State Sen. Janet Cowell appeared to be the top finisher among the Democrats with more than 40 percent of the vote, thereby avoiding a runoff. She will face Rep. Bill Daughtridge, a Rocky Mount Republican, who had no GOP challengers.

With 91 percent of the precincts reporting, Cowell had 47 percent of the vote, while David Young had 36 percent and Michael Weisel had 17 percent.

Cowell, 39, is a two-term state senator and former Raleigh City Council member. Young, 48, owns a travel agency and has served on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners since 1992.

Weisel, 50, is a lawyer who formerly served as chairman of the Wake County Democratic Party.

Campaign finance reports showed that all three had spent more than $400,000 in the campaign.

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