RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Republican incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory won his primary easily Tuesday, setting up a fall matchup with Democrat Roy Cooper, who also had no problem vanquishing his primary rivals.

McCrory pulled 82 percent of the Republican votes, with Robert Brawley accounting for nearly 11 percent  and Charles Kenneth Moss just over 7 percent.

Cooper's race was closer. Former Durham state legislator Ken Spaulding took 31 percent of Democratic votes to Cooper's 69 percent.

Libertarian Lon Cecil is also on  the November ballot.

National pundits have speculated that North Carolina's gubernatorial race will be the most watched in the country. North Carolina Democrats view it as an opportunity to regain some power following the 2010, 2012 and 2014 elections that ensured their minority status in the state.

Republicans see the race as a referendum on the fiscal reforms put in place by the governor.