College student Wyatt Gable defeats 10-term state Rep. George Cleveland in North Carolina primary

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — College student Wyatt Gable defeated a 10-term North Carolina state House member in a primary election this week, while another incumbent currently trails in a very close race with his intraparty opponent.

The 21-year-old Gable, a student at East Carolina University, defeated Rep. George Cleveland of Onslow County.

Meanwhile, five-term Rep. Cecil Brockman of Guilford County, a Democrat targeted by some activists in his party for his willingness to vote with Republicans on some key bills, survived a primary challenge from James Adams.

The Associated Press called victories for Brockman and Gable on Thursday after concluding there weren’t enough outstanding votes for their trailing opponents to catch up.

The margins between primary candidates for two other House seats are narrow enough for a trailing candidate to seek a recount. As a result, the AP has not called a primary race involving 10-term Democratic Rep. Michael Wray of Northampton County. Unofficial primary results show Wray trailing rival Rodney Pierce of Halifax County.

While the differential in unofficial results between GOP Rep. Sam Watford of Davidson County and Eddie Gallimore also is within the margin to seek a recount, the AP declared Watford the winner later Thursday after the trailing Gallimore said in an interview that he would not ask for one. Watford is in his fourth House term, while Gallimore is a former senator.

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