Four-term Democratic incumbent Elaine Marshall defeated Republican challenger Ed Goodwin, according to unofficial results.

Marshall, who has statewide name recognition from her two runs for U.S. Senate, touted her accomplishments modernizing the agency and cracking down on fraud.

Goodwin, a Chowan County commissioner, said Marshall had been in office too long and criticized her for offering words of support to Occupy Raleigh protesters.

Goodwin tried to bring national issues into the race such as abortion and taxes that are not directly related to secretary of state duties.