More candidates fill North Carolina ballots for 2016

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina’s official candidate list for 2016 includes two more U.S. Senate candidates and challengers to incumbents on the Council of State.

The State Board of Elections says Durham Democrat Kevin Griffin and Republican Paul Wright of Wayne County have filed their candidacy papers for U.S. Senate, joining Democrat Deborah Ross. All of them are interested in unseating Republican Sen. Richard Burr.

Republicans Mark Johnson and Rosemary Stein also have filed to run for superintendent of public instruction. Current Democratic Superintendent June Atkinson also has filed.

Former Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker filed Wednesday to run for labor commissioner as a Democrat. GOP incumbent Cherie Berry already filed.

Democratic state Sen. Josh Stein is also now officially a candidate for attorney general.

The filing period began Tuesday and ends Dec. 21.

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