Davie County commissioner Dan Barrett is running, attacking Easley for taking money away from towns & counties to pay for state spending. Barrett is 42.
Patrick Ballantine has held the Republicans in the NC Senate together against tax increases. He's been a strong conservative legislative leader. Ballantine is 38.
That's pretty good for new blood.
Ideally I would have liked to see US Rep. Walter Jones Jr. run for governor, and supposedly he looked at running but hasn't indicated any interest.