North Carolina State Auditor
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| North Carolina State Auditor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $146,421 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $6,899,163 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | North Carolina Constitution, Article III, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
North Carolina State Auditor
Jessica Holmes | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Last election: | November 3, 2020 |
| Other North Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The North Carolina Auditor is an elected state executive position in the North Carolina state government. The auditor is the head of the Office of the State Auditor and a member of the Council of State. The auditor's office examines all facets of state government for the misuse of tax dollars through a variety of means including financial statement audits, performance audits, investigative reports, and information technology audits. The office also conducts special studies as requested by the general assembly.[1]
The auditor is elected by a statewide vote during presidential election years and serves for a four-year term.
Current officeholder[edit]
The current officeholder is Jessica Holmes (D). She took office on December 16, 2023. [2]
Authority[edit]
The auditors' establishment and term of office are derived from Article III, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution.
Article III, Section 7:
| A Secretary of State, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, an Attorney General, a Commissioner of Agriculture, a Commissioner of Labor, and a Commissioner of Insurance shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State in 1972 and every four years thereafter, at the same time and places as members of the General Assembly are elected. Their term of office shall be four years and shall commence on the first day of January next after their election and continue until their successors are elected and qualified.[3] |
Qualifications[edit]
Article VI, Section 6 of the North Carolina Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| Every qualified voter in North Carolina who is 21 years of age, except as in this Constitution disqualified, shall be eligible for election by the people to office.[3] |
- Qualified North Carolina voter
- At least 21 years of age
Vacancies[edit]
Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article III, Section 7.
If a vacancy occurs in the office, the governor appoints another to serve until a successor is elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election at the first election for members of the General Assembly that occurs more than 60 days after the vacancy has taken place, and the person chosen shall hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term.[3]
Duties[edit]
The auditor is the head of the Office of the State Auditor and a member of the Council of State. The auditor's office examines all facets of state government for the misuse of tax dollars through a variety of means including financial statement audits, performance audits, investigative reports, and information technology audits. The office also conducts special studies as requested by the general assembly.[1] A list of the auditor's duties as prescribed by state statute can be found here.
Elections[edit]
The auditor in North Carolina is popularly elected every four years in presidential election years. The term of office is four years and begins on the first day of January following their election.[3]
2024[edit]
- See also: North Carolina Auditor election, 2024
General election candidates
- Jessica Holmes (Incumbent) (Democratic Party)
- Dave Boliek (Republican Party)
- Bob Drach (Libertarian Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Republican primary runoff candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary candidates
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
- Jessica Holmes (Incumbent) ✔
Did not make the ballot:
Republican primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Minor Party primary candidates
Libertarian Party
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
2020[edit]
- See also: North Carolina Auditor election, 2020
General election candidates
- Beth Wood (Incumbent) (Democratic Party) ✔
- Anthony Wayne Street (Republican Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Democratic primary candidates
- Beth Wood (Incumbent) ✔
- Luis Toledo
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Republican primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
2016[edit]
- See also: North Carolina Auditor election, 2016
The general election for state auditor was held on November 8, 2016.
Incumbent Beth Wood defeated Charles Stuber in the North Carolina auditor election.
| North Carolina Auditor, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Beth Wood Incumbent |
50.03% | 2,232,554 | |
| Republican | Charles Stuber | 49.97% | 2,230,147 | |
| Total Votes | 4,462,701 | |||
| Source: ABC11 | ||||
Full history[edit]
To view the electoral history dating back to 2000 for the office of North Carolina Auditor, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2012Incumbent Beth Wood (D) successfully won re-election, defeating Debra Goldman (R) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
2008On November 4, 2008, Beth A. Wood won election to the office of North Carolina Auditor. She defeated Leslie Merritt (R) in the general election.
2004 On November 2, 2004, Leslie Merritt won election to the office of North Carolina Auditor. He defeated Ralph Campbell (D) in the general election.
