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CHARLOTTE (AP) - Democrats rode a wave of partisan support Tuesday night, winning five of six Council of State races and staying close in a sixth contest.

Only Republican Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler broke the string of Democratic success, defeating Democrat James Ronald "Ronnie" Ansley with 52 percent of the vote.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting unofficial returns, incumbent Republican Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry held less than a 1 percentage point lead over Democrat Mary Fant Donnan, a program officer for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem.

In the rest of the races, Democrats prevailed.

Democrat Janet Cowell has won her bid to become North Carolina's next treasurer, taking nearly 54 percent of the vote, compared to Republican Bill Daughtridge's 46 percent.

Cowell will replace Richard Moore, who leaves office in January after eight years and a failed bid to win the Democratic nomination for governor. She will have to quickly deal with the loss of at least $6 billion in the state's public pension funds, hit hard by falling prices on the stock market.

Beth Wood defeated incumbent Republican Leslie Merritt in the state auditor's race, taking nearly 54 percent of the vote, to 46 percent for Merritt.

Wood is a certified public accountant and worked in the auditor's office for 10 years.

The state auditor oversees how state government and nonprofit groups operate and spend public money.

Wayne Goodwin will succeed veteran Jim Long as insurance commissioner after taking 52 percent of the vote based on unofficial returns. Republican John Odom had 44 percent and Libertarian Mark McMains just under 4 percent.

Goodwin will confront the issue of preserving the plan North Carolina created to insure coastal property.

June Atkinson continued the strong showing by Democrats by winning re-election as superintendent of public instruction. The incumbent had captured nearly 54 percent of the vote, while former House co-speaker and Republican Richard Morgan had 46 percent.

The office has virtually no power or management duties, but Atkinson has seen her role as one of discussing ways to improve education.

Elaine Marshall won re-election as North Carolina's Secretary of State, continuing a run of Democratic victories in Council of State races with 57 percent of the vote. Challenger and Republican Jack Sawyer had 43 percent.

The job is part of the governor's cabinet and includes enforcing ethics rules, overseeing legislative lobbyists, investigating securities fraud and cracking down on copyright infringement.