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Stories about North Carolina

Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey: North Carolina roundup

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 30, 2023 at 5:14 PM

North Carolina is holding elections, including for lieutenant governor, on Nov. 5, 2024. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of May 30. To read each candidate’s full responses, click their name at the bottom of the article.

Peter Boykin (R) is running for lieutenant governor of North Carolina and the election is on Nov. 5, 2024. Here’s how Boykin responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Overall, North Carolina and America Need Economic stimulation, protection on our border, quality education, medical freedom, secure elections, jobs, and job security, and improve affordable healthcare options for everyone. … We should put America First and that means putting ‘Americans First.’ We are supposed to be a first-world nation so let’s start taking care of ALL of our citizens. Healthcare, Food, Education, Civil Rights, and more should NEVER be a Left or Right Issue.”

Click here to read the rest of Boykin’s answers. 

Allen Mashburn (R) is running for lieutenant governor of North Carolina and the election is on Nov. 5, 2024. Here’s how Mashburn responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Mr. Mashburn … is very passionate about raising the standard of righteousness in the State, and that means in our educational system and throughout. If we are to survive as a Nation and State, we must eradicate Critical Race Theory from higher education and beyond. In our public education system we must restore discipline for our educators to be able to perform their life’s calling– teach. … We must make sure that homeschools are uninterrupted with unnecessary overreach and make certain that we are getting the best return on our investment of tax dollars in the classroom. … We must continue to fight to save the unborn until abortion is eradicated from our society.”

Click here to read the rest of Mashburn’s answers. 

If you’re a North Carolina candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.

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Election legislation roundup: General Assembly of North Carolina

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 30, 2023 at 4:49 PM

As of May 28, members of the General Assembly of North Carolina, which includes the North Carolina House of Representatives and the North Carolina State Senate, have passed three bills related to election administration since the beginning of the year. Of those three bills, legislators passed one during the week of May 22-28. Democrats sponsored the bill. The bill is:   

  • NC H229: Stagger/Extend Terms of Town Officers/Halifax, Rep. Michael Wray (D). 
    • As introduced, this bill amends the charter for the town of Halifax to establish four-year staggered terms for the mayor and commissioners, align municipal elections with the general election in odd-numbered years, and elect these positions on a nonpartisan plural basis in accordance with uniform municipal election procedures. The bill also provides for the upcoming election schedule.

Of the three bills passed this year, three have been enacted. This is three more than this point a year ago. Republicans sponsored two bills, while Democrats sponsored one. The bills are: 

  • NC H229: See above bullet point for more information.
  • NC H88: Omnibus Local Elections, Reps. Brian Biggs (R), John Faircloth (R), and Jonathan Hardister (R). 
    • As amended, this bill:
      • Specifies procedures and requirements for filling a partisan vacancy on the Guilford County Board of Education.
      • Specifies that the Ashe County Board of Education will consist of five members, serving staggered four-year terms, elected on a partisan basis; and outlines nomination procedures and that the start of their term is the first Monday in December after the election.
      • Specifies that the Cabarrus County Board of Education will be elected on a partisan basis and that Board member terms begin on the first Monday in December after the election.
      • Specifies that the Henderson County Board of Public Education will consist of seven members, elected on a partisan basis, for staggered four-year terms.
      • Outlines nomination procedures for Board candidates and specifies implementation of staggered terms.
      • Click the hyperlinked bill number above for more information.
  • NC H27: Elect Thomasville City Bd. of Ed, Reps. Larry Potts (R) and Samuel Watford (R).
    • As introduced, this bill establishes the Thomasville City Board of Education as an nonpartisan elected board composed of five members with staggered five-year terms.

From May 22-28, legislators passed nine bills related to election administration nationally. As of May 28, South Dakota legislators have passed the most bills this year with 18, while legislators in 19 states have passed none. The state with the most enacted bills is Tennessee with 17, while 20 states have enacted none.

