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Elections

Cary defies prevailing bond-issue trend

On a night when most cities and counties that put a bond referendum on the ballot saw it pass, Cary’s government suffered not one but two losses, the larger of which left some planned major parks projects adrift. Cary voters rejected a $560 million parks bond by a still-unofficial total...

By Ray Gronberg

November 11, 2024

Stein transition

Gov.-elect Josh Stein’s transition team will include at least one Republican, former Wake County state Sen. Richard Stevens. He joins a group that also includes Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, Department of Justice Chief of Staff Seth Dearmin, former gubernatorial Chief of Staff Kristi Jones and UNC Wilmington trustee Malcomb Coley. The...

By Ray Gronberg

November 8, 2024

Some observations about the election

Some observations about the election: First, among North Carolina pollsters, the outcome in broad outline was about what they expected. Democratic pollster Tom Jensen told his Facebook followers on Wednesday that his firm, Public Policy Polling, “never had a poll with [Democratic nominee Kamala] Harris up in North Carolina” and...

By Ray Gronberg

November 7, 2024

More money in Council of State races

Continuing our round-up of the latest campaign-finance reports for Council of State candidates, we see that Democratic nominee Natasha Marcus has out-raised Republican incumbent Mike Causey in the insurance commissioner’s race. Marcus has banked $744,904 and spent $467,956, while Causey raked in $442,536 and spent $279,705. Unlike many Council of...

By Ray Gronberg

November 5, 2024

Who got big money from Stein, Robinson funds?

Back in early September, Senate leader Phil Berger voiced a bit of skepticism that North Carolina would really be a toss-up state in this year’s presidential election. He accepted that Vice President Kamala Harris’ early polling numbers were a “sugar high” after President Biden withdrew from the race. While Harris...

By Welcome

November 4, 2024

Campaign vets working on down-ballot races

In the lieutenant governor’s race, Democratic nominee Rachel Hunt has raised $3.4 million and spent $2.6 million. The Republican nominee, Hal Weatherman, has raised $1.6 million and spent $1.4 million. Hunt’s largest spend, $1.1 million, has gone to the Maryland-based Buying Time media consultancy. Its founder, Catherine Herrick, worked on...

By Welcome

November 4, 2024

Fixing the State Health Plan

Fixing the State Health Plan isn’t going to be easy, and it’s going to take the General Assembly’s help, this election’s candidates for state treasurer say. Given the size of the plan’s prospective deficits, “there’s no way to make enough changes in the short run to not have to ask...

By Ray Gronberg

October 22, 2024

A look at insurance profits

It’s fair to say that this year’s election for insurance commissioner is all about rates and rate hikes, with Republican incumbent Mike Causey saying he’s done his best to keep a lid on them and his opponent saying his best is nowhere near good enough. Sen. Natasha Marcus, D-Mecklenburg, rests...

By Ray Gronberg

October 21, 2024

Tillis and Robinson

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis clearly thinks North Carolina Republicans stubbed their toe by nominating Mark Robinson for governor, a decision that may cost them their super majorities in the N.C. House and Senate. “I don’t think our majorities are at risk, but there could be one or two surprises in...

By Ray Gronberg

October 21, 2024

The NC treasurer’s race

Would-be state treasurers Brad Briner and Wesley Harris don’t just agree that the state needs to be more aggressive about investing its pension funds. They also aren’t convinced the office’s oversight of local government borrowing is on the right track. That oversight occurs through the Local Government Commission. But in...

By Ray Gronberg

October 14, 2024

NC Treasurer candidate Wesley Harris (D) on cost sharing

Harris didn’t attend this month’s review of the Cabarrus applications and so didn’t have anything specific to say about them beyond the general point that “imposing their political will isn’t the role” of the commission. He and Briner agreed that the LGC ought to take a more proactive approach to...

By Ray Gronberg

October 14, 2024

NC Treasurer candidate Brad Briner (R) on Cabarrus deals

Briner attended the LGC meeting earlier this month that saw it OK $85 million in borrowing by Cabarrus County to buy new quarters for its social services department and help pay for a new behavioral health center. This again was a controversial approval, with Folwell and other members on the...

By Ray Gronberg

October 14, 2024

Republicans for Stein

But the CNN report wasn’t the only damaging news for Robinson’s candidacy on Thursday. His Democratic opponent, Josh Stein, announced the formation of “Republicans for Stein” and touted endorsements from a group of six former GOP state legislators. They included Wake County Sen. Richard Stevens, who said Stein “has the right...

By Ray Gronberg

September 20, 2024

Fallout from Robinson report

  Just about all anyone in North Carolina’s political set was able to talk about on Thursday was the imminent prospect of a bombshell report from CNN about more of would-be governor Mark Robinson’s social-media history. That finally dropped in the mid-afternoon, and it closely tracked with what operatives on...

By Ray Gronberg

September 20, 2024

Who’s bankrolling our would-be treasurers?

Dale Folwell is stepping down at the end of his term later this year, having lost his gubernatorial bid in the primary to Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson. GOP nominee Brad Briner or Democratic nominee Wesley Harris will replace him. Watching who donates to the state treasurer campaign is valuable because...

By Welcome

September 18, 2024

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