The 2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000. The general election was fought between the Republican nominee, former mayor of CharlotteRichard Vinroot and the Democratic nominee, state Attorney GeneralMike Easley. Easley won by 52% to 46%, and succeeded fellow Democrat Jim Hunt as governor. This election was the first North Carolina gubernatorial election since 1980 in which the winner of the gubernatorial election was of a different party from the winner of the concurrent presidential election.