The General Assembly of North Carolina is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 11 to Aug. 31 this year. In 2022, North Carolina legislators passed three election-related bills, two in the state Senate and one in the state House. One of the bills from the state Senate was enacted into law. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

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Governor Roy Cooper (D) issues one executive order from May 1-7

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 11, 2023 at 8:52 PM

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) issued one executive order from May 1-7. As of May 7, Cooper has issued six executive orders in 2023 — eight fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is:

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 1-7, the nation’s governors issued 26 executive orders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued the most with 16. Governors in 41 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 19 of the 26 orders, while Democratic governors issued seven.

Cooper has served as governor since Jan. 1, 2017. He issued 31 executive orders in 2022 and 58 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,558 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 568 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 371, while Democratic governors issued 197. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

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Election legislation roundup: North Carolina House of Representatives

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 8, 2023 at 8:30 PM

As of May 7, Ballotpedia has tracked 22 election-related bills in the North Carolina House of Representatives since the beginning of the year. Of the 22, Ballotpedia tracked one from May 1-7. Democrats sponsored the bill. The bill is below:   

  • NC H851: Improving Our Democracy, Reps. John Ager (D), Johnnie Autry (D), Cynthia Ball (D), Kanika Brown (D), Allison Dahle (D), Pricey Harrison (D), Carolyn Logan (D), Nasif Majeed (D), Marcia Morey (D), Lindsey Prather (D), Amos Quick (D), and Diamond Staton-Williams (D). 
    • As introduced, this bill:
      • Establishes that candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate, state Senate, state House, and elected judicial offices will hold an open primary on a Tuesday set by the general assembly.
      • Establishes that the open primary will allow eligible voters to vote irrespective of party affiliation, and provides ballot-related instructions.
      • Provides that qualified minor parties are not required to compete in the open primary and may choose their candidates via party convention.
      • Establishes that the general election will be held the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even-numbered years and will be conducted via ranked-choice voting if there are more than two candidates.
      • Provides that the state board of elections will research and develop the ranked-choice voting method and outlines general guidelines and requirements, including ballot design and counting requirements.
      • Click the hyperlinked bill number above for more information.

During the week of May 1-7, Ballotpedia tracked five House election-related bills nationally. As of May 7, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,396 House bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most House bills this year in the Texas House of Representatives with 183, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest House bills in Massachusetts and Ohio with one.

As of May 7, Ballotpedia has tracked 630 House bills in Democratic trifectas and 602 House bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 164 House bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control. 

The North Carolina House is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 11 to Aug. 31 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 17 House bills related to election administration. One of these bills passed both chambers, but it was not enacted into law. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

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North Carolina Supreme Court issues nine opinions from April 24-30

By Mercedes Yanora
In State news 2023
May 3, 2023 at 11:10 PM

The North Carolina Supreme Court issued nine opinions from April 24-30. As of April 30, the court issued 17 opinions in 2023 — 27 fewer than this point a year ago. Three of the nine opinions are below:

  • Harper v. Hall, where the court “held that partisan gerrymandering claims present a political question that is nonjusticiable under the North Carolina Constitution, thus overruling the Court’s decision in Harper I and affirming the court of appeals’ decision dismissing all of Plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice.”
  • Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC v. Kiser, where the court “reversed the decision of the court of appeals reversing an order of the superior court, holding that the easement’s plain language was clear and unambiguous and that Duke’s actions were encompassed with the easement’s broad grant of authority.”
  • State v. Flow, where the court “held that, within the particular facts and overall context of this criminal case, the trial court did not violate either the United States Constitution or the North Carolina General Statutes by declining to conduct further inquiry into Defendant’s capacity to proceed following his apparent suicide attempt on the morning of the sixth day of trial.”

From April 24-30, state supreme courts issued 172 opinions nationally. The West Virginia Supreme Court issued the most with 36. State supreme courts in 14 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 109 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 63.

