NC voters will elect a new labor commissioner this November. Here’s who’s running.
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Candidates for NC Commissioner of Labor
Voters will elect a new commissioner of labor in the 2024 general election. Republican Luke Farley is running against Democrat Braxton Winston II. Get to know both candidates with our NC Voter Guide.
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Voters will elect a new state labor commissioner in North Carolina this fall.
Incumbent Josh Dobson, a Republican who was elected as labor commissioner in 2020, did not seek reelection. That leaves the office open, and two candidates — one Republican and one Democrat — are seeking the seat in the Nov. 5 general election.
The labor commissioner oversees the North Carolina Department of Labor, which is required by law to promote the “health, safety and general well-being” of workers around the state. Among other efforts, NCDOL oversees workplace safety requirements for the public and private sectors, inspects elevators and amusement rides and enforces wage laws.
The labor commissioner also sits on the Council of State, the group of 10 executive branch officials that are elected by voters.
Republican Luke Farley won his party’s primary in March. He will now face Democrat Braxton Winston II, who did not face a primary challenger, in the general election.
Candidate questionnaires
The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer asked the candidates running for labor commissioner in the general election to fill out a candidate questionnaire. Both Farley and Winston responded.
You can find answers from many of the candidates on your ballot by visiting newsobserver.com/voterguide.
This story was originally published October 17, 2024 at 9:00 AM with the headline "NC voters will elect a new labor commissioner this November. Here’s who’s running.."
