Black Ex-Mayor Wins N.C. Senate Primary News Article from USA Today

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June 6, 1990

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Black Ex-Mayor Wins N.C. Senate Primary News Article from USA Today preview

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Color photo of Harvey Gantt seated during his oral history interview.

Harvey Gantt Oral History

Matter
- Gingles
Case
- Thornburg v. Gingles
U.S. state
- North Carolina
Collection
- Case Files
Taxonomy
Identifier
- 4f6462a2-e092-ee11-be37-6045bdeb8873

Cite this item

Case Files, Thornburg v. Gingles Working Files - Guinier. Black Ex-Mayor Wins N.C. Senate Primary News Article from USA Today, 1990. 4f6462a2-e092-ee11-be37-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/7263a9d4-ed85-41a5-b5c5-c12b02de1a3b/black-ex-mayor-wins-nc-senate-primary-news-article-from-usa-today. Accessed November 08, 2025.

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    Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt won the Democratic U.S. Senate runoff
yesterday and became the first black U.S. Senate nominee from North Carolina in
this century.
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(c) 1990 NewsdaY, June 6, L99o

Gantt defeated Brunswick County District Attorney Mike Easley, and wiII
challenge three-term Republican Sen. Jesse Helms in November.

With 99 percent of the state's precincts reportinq, Gantt had 297,777 votes,
or 59 percent, to Eas1ey's 2041655, or 4t percent-

trlrm ready to get into this fight[ with Helms, Gantt said when he voted early
in the day. rI'm ready to get it on with him.rr

Helms issued a two-sentence statement congratulating Gantt for his
Ithard-earned victorytr and Easley for his rthard-fought race.rr

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LEVEL 1 - 95 OF L27 STORIES

Copyright (c) l-990 Gannett Company Inc.
USA TODAY

June 6, 1990, Wednesday, FfRST EDITION

SECTION: NEWS, Pg. 5A

LENGTH: 336 words

HEADLINE: Black ex-mayor wins N.C. Senate primary

BYLINE: Leslie PhilliPs

BODY:
Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt sai-Ied to a snashing victory in North

Carolj-nars Democratic runoff Tuesday, but in November he faces a formidable foe
in Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C.

Gantt, who becomes the state's first black Senate nominee this century, Idon
59 percent of the vote, to 41- percent for Brunswick County prosecutor Mike
Eas1ey. Turnout was estimated at 17 percent.

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(c) 1-990 USA TODAY, June 6 t 1-990

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,,1,m ready to get into this fight" with Helms, Gantt said as he voted.
"I'm ready to get it on with him. "

Helms offered his "congratulations to Harvey Gantt on a hard-earned
victory. "

The general election campaign could be a nudfest. In L984, Helms and Gov.
James Hunt spent an unprecedented $ 25 million combi-ned in a race notorious for
its vitriol.

If Gantt is to avoid the mistakes made by Hunt, says University of North
Carolina political scientist Thad Bey1e, he must avoj-d being put on the
defensive about emotional issues such as pornographic art, abortion, and
homosexuality.

,,The key will be for Mr. Gantt to get a hold of the agenda and to not allow
Helms to define it, " says Bey1e.

Gantt led the May 8 primary, but failed to get a majority, forcing a runoff.

Historically, black candidates have lost runoff elections in North Carolina.
Analysts say Gantt's easy win may reflect changes brought on by the influx of
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(c) l-990 USA fODAY, June 6, 1990

outsiders into the state, conservative Democrats switching to the GOP, and
matured views on racial politics.

Gantt got more votes in the runoff than in the primary.

Gantt and Eas1ey ran a clean carnpaign, focusing barbs at Helms rather than
each other.

But in the finat week, Helms launched television and radio ads attacking both
Democrats.

He criticized Gantt for opposing the death penalty. And he chargred Easley
with plea bargaining 64 percent of the criminal cases he prosecuted. Trained as
an architect, Gantt, 47, ldas elected in L982 as mayor of Charlotte. He was
defeated after two terms in 1986. He is also known for integrating South
Carolina's Clemson University in L963.

GRAPHIC: PHOTOi b/w, AP (Mike Easley); PHOTOi b/w, Chuck Burton, AP (Harvey
Gantt)

CUTLINE: EASLEY: Runs second in Democratic primary. CUTLINE: THE WINNER:
Democratic senate candidate Harvey Gantt talks with a voter during North
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(c) L990 USA TODAY, June 6' l-990

Carolina runoff election.

SUBJECT: BLACKS; DEMOCRAT; ELECTION

NOTES: Ribbon Label; CAI,IPAIGN '9Oi THE PRIMARIES, 2 FIRST; 2 FIRST CHASE; L

FINAL' ]- FTNAL CHASE

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Black Ex-Mayor Wins N.C. Senate Primary News Article from USA Today

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