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Elections

Dems pushing opposition to Duke rate increase

The N.C. Utilities Commission is holding hearings this week and on into April to hear from the public about Duke Energy’s request for a set of rate increases. Advocacy groups opposed to the increases have been working to boost attendance. The Washington-based Climate Power Education Fund sent mailers touting the...

By Ray Gronberg

March 31, 2026

Berger concedes to Page

Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, on Tuesday conceded that he lost his District 26 party primary to challenger Sam Page. “While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victor,” Berger said in a statement issued by his campaign just before 4...

By Ray Gronberg

March 24, 2026

Berger asks for recount, also files protest

As was widely expected, Senate leader Phil Berger has asked for a recount of the results in his District 26 GOP primary that show Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page beating him for the party nomination by 23 votes. The request came with a twist, namely that Berger wants the Rockingham...

By Ray Gronberg

March 18, 2026

Is there a precedent for Berger’s primary loss?

There’s no recent North Carolina precedent, if any, for Senate leader Phil Berger’s apparent GOP primary loss. The modern era of the General Assembly dates from the advent of gubernatorial succession in 1977. Since then, we’ve seen leadership changes in the House and Senate for many reasons, but never because...

By Ray Gronberg

March 17, 2026

Meyer cites Justice Center’s “toolkit” for move

Outgoing state Sen. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, says he’s leaving the legislator to run the N.C. Justice Center because the nonprofit has “the full toolkit” to help swing the state’s politics in a more progressive direction. “I’ve long said that’s the job I would want if I was going to leave...

By Ray Gronberg

March 16, 2026

Meyer resigns; Orange, Caswell and Person Dems to pick replacement

Orange, Person and Caswell counties need a new state senator. On Monday, District 23 Sen. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, announced that he’s resigning as of March 31 to become the executive director of the N.C. Justice Center. Meyer announced the move on Facebook, a day after posting there that the state...

By Ray Gronberg

March 10, 2026

Rucho resigns from state elections board

Former state Sen. Bob Rucho resigned from the State Board of Elections on Thursday after officials found he’d made campaign contributions to the incumbent sheriffs in Iredell and Catawba counties. The $259 contribution to Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell occurred last October; a $1,000 donation to Catawba Sheriff Don Brown followed...

By Ray Gronberg

March 6, 2026

GOP criticizes Cooper’s handling of lacrosse case

Republicans’ search for a Willie Horton to use against former Gov. Roy Cooper on the campaign trail in this fall’s U.S. Senate race are now looking to the Duke lacrosse case. The woman whose false rape allegation touched off that now-notorious controversy, Crystal Mangum, left prison on parole on Feb....

By Ray Gronberg

March 4, 2026

Keeping up with the Jones

Democratic leaders aren’t keeping up with the Joneses — or one Jones, specifically — when it comes to fundraising for General Assembly races. House Majority Leader Brenden Jones, R-Columbus, reports that he’s raised $537,080 through mid-February for the 2025-26 election cycle. House Democratic Leader Robert Reives, D-Chatham, has raised $236,407...

By Ray Gronberg

March 4, 2026

Foushee seeks third term; Allam opposes for second time

Not too long ago, the Triangle’s 4th Congressional District was North Carolina’s most stable and predictable U.S. House seat. But former U.S. Rep. David Price, a former state Democratic Party chairman, retired instead of seeking re-election to an 18th term in 2022. His successor, U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, has found...

By Ray Gronberg

March 2, 2026

Berger proposes freezing tax values for a year

Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, says he’s going to file a bill in April that would “halt all property tax revaluation changes for 12 months” while legislators study broader changes to local-government tax law. Announced on Friday, the proposal would interrupt the property valuation cycles of Guilford County and other...

By Ray Gronberg

March 2, 2026

Pierce, Wray chart different course on campaign funding

House District 27 incumbent Rep. Rodney Pierce and his Democratic Party primary opponent, former Rep. Michael Wray, are both well-funded but are going about things in different ways. Pierce, D-Halifax, told the State Board of Elections he’s raised $157,388 so far in the 2025-26 election cycle. Wray, D-Northampton, has raised...

By Ray Gronberg

February 25, 2026

Cook raises $42K for District 60 primary

State Rep. Amanda Cook, D-Guilford, appears to hold a sizable fundraising lead in her battle to hold on to the District 60 House seat she gained in November after former Rep. Cecil Brockman resigned. Cook told the State Board of Elections she’d raised $42,181 as of the end of 2025....

By Ray Gronberg

February 24, 2026

Kidwell, Armstrong close in fundraising

Financially, the incumbent and challenger in one of the state’s most-watched primaries are tightly matched. District 79 incumbent state Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort, reported to the State Board of Elections that he’d raised $66,163 for his re-election campaign as of the end of 2025. His challenger, farmer and seed-store operator Darren...

By Ray Gronberg

February 23, 2026

Hall channels campaign money to caucus members

House Speaker Destin Hall has raised $1.2 million so far in the 2025-26 election cycle, his most recent report to the State Board of Elections says. His campaign’s fundraising includes $296,000 in PAC money. Max-level, $6,800 PAC donors in the second half of 2025 include groups representing the Cherokee and...

By Ray Gronberg

February 20, 2026

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