Cunningham in the primary runoff. Richard Burr defeated Marshall in the general election.
| United States Senate, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Elaine Marshall | 43% | 1,145,074 | |
| Republican | Richard Burr |
54.8% | 1,458,046 | |
| Libertarian | Michael Beitler | 2.1% | 55,687 | |
| Write-In | Various | 0% | 1,272 | |
| Total Votes | 2,660,079 | |||
| United States Senate, Democratic Primary Runoff Democratic Primary, 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Elaine Marshall |
60% | 95,390 |
| Cal Cunningham | 40% | 63,691 |
| Total Votes | 159,081 | |
| United States Senate, Democratic Primary Democratic Primary, 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Elaine Marshall |
36.3% | 154,605 |
| Cal Cunningham |
27.2% | 115,851 |
| Ken Lewis | 17% | 72,510 |
| Marcus W. Williams | 8.5% | 35,984 |
| Susan Harris | 7% | 29,738 |
| Ann Worthy | 3.9% | 16,655 |
| Total Votes | 425,343 | |
2008
Elaine Marshall ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and won re-election in the general election.
| North Carolina Secretary of State, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Elaine F. Marshall Incumbent |
56.8% | 2,316,903 | |
| Republican | Jack Sawyer | 43.2% | 1,762,928 | |
| Total Votes | 4,079,831 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
2004
| North Carolina Secretary of State, Democratic Primary, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Elaine F. Marshall Incumbent |
80.6% | 327,848 | ||
| Doris A. Sanders | 19.4% | 78,953 | ||
| Total Votes | 406,801 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections. | ||||
| North Carolina Secretary of State, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Elaine F. Marshall Incumbent |
57.3% | 1,911,585 | |
| Republican | Jay Rao | 42.7% | 1,423,109 | |
| Total Votes | 3,334,694 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
2000
Elaine Marshall ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and won re-election in the general election.
| North Carolina Secretary of State, 2000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Elaine Marshall Incumbent |
54.4% | 1,512,076 | |
| Republican | Harris Durham Blake | 45.6% | 1,265,654 | |
| Total Votes | 2,777,730 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
1996
| North Carolina Secretary of State, 1996 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Elaine Marshall |
53.5% | 1,333,994 | |
| Republican | Richard Petty | 45.2% | 1,126,701 | |
| Libertarian | Lewis B. Guignard | 0.8% | 20,734 | |
| NL | Stephen Richter | 0.5% | 12,896 | |
| Total Votes | 2,494,325 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2020
Elaine Marshall did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Elaine Marshall currently resides in Harnett County, North Carolina. She has been married twice - first to Solomon Marshall and then to Bill Holdford; both died as a result of cancer.[8] She has no biological children, but has five stepchildren and seven grandchildren. She is a practicing Methodist, belonging to the Divine Street Methodist Church located in Dunn, North Carolina.[3]
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Contact information
Capitol Address:
NC Secretary of State
Post Office Box 29622
Raleigh NC 27626-0622
Phone: (919) 807-2005
Fax: (919) 807-2039
E-mail: gjeter@mail.secstate.state.nc.us
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate North Carolina Secretary of State |
Officeholder North Carolina Secretary of State |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate, " Get to know Elaine," accessed August 7, 2013
- ↑ North Carolina Secretary of State, "Elaine F. Marshall," accessed Sept. 30, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, "Elaine Marshall Bio," accessed July 18, 2012
- ↑ Triangle Business Journal, "Elaine Marshall, North Carolina secretary of state," February 16, 2009
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Elaine Marshall's Biography," accessed Sept. 30, 2015
- ↑ QNotes, "Statewide candidate endorsements announced," September 26, 2012
- ↑ Charlotte Observer, "Our Council of State endorsements, part 1," October 17, 2012
- ↑ News Observer, "Sec. of state's husband dies" 29 Nov. 2009
- ↑ North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, "N.C. Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall receives Eta State Founders Award" 14 May, 2007
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by - |
North Carolina Secretary of State 1996-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
North Carolina State Senate 1993-1996 |
Succeeded by - |
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State of North Carolina Raleigh (capital) |
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