2000 On November 7, 2000, Ralph Campbell won election to the office of North Carolina Auditor. He defeated Leslie Merritt (R) in the general election.
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Divisions[edit]
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the North Carolina State Auditor has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget[edit]
- See also: North Carolina state budget and finances
The budget for the Office of the State Auditor in Fiscal Year 2025 was $6,899,163.[4]
Compensation[edit]
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
Article III, Section 9 of the North Carolina Constitution defines the method by which the auditor's compensation is set:
| The officers whose offices are established by this Article shall at stated periods receive the compensation and allowances prescribed by law, which shall not be diminished during the time for which they have been chosen.[3] |
2022[edit]
In 2022, the officer's salary was $146,421, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2021[edit]
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $136,699, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2020[edit]
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $133,365, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2019[edit]
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2018[edit]
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2017[edit]
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2016[edit]
In 2016, the auditor received a salary of $125,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2015[edit]
In 2015, the auditor received a salary $125,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2014[edit]
In 2014, the state auditor received a salary of $124,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2013[edit]
In 2013, the state auditor received a salary of $124,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2010[edit]
In 2010, the state auditor received a salary of $123,198, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
Historical officeholders[edit]
There have been two Auditors of Public Accounts and 18 State Auditors since 1862. Of the 20 total auditors, 13 were Democratic, three were Republican, one was a member of the Populist Party, and three do not have party information.[16]
Click [show] to view the full list.
| List of Historical Officeholders from 1862-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | Samuel F. Phillips[17] | 1862-1864 | N/A | ||
| 2 | Richard H. Battle[18] | 1864-1865 | N/A | ||
| 3 | Henderson Adams[19] | 1868-1873 |  Republican
| ||
| 4 | John Reilly | 1873-1877 | Republican
| ||
| 5 | Samuel L. Love | 1877-1881 |  Democratic
| ||
| 6 | William P. Roberts | 1881-1889 | Democratic
| ||
| 7 | George W. Sandlin | 1889-1893 | N/A | ||
| 8 | Robert M. Furman | 1893-1897 | Democratic
| ||
| 9 | Hal W. Ayer | 1897-1901 | Populist Party | ||
| 10 | Benjamin F. Dixon | 1901-1910 | Democratic
| ||
| 11 | Benjamin F. Dixon, Jr. | 1910-1911 | Democratic
| ||
| 12 | William P. Wood | 1911-1921 | Democratic
| ||
| 13 | Baxter Durham | 1921-1937 | Democratic
| ||
| 14 | George Ross Pou | 1937-1947 | Democratic
| ||
| 15 | Henry L. Bridges | 1947-1981 | Democratic
| ||
| 16 | Edward Renfrow | 1981-1993 | Democratic
| ||
| 17 | Ralph Campbell, Jr. | 1993-2005 | Democratic
| ||
| 18 | Leslie W. Merrit, Jr. | 2005-2008 | Republican
| ||
| 19 | Beth Wood | 2009-2023 | Democratic
| ||
| 20 | Jessica Holmes | 2023-present | Democratic
| ||
Recent news[edit]
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms North Carolina State Auditor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information[edit]
Mailing address:
20601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0600
Physical address:
325 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27699
Phone: 919-807-7500
Toll free: 800-730-8477
Fax: 919-807-7647
See also[edit]
| North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, "About the Office of the State Auditor," accessed Feb. 2, 2021
- ↑ ‘'Office of the North Carolina State Auditor, "Jessica N. Holmes," accessed December 19, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 North Carolina State Legislature, "North Carolina State Constitution," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "House Bill 259," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States," Sept. 30, 2020
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed April 23, 2011
- ↑ North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, "History of the Office of State Auditor," accessed Feb. 2, 2021
- ↑ Auditor of Public Accounts.
- ↑ Auditor of Public Accounts.
- ↑ First person elected State Auditor by a statewide vote.
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