Some Republican leaders vow to defend a law that places North Carolina 's primary fifth - in - line . Political issues : ` ` North Carolina is the biggest threat to the calendar now '' Pat McCrory in late 2013 as part of an election overhaul package that included strict new voter identification regulations , dictates that the North Carolina primary , for both Democrats and Republicans , must occur on the Tuesday after South Carolina 's 2016 presidential primary . If North Carolina holds its primary before March 4 , the party says it will cut its support down to nothing .
Some Republican leaders vow to defend a law that places North Carolina 's primary fifth - in - line . Political issues : ` ` North Carolina is the biggest threat to the calendar now '' If North Carolina holds its primary before March 4 , the party says it will cut its support down to nothing .