CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Republican Robert Pittenger has bested Jim Pendergraph to become the GOP candidate for North Carolina's 9th Congressional District.
Pittenger had 53 percent of the vote with 96 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday evening. He is heavily favored to win the general election.
Pittenger, a former state senator, emerged from an 11-person primary race. His runoff opponent, Pendergraph, is the former sheriff of Mecklenburg County.
Pittenger will face Democrat Jennifer Roberts, a Mecklenburg County Commissioner, in the November general election.
They will battle for Republican U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick's seat. Myrick announced her retirement in February after 18 years in the U.S. House.
The Charlotte-area district is overwhelmingly Republican and has been in the party's hands since 1963.
