1992 North Carolina gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1992 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1992 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Governor James G. Martin was unable to run for a third consecutive term due to term limits, and his Lieutenant Governor, Jim Gardner, was chosen to replace him as the Republican nominee. Gardner had also been the nominee in a previous gubernatorial election over twenty years earlier. Former Governor Jim Hunt decided to seek his third term as the Democratic nominee. The race became one of the nastiest and most talked about races in the country, with Hunt winning a third term easily over Gardner and Libertarian nominee Scott McLaughlin.

1992 North Carolina gubernatorial election

November 3, 1992

Nominee Jim Hunt Jim Gardner Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,368,246 1,121,955 Percentage 52.72% 43.23%

County results Hunt:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Gardner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election James G. Martin Republican Elected Governor Jim Hunt Democratic

Primary election results

1992 NC Governor Democratic primary election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Hunt	459,300	65.46
	Democratic	Lacy Thornburg	188,806	26.91
	Democratic	Marcus W. Williams	25,660	3.66

1992 NC Governor Republican primary election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim Gardner	215,528	81.96
	Republican	Ruby T. Hooper	26,179	9.96
	Republican	Gary M. Dunn	21,256	8.08

General election results

1992 NC governor election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Hunt	1,368,246	52.72
	Republican	Jim Gardner	1,121,955	43.23	−9.49%
	Libertarian	Scott McLaughlin	104,983	4.05
Turnout			2,595,184