Governor Pat McCrory drew widespread criticism for his decision to leave the 12th Congressional District seat formerly held by Mel Watt vacant until the regularly scheduled general election in November of this year. In a possible attempt to appease his critics, McCrory has called a belated special election to fill the vacant seat.

The special election will be held on the same day as the general election, consistent with McCrory’s budgetary concerns related to holding the special election on a different day. Because the two elections will occur on the same day, most candidates will be on the ballot twice.

Those candidates running in the special election will serve the remainder of the term expiring in 2014. Those candidates running in the general election, a slate nearly identical to that of the special election, will succeed the prevailing candidate in the special election and serve a two year term beginning in 2015.

Only two candidates chose not to participate in both elections, Republican Leon Threatt and Democrat Rajive Patel. Threatt and Patel will only appear on the general election ballot.

Photo of Governor Pat McCrory courtesy of Hal Goodtree on Wikimedia Commons.