The race for attorney general, expected to be one of the toughest-fought and most expensive campaigns on the ballot this year, will likely see two of North Carolina’s most high-profile and vocal members of Congress face off against each other.
U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a former state lawmaker and an attorney, is running unopposed in the Republican primary. U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, a former prosecutor, state lawmaker and member of the N.C. Army National Guard, is the frontrunner in the Democratic primary. He faces two opponents: Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry and Fayetteville attorney Tim Dunn.
Ahead of the March 5 primary, here’s what you need to know about the job of attorney general, the candidates who are running and the race so far.
The incumbent, and the office
Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat who is currently serving his second term, is running for governor. He’s seeking to follow the path of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who served two terms as attorney general before being elected to the state’s highest office in 2016.