RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The group of North Carolina elected executive branch positions known as the Council of State will have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans come January. Democrats flipped the positions of lieutenant governor and superintendent of public instruction, while a Republican defeated the incumbent Democratic state auditor. Rachel Hunt’s victory for lieutenant governor capped other top Democratic wins, including Josh Stein for governor and Jeff Jackson for attorney general. Hunt is the daughter of former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt. Meanwhile, Republicans continued their recent dominance in appellate court races by winning three seats and leading narrowly in a fourth.… Continue Reading