RALEIGH, N.C. - A candidate in the Democratic primary for state labor commissioner wants a runoff next month.

John Brooks, who finished second to Mary Fant Donnan in last week's primary, formally asked the State Board of Elections Tuesday to hold the June 24 runoff.

According to unofficial results, Donnan received 27.6 percent of the vote in last week's four-candidate primary, well short of the more than 40 percent needed to avoid a runoff. Brooks, the labor commissioner between 1977 and 1993, was in second with 24.4 percent.

The party's nominee would face GOP incumbent Cherie Berry in November.

Second-place candidates have until noon Thursday to seek a runoff. Johnnie McLean with the elections board said two other legislative races could have a second election