Three-term Representative Nick Galifianakis defeated two-term incumbent Senator B. Everett Jordan in the second ballot in the Democratic primary.

Galifianakis was seen as an anti-establishment liberal in North Carolina,[1][2] although an opponent of busing.

This was the first time ever that a Republican won a full term to this Senate seat in North Carolina.

22% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.

[3] 4.4% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.