RALEIGH, N.C. -- Republican lieutenant governor hopeful Dan Forest has captured a convincing victory in North Carolina's highest profile primary runoff contest.
With 74 percent of the precincts reporting Tuesday, Forest had 67 percent of the vote.
The 44-year-old former architect beat out 56-year-old pharmacy owner Tony Gurley. The two met in a runoff because neither garnered the 40 percent of the votes in May necessary to avoid a primary runoff.
Forest campaigned on jobs, the economy and education and has adopted fictional character Forest Gump's motto of "Run Forest Run." He has no experience in elected office.
Forest will face Democrat Linda Coleman of Knightdale in the November general election. They will be battling to replace Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, who is his party's candidate for governor.
