James Holshouser Republican Jim Hunt Democratic The 1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976.

Democratic nominee Jim Hunt defeated Republican nominee David T. Flaherty with 64.99% of the vote.

This election marked the last time an incumbent North Carolina governor was ineligible to run for reelection to a second term before the adoption of an amendment allowing such runs.

[1] 17.6% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.

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