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The North Carolina primary is just a few weeks away on March 5. Top StoriesWalgreens responds after medicine mix-up at Mount Airy store; 5-year-old given dosage 5x too strongOne confirmed dead in US 29 crash in Guilford County, North Carolina State troopers sayForsyth County man will spend the rest of his life in prison after murdering Winston-Salem man, concealing body, DA saysGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereThose waiting until November to cast their ballot might be a little too late. Most congressional and legislative candidates who win the primary in March are likely to win in the November election. This is because almost all of North Carolina’s voting districts are now designed to favor one party over the other, making the primary the deciding race. Voters who miss the primary will not have a choice in November for the state’s sixth congressional race. The race includes six Republicans, but no Democrats. The incumbent, Democrat Kathy Manning, decided not to run for a third term.The Republican who wins the primary will go on to Washington. On the other side of the political aisle, Forsyth County voters who miss the primary will not get a chance to pick their representative for the North Carolina House. The 72nd district has two Democrats running, but no Republicans. The primary winner will go to Raleigh. “A primary is a completely different type of race,” said John Blust, the Republican candidate for North Carolina’s 62nd House District. “I mean, I don’t think many people will be voting.”Less than a third of North Carolina’s registered voters turned out for the primary in 2020.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsThis year, one key issue may change that turnout.”We need to really rise up as women and say you’ve taken away our rights,” said Rachel Hunt, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. Abortion rights are not on the ballot, but lawmakers who may decide its future in both the state Legislature and U.S. Congress are on the ballot. “I would support any bill that would limit the amount of abortions as much as possible,” said Jay Wagner, the Republican candidate for the 6th Congressional District. For the first time in eight years, North Carolina voters will select a new governor.On the Republican side, it is Mark Robinson, Bill Graham and Dale Folwell.”We cannot have a Republican Party that’s based on hate,” Folwell said. “It needs to be based on hope.”Five Democrats are also in the race, including Josh Stein and Mike Morgan. “I’d dare to dream. Big dreams all my life, as I’ve always been against me,” said Morgan.No race this year has attracted more candidates than the GOP primary for lieutenant Governor. Eleven candidates in all are running, with more than one of them from the Piedmont Triad. This includes Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. Democrats have three candidates running for superintendent of public instruction.Teacher pay, book bans and a new law that requires educators to inform parents when their child changes pronouns are the top issues. Voters in Wilkes and Alexander counties have four Republicans running for an open seat in the NC House. Stoney Greene, the Republican candidate for the 94th House District, said he would support getting rid of the income tax in the area. Alamance County has two democrats running for the state senate. Donna Vanhook, the Democratic candidate for the 25th Senate District, said she is still having thoughts about the expansion of Buc-ees in the area. In Davidson County, two Republicans and longtime friends, Eddie Gallimore and Sam Watford, are squaring off once again for a seat in the North Carolina House. Voters in Guilford County’s 62nd House District have five candidates in the GOP primary. This includes one of the youngest candidates to ever run for the legislature, 20-year-old Jaxon Barber. “I’m strategically and uniquely positioned because of my age, to bridge the generational gap that there is in our state and in our country,” Barber said.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.