Namon Leo Daughtry is a former Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's twenty-sixth House district, including constituents in Johnston County, North Carolina. An attorney from Smithfield, North Carolina, Daughtry served in the state House since 1995. He previously served two terms in the state Senate.

The 2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000. The general election was fought between the Republican nominee, former mayor of Charlotte Richard Vinroot and the Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Mike 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.