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Elections

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

Sadler outraising Cunningham for upcoming primary

The Rev. Rodney Sadler has raised more than twice as much money for his state House party primary as District 106 incumbent Rep. Carla Cunningham. Year-end finance reports to the State Board of Elections show that Sadlerpulled in just under $121,820. Cunningham raised $57,449, but started the race with a...

By Ray Gronberg

February 17, 2026

Stein: No place for antisemitism among Democrats

Gov. Josh Stein has denounced comments from a state Democratic Party activist who in social-media postings equated Zionism to Nazism. “Antisemitic comments and conspiracy theories have no place anywhere, including in the N.C. Democratic Party,” Stein said. “We must fight against antisemitism and all other forms of hate whenever and...

By Ray Gronberg

February 12, 2026

Measmer leading Crutchfield in fundraising

When it comes to General Assembly primaries, the Phil Berger-Sam Page GOP battle in Senate District 26 commands most of the attention for understandable reasons. But it’s not the only show in town. Down in Cabarrus County, appointed incumbent Sen. Chris Measmer is trying to hold on to the seat...

By Ray Gronberg

February 11, 2026

Page fundraising now at $46K

State campaign-finance reports are still trickling in, but in the most closely-watched legislative primary, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page says he’d raised $46,466 as of the end of 2025. This includes $20,903 in new receipts as of the second half of the year. Page is running in the District 26...

By Ray Gronberg

February 10, 2026

Charlotte hearing: Brickbats for the sheriff, flowers for everyone else

With one prominent exception, Monday’s House oversight hearing into Charlotte’s safety situation turned into a bit of a love fest. Appearances from Mecklenburg County DA Spencer Merriweather, Mayor Vi Lyles, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson and City Manager Marcus Jones came and went with barely a word of criticism. “I...

By Ray Gronberg

February 10, 2026

Berger adds to campaign war chest

Senate leader Phil Berger’s fundraising haul for the 2025-26 election cycle has topped $2.4 million, far exceeding the total reported by his rival for the District 26 GOP nomination. The longtime Rockingham County legislator’s campaign banked another $684,268 during the second half of 2025, according to its report to the...

By Ray Gronberg

February 10, 2026

Rep. Paré criticizes Wake property tax decisions

Rep. Erin Paré, R-Wake, a co-chair of the House select committee on property taxes, has been hammering local governments in her county for letting their tax burdens rise. Recent Twitter posts from Paré have singled out tax increases affecting residents of Zebulon and Wendell, eastern Wake suburbs that aren’t in...

By Ray Gronberg

February 5, 2026

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