Here's what happened this week in North Carolina politics.
This primary election cycle will reshape our state legislature - if the State Board of Elections respects the voters' will. 😬
On Tuesday, Sam Page defeated Phil Berger, the Republican Senate leader, by just 2 votes.
There are now provisional ballots and a recount to come. Who oversees that recount? The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners - chaired by, Kevin Berger, Phil Berger's son.
www.wunc.org/elections/20...
The day after an election, county boards are usually open and voters who cast provisional ballots have a chance to cure.
Yet today, Rockingham county BoE is closed. And they’ve not released any provisional ballot list for ballot cure.
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
This election will have major repercussions for North Carolina politics: Governor Stein's hand has been strengthened, while Phil Berger's has been significantly weakened. More to come.
The SD-26 primary is absolutely going to a recount, and this result may well change once provisional ballots are reviewed.
We have now watched Phil Berger spend over $10 million on his own primary, for a total of about 26,000 votes in the entire election, coming to a total of around $390 per vote.
In the Senate, Sam Page appears to have defeated Phil Berger in the Senate District 26 Republican primary by a total of 2 VOTES. 🤯
In a major upset, challenger Patricia Smith also defeated incumbent Democratic Rep. Shelly Willingham in House District 23.
This means that all 3 Democratic House Representatives who sided with Republicans and Duke Energy to overturn Governor @joshsteinnc.bsky.social vetoes have now been defeated.
Last night's primary election in North Carolina was a barn-burner. Where we stand today:
All three of Carolina Forward's endorsed candidates won their primary races last night! Huge congrats to Representatives-elect Rodney Sadler, Veleria Levy and Rep. Rodney Pierce on their commanding victories.
You just can't talk about political corruption in North Carolina's state legislature without starting with Phil Berger.
Tomorrow - Tuesday, March 3rd - is primary election day in North Carolina. We're going to find out whether Rockingham and northern Guilford county have finally had enough.
The last-minute campaign spending by Phil Berger is absolutely off the charts.
Just through February 15, Phil Berger has spent $2.36 million on his campaign, while Sam Page for NC Senate has spent just $54,000 - a 43:1 ratio.
America's renewable energy future is already here - and it's being built in Texas.
On a day-to-day basis now, solar power is now supplying 30-40% of all of Texas's electricity during much of the day. Wind power, too, is supplying another 30-40%.
Here's what happened this week in North Carolina politics. [February 27, 2026]
You've really gotta step in it to have the NC State Bureau of Investigation investigate you for political corruption - but here we are! LFG! 🎰
The NC Soybean Producers Association says that the Trump tariffs are leading to a "winnowing" of North Carolina's soybean farmers.
The Trump tariffs are killing their businesses and leading more farmers not to plant at all.
www.axios.com/local/raleig...
As the 2026 primary election enters its last full week, it's a good time to remember that while Charlotte was being invaded by Donald Trump's ICE thugs last November, where was Rep. Carla Cunningham?
Why, hobnobbing with disgraced Republican casinos lobbyist Jason Saine.
All good in politics starts with having good ideas.
In this year's state legislature, a bipartisan measure - House Bill 369, The Parking Lot Reform & Modernization Act - would eliminate government-mandated parking minimums statewide.
This is a good idea, and North Carolina should do it.
carolinaforward.org/blog/growth-...
2024 was not the first time the North Carolina Republican Party has tried cheating to steal and overturn a major judicial election.
In 2018, they tried a different scummy move against Justice Anita Earls. A lot of folks have forgotten about it, but we haven't - and nor should you.
Under North Carolina state law, "independent expenditure" PACs, which are unlimited vehicles for dark election money, are totally barred from coordinating with the candidates they're supporting.
And yet, here's Phil Berger and the guy running a multi-million dollar IE PAC for him on February 12th.
Anyone interested in super shady campaign finance exposes needs to read this deep-dive new analysis from legendary North Carolina sleuth Bob Hall.
ncnewsline.com/2026/02/17/a...
This could be big: based on a major complaint filed by Carolina Forward, the State Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into several North Carolina state lawmakers who took part in a booze-soaked junket to Kentucky on behalf of casino interests.
www.newsobserver.com/article31477...
Here's what happened this week in North Carolina politics. [February 20, 2026]
We took a field trip to Charlotte. And Phil's in trouble. 💸
As we start the last 10 days of early voting in North Carolina's 2026 primary election, Carolina Forward is very proud to endorse several candidates running for our state legislature:
Haven't voted yet? Check here to look up an early voting site close to you: vt.ncsbe.gov/EVSite/
The flood of new datacenters into North Carolina now accounts for a whopping **80%** of all new electricity demand forecasted through 2030, according to Duke Energy.
That datacenter boom has led to Duke Energy passing on large new rate hikes for North Carolina consumers.
[TOMORROW IN CHARLOTTE] Journalists, creators, and community members are coming together to talk about the future of media. Join our Media in the 21st Century panel tomorrow at 6 PM for a real conversation about trust, access, and accountability.
RSVP here: secure.ngpvan.com/iaiHmSE1i0OG...
Check out this new episode of the Pretend - a documentary true crime podcast: "State of Corruption - The School That Didn't Exist." It's a deep-dive look into North Carolina's deeply troubled private school voucher scheme.
Full episode: open.spotify.com/episode/4myv...
What is the intermediate/long-term future look like for North Carolina's politics?
Tl;dr - rigging the maps works only for a while. Eventually, the gerrymandering is going to fail. And then, buckle up.
Political change begins on Election Day. From your town council all the way to the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh, we're here to help you make your voice heard.
Will you join us in building a better North Carolina for everyone?
secure.actblue.com/donate/carol...
Here's what happened this week in North Carolina politics. [February 13, 2026]
They killed legal assistance to low-income people in our state and then gambled our money on crypto.
Go Eunice! Go Mystique! ⛸️
Bad: Legal Aid of NC, which provides free legal assistance to low-income North Carolinians, has now laid off 40 staff and closed 9 offices all across the state after Republican lawmakers in the state legislature froze their funds.
More: www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
According to the conservative @taxfoundation.bsky.social think tank, the Trump tariffs will cost the average American household $1,300 in 2026 alone, lead to a 0.5% reduction in GDP, and cost 436,000 jobs.
Just a self-inflicted economic disaster.
Full report: taxfoundation.org/research/all...
