Now that filing is done, the Republican primary is pretty clear.

Three Council of State races on the GOP ballot will be competitive.

For governor, Salisbury attorney Bill Graham, Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory, former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and state Sen. Fred Smith are joined by longshot candidate pecan farmer Elbie Powers.

For lieutenant governor, state Sen. Robert Pittenger, former Congressional candidate Greg Dority, former lieutenant governor candidate Jim Snyder and Timothy Cook are running.

Tryon resident Joe Johnson, former House Speaker Richard Morgan and Eric H. Smith are running for the nomination for superintendent of public instruction.

Several candidates have no primary challenge.

Randolph County attorney Bob Crumley will face Attorney General Roy Cooper, Burlington attorney Jack Sawyer will face Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, state Rep. Bill Daughtridge will run for treasurer and former Raleigh Councilman John Odom will run for insurance commissioner.

Three incumbents, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, state Auditor Les Merritt and Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, also have no primary challengers.

The N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers has announced its support of five judicial candidates and three Council of State candidates.

The Academy endorsed Janet Cowell for state Treasurer and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Insurance Commissioner Jim Long received its endorsement for re-election.

The group also will back Court of Appeals incumbents Chief Judge John Martin, Judge James A. Wynn Jr., and Judge Linda Stephens, as well as Supreme Court challenger Suzanne Reynolds and Court of Appeals challenger Wake County District Court Judge Kristin Ruth.

Previously, the group endorsed Beverly Perdue for governor.

Academy Chief Executive Officer Dick Taylor said the Academy will consider more endorsements as the campaign season continues.

Jack Sawyer is officially running for secretary of state.

Sawyer now works as an attorney and Realtor in Burlington. He also serves as the director of Alliance Mutual Insurance Company in Greensboro.

He has served as the Alamance County chairman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Cobey in 2004. That same year he was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in New York City. He also has worked for several candidates as a volunteer, fundraiser and campaign treasurer.

Sawyer's political career began while he attended UNC-Chapel Hill. As a student, he was a summer intern for Sen. Jesse Helms in Washington, D.C.

He's been rumored to be running since early December.

Democratic incumbent Elaine Marshall, who has been in office since 1996, is running for re-election.

At least two more Republicans are running in 2008.

According to a post on N.C. Republican Roundtable, Burlington attorney Jack Sawyer is seeking the GOP nomination for secretary of state and Tryon resident Joe Johnson is running for superintendent of public instruction.

The blog does not name any Republicans for commissioner of insurance.