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GREENSBORO — Earl Jones lost his chance to keep the House seat he has held for eight years Tuesday to a political consultant and college student.

Marcus Brandon, 35, of High Point, beat Jones in the Democratic primary for District 60, according to complete but unofficial results.

In the rest of state races, name recognition seemed to carry the day, even for one candidate who wasn’t an incumbent in these particular races.

Brandon has worked for candidates such as Dennis Kucinich, but this was his first turn as a candidate. He is majoring in political science at N.C. A&T, a degree he has pursued for several years between running other people’s campaigns.

He attributed his win to a grass-roots effort.

“We had to take our message to the people,” said Brandon, who added that he knew he faced an “entrenched incumbent.”

Jones, who spent 18 years on the Greensboro City Council before winning the House seat in 2002, owns and publishes a newspaper.

Jones said Tuesday he also believes Brandon’s grass-roots efforts affected the outcome. Jones, 60, said he spent a lot of time on the opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum and not as much  campaigning.

“It’s politics. It’s ever-changing,” he said. “I feel good about the eight years I’ve served and the impact I’ve had.”

Jones wished Brandon well and said he will do all that he can to ease Brandon’s entry into the General Assembly.

Brandon campaigned on bringing a light-rail transportation system here, creating a “green-jobs corridor” and allowing individual schools and school systems to define what a quality education means.

Brandon’s campaigning isn’t over yet. He faces the lone Republican challenger, Lonnie Wilson, in November.

Here’s a breakdown on the rest of the races. All results are complete but unofficial.

Senate District 28: This race had two winners. Republicans picked Trudy Wade, a Greensboro city councilwoman and former county commissioner, over three newcomers. Democrats chose Gladys Robinson, the handpicked successor of incumbent Katie Dorsett, who withdrew from the race earlier this year.

The two winners might have another challenger in November.

Guilford County Commissioner Bruce Davis, upset at Dorsett’s departure from the race just before the candidate filing period ended, wants to get on the November ballot as an independent. He needs to collect 5,000 signatures by June 25 to get on the ballot.

Davis, a Democrat, could not be reached for comment. But he has said that the voters should pick their next senator, not the incumbent.

House District 57: Jon Hardister, a political newcomer and Greensboro businessman, beat local attorney Wendell Sawyer, a one-term state senator in the 1980s. Hardister, vice president of a mortgage company that his father started, will face Rep. Pricey Harrison in November.

House District 58: Incumbent Alma Adams, an arts instructor at Bennett College who is a former city councilwoman and has been a legislator since 1994, won the primary. In November, she will face another challenger — Republican Darin Thomas of Greensboro.

House District 61: A familiar name will represent High Point and Jamestown in the state House. High Point City Councilman John Faircloth took the most votes Tuesday in a four-way race to fill the seat to be vacated by Rep. Laura Wiley. She decided not to run again. Faircloth won the seat outright as no Democrats filed to run.

House District 62: Incumbent John Blust beat his lone challenger to win the primary Tuesday. He’ll need to beat Libertarian candidate Jeffery Simon in November to retain the seat he’s held since 2000.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com