The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state’s court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Paul Martin Newby. The court issued 145 opinions in 2022 and 167 in 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021.  The courts have issued 2,201 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 1,224 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 977. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

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North Carolina Supreme Court vacates state’s congressional, legislative maps

By Dave Beaudoin
In State
May 1, 2023 at 4:12 PM

In a 5-2 decision on April 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned a 2022 decision that the state’s enacted congressional and legislative maps were unconstitutional due to partisan gerrymandering. The court vacated the maps the legislature enacted in 2021 and the remedial maps used for the 2022 elections. In its ruling, the court said, “we hold that partisan gerrymandering claims present a political question that is nonjusticiable under the North Carolina Constitution. Accordingly, the decision of this Court in Harper I is overruled. We affirm the three judge panel’s 11 January 2022 Judgment concluding, inter alia, that partisan gerrymandering claims are nonjusticiable, political questions and dismissing all of plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice.”

The court’s order also said that the legislature’s original 2021 maps were developed based on incorrect criteria and ruled that the General Assembly should develop new congressional and legislative boundaries to be used starting with the 2024 elections: “Just as this Court’s Harper I decision forced the General Assembly to draw the 2022 Plans under a mistaken interpretation of our constitution, the Lewis order forced the General Assembly to draw the 2021 Plans under the same mistaken interpretation of our constitution…The General Assembly shall have the opportunity to enact a new set of legislative and congressional redistricting plans, guided by federal law, the objective constraints in Article II, Sections 3 and 5, and this opinion. ‘When established’ in accordance with a proper understanding of the North Carolina Constitution, the new legislative plans “shall remain unaltered until the return of” the next decennial census.”

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Anita Earls wrote, “To be clear, this is not a situation in which a Democrat-controlled Court preferred Democrat-leaning districts and a Republican-controlled Court now prefers Republican-leaning districts. Here, a Democratic-controlled Court carried out its sworn duty to uphold the state constitution’s guarantee of free elections, fair to all voters of both parties. This decision is now vacated by a Republican-controlled Court seeking to ensure that extreme partisan gerrymanders favoring Republicans are established.”

In February 2022, the Wake County Superior Court enacted congressional district boundaries drawn by three court-appointed redistricting special masters and approved legislative maps that the General Assembly redrew earlier that month. Both actions were in response to the North Carolina Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling on Feb. 4, 2022, that the state’s enacted congressional and legislative maps violated the state constitution. These district boundaries were used for the 2022 elections.



Election legislation roundup: North Carolina House of Representatives

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
April 26, 2023 at 7:53 AM

As of April 23, Ballotpedia has tracked 21 election-related bills in the North Carolina House of Representatives since the beginning of the year. Of the 21, Ballotpedia tracked one from April 17-23. Republicans sponsored the bill. The bill is:   

  • NC H641: No Soliciting Certain Funds/Elections Boards, click hyperlinked bill name for list of sponsors. 
    • As introduced, this bill:
      • Prohibits solicitation or acceptance of private funds, or anything else of value, for conducting state or local elections.
      • Defines “election,” “person,” “public funds.”
      • Directs that all costs associated with state and local elections must be paid with public funds and that a violation is a felony.
      • Makes conforming changes.

During the week of April 17-23, Ballotpedia tracked 12 House election-related bills nationally. As of April 23, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,379 House bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most House bills this year in the Texas House of Representatives with 182, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest House bills in Massachusetts and Ohio with one.

As of April 23, Ballotpedia has tracked 622 House bills in Democratic trifectas and 596 House bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 161 House bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control. 

The North Carolina House is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 11 to Aug. 31 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 17 House bills related to election administration. One of these bills passed both chambers, but it was not enacted into law. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

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Election legislation roundup: North Carolina State Senate

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
April 12, 2023 at 6:32 PM

As of April 9, Ballotpedia has tracked 11 election-related bills in the North Carolina State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 11, Ballotpedia tracked four from April 3-9. Democrats and Republicans sponsored two each. The four bills are:   

