N.C. Sen. Paul Newton is keeping his seat in District 36.

The race spanned across Cabarrus and Union counties. Newton had 57.78% of the votes cast, with 69,384, and Democratic candidate and political newcomer Marcus Singleton garnered 42.22%, or 50,705 votes.

All Cabarrus County precincts had reported with Newton in the lead earlier in the night before all Union County precincts had come in. 

This was not Singleton’s first race. He was also a city of Concord District 1 Councilmember candidate in 2019 before dropping out of the race to focus on the N.C. Senate District 36 race. Although he left too late in the 2019 city council race for his name to be removed from the ballot.

Newton ran on his experience with creating jobs after a 25-year-long career with Duke Energy. The state Senator left a private legal practice to join the company. Newton said he intends to keep his promise.