  • NC S642: Independent Redistricting Commission, Sens. Valencia Applewhite (D), Rachel Hunt (D), Natasha Marcus (D), Graig Meyer (D), Mujtaba Mohammed (D), Natalie Murdock (D), DeAndrea Salvador (D), and Kandie Smith (D).
    • A summary has not been provided yet.
  • NC S416: Popular Election, Sens. Valencia Applewhite (D), Natasha Marcus (D), Graig Meyer (D), Natalie Murdock (D), Kandie Smith (D), and Joyce Waddell (D).
    • As introduced, this bill enters North Carolina into agreement with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
  • NC S630: Constitutional Amendment/Citizens-Only Voting, Sens. Ted Alexander (R), Warren Daniel (R), Amy Galey (R), Bobby Hanig (R), Matthew Johnson (R), Joyce Krawiec (R), Thomas McInnis (R), Tim Moffitt (R), Eldon Newton (R), Paul Newton (R), Bradley Overcash (R), Norman Sanderson (R), Benton Sawrey (R), Vickie Sawyer (R), and Eddie Settle (R).
    • As introduced, this bill would allow only United States citizens to vote.
  • NC S265: Increase Municipal Election Participation Act, Sen. Tim Moffitt (R).
    • A summary has not been provided yet.

During the week of April 3-9, Ballotpedia tracked 41 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of April 9, Ballotpedia has tracked 921 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 136, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in the Massachusetts State Senate with zero.

As of April 9, Ballotpedia has tracked 417 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 388 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 116 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The North Carolina Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 11 to Aug. 31 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked eight Senate bills related to election administration. Two of these bills passed both chambers and one was enacted into law. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

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Supreme Court of North Carolina issues eight opinions from April 3-9

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
April 11, 2023 at 10:15 PM

The Supreme Court of North Carolina issued eight opinions from April 3-9. As of April 9, the court issued eight opinions in 2023 — 36 fewer than this point a year ago. Three of eight opinions are below: 

  • In re A.J.L.H., where the court “reversed the decision of the court of appeals reversing the trial court’s adjudications of nine-year-old Margaret as an abused and neglected juvenile and her two younger siblings as neglected juveniles, holding that the trial court’s order contained sufficient findings, supported by clear cogent, and convincing evidence, supporting the court’s adjudications of Margaret and her siblings.” 
  • Woodcock v. Cumberland County System, Inc., where the court “affirmed the judgment of the trial court granting Defendants’ motion for an award of attorneys’ fees as part of their costs under N.C. R. Civ. P. 41(d) pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 6-21.5 and the trial court’s subsequent order awarding $599,262 in attorneys’ fees as costs, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion.” 
  • State v. Campbell, where the court “reversed the judgment of the court of appeals vacating the judgment of the superior court sentencing Defendant at the Class B1 felony level in connection with his conviction of second-degree murder, holding that the trial court properly sentenced Defendant at the Class B1 level.”

From April 3-9, state supreme courts issued 144 opinions nationally. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia issued the most with 26. State supreme courts in 19 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 69 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 75.

The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state’s court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Paul Martin Newby. The court issued 145 opinions in 2022 and 167 in 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021. The courts have issued 1,787 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 976 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 811. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

Additional reading:



Election legislation roundup: North Carolina House of Representatives

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
April 6, 2023 at 7:54 PM

As of April 2, Ballotpedia has tracked 20 election-related bills in the North Carolina House of Representatives since the beginning of the year. Of the 20, Ballotpedia tracked one from March 27-April 2. Republicans sponsored the bill. The bill is:   

  • NC H485: Provisional Ballot/Same-Day Registration, Reps. Hugh Blackwell (R), Mike Clampitt (R), George Cleveland (R), Kevin Crutchfield (R), Ted Davis (R), Dudley Greene (R), Frank Iler (R), Jeffrey McNeely (R), Grey Mills (R), Phillip Shepard (R), Carson Smith (R), Steve Tyson (R), William Ward (R), Harry Warren (R), and Jeff Zenger (R).
    • A summary has not been provided yet.

During the week of March 27-April 2, Ballotpedia tracked 179 House election-related bills nationally. As of April 2, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,289 House bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most House bills this year in the Texas House of Representatives with 177, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest House bills in the Massachusetts House of Representatives with zero.

As of April 2, Ballotpedia has tracked 594 House bills in Democratic trifectas and 558 House bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 137 House bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control. 

The North Carolina House is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 11 to Aug. 31 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 17 House bills related to election administration. One of these bills passed both chambers, but it was not enacted into law. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

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