Sarah Michels

Primarily local. Hot battles for sheriff, school board, county commission boost early voting across NC. Early voting was up in this year's NC primary election cycle compared to recent midterms. Election directors credit interest in local races.

An early voting review. There's certainly some energy around this year's primaries.

#ncpol
carolinapublicpress.org/74677/primar...

David vs. Goliath in NC primary. Sheriff hopes to take out powerful Senate leader. Berger is outgunning his opponent with Trump endorsement and campaign cash, but well-known Rockingham sheriff is mounting a tough challenge.

Sen. Phil Berger, perhaps the most powerful NC politician, is pulling out all the stops to win his 1st primary in 14 years.

Despite raising 63x as much as Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page & getting Trump's endorsement, it still may be a toss-up.

#ncpol
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Swing-vote Charlotte lawmakers have target on them in Democratic primary Two Democratic legislators from Mecklenburg County who have helped the GOP override several vetoes are facing primary battles.

In Charlotte, two incumbent Democratic legislators have primary opponents.

Mecklenburg Co. Reps. Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed have overridden several governor vetoes, and are on the outs with their party. Will voters feel the same way?

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74590/swing-...

Rep. Mike Schietzelt, R-Wake, faces Michele Joyner-Dinwiddie, an educator who switched parties to run.

Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort, has farmer competition, Darren Armstrong.

Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, faces multiple opponents in March and November.

More GOP legislators face primary challenger in NC. A look at 3 contests. Different issues in different parts of NC have led to more GOP incumbents facing a primary challenger for legislative seats.

This primary season, more incumbent Republican state legislators are being challenged than usual (or at least, compared to the past 2 elections)

I looked at three of those races to see some of the reasons why.

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74549/more-g...

Letters from NC elections board confusing voters Some voters skeptical of state election board's stated aim of improving information in databases with campaign of letters.

No, it’s not a scam. The North Carolina State Board of Elections sent letters to 241k voters as part of a new effort to improve voter roll accuracy.

The letters requested ID info, which is NOT required to vote.

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74503/letter...

Thousands gather for faith-based push against gerrymandering Rev. William J. Barber II tells thousands gathered to oppose authoritarian measures that turnout at the polls can blunt right-wing moves.

Bishop William J. Barber II doesn’t have the luxury of tiredness. After leading a three-day march from Wilson to Raleigh, culminating in a Valentine’s Day mass moral rally at the state Capitol, he’s ready to go again.

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74496/thousa...

One of the major fights this election cycle is between Democrats who wouldn't dare defy the governor and Democrats who are willing to cross the aisle, especially if the partnership with the Republicans helps bring home money to their districts.

Here's two examples.

I've been working on a little project (read: experiment) for quite a while.

Here's the first of a few primary deep dives getting into particularly interesting (and likely decisive) legislative races across the state.

Crossing the aisle. Key primary battles feature NC Democrats who sometimes vote with GOP. In Northeastern NC, two key legislative contests feature a primary election fight for candidates who voted with GOP to override vetoes.

NC's short runway between candidate filing & Election Day means incumbent state legislators don’t ~ usually ~ have to break their necks to secure a primary win.

Democratic Reps. Rodney Pierce and Shelly Willingham may be exceptions.

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74475/crossi...

Judge denies demands for early voting sites on three NC university campuses Students at NC A&T, WCU and UNCG went to court to get early voting sites on campuses for the primary. The judge said no.

Students at 3 NC colleges want early voting sites on campus. Last week, a federal judge heard preliminary arguments.

Sunday, he denied their request.

Here are the stories:

#ncpol

Hearing: carolinapublicpress.org/74398/campus...

Order: carolinapublicpress.org/74415/judge-...

Dupre is out as candidate. UPS store not a valid address, NC election board says. NC State Board of Elections rejects Dupre candidacy over use of nonresidential address. Some want crackdown on other voters who do this.

Dupre’s case highlights a broader issue that’s caught the attention of voter integrity activists & State Auditor Dave Boliek — voters using non-residential addresses when registering.

While Dupre's case is likely over, that issue may stay in the forefront.

carolinapublicpress.org/74387/dupre-...

Under NC law, voters must register where they physically live (a mailbox doesn't count). For those w/o a traditional home, that's where they go to sleep (street corner, parking lot, etc)

But for those with a nomadic lifestyle, like Dupre, it’s a bit of a tougher question.

Dupre moved to the state in mid-2024. Since, she’s been living either in her “glamper,” hotels or AirBnBs as she travels across the state to campaign, she said.

She registered to vote in Charlotte, at an address that coincides with a UPS Store.

Dupre is out as candidate. UPS store not a valid address, NC election board says. NC State Board of Elections rejects Dupre candidacy over use of nonresidential address. Some want crackdown on other voters who do this.

If you want to run in a NC U.S. Senate primary, don’t register to vote at a UPS Store. That’s what the State Board of Elections ruled Wednesday in the case of Margot Dupre, a (former) GOP candidate.

Dupre's case has broader implications.

#ncpol
carolinapublicpress.org/74387/dupre-...

NC college students sue over early voting site denials on three campuses Student plaintiffs at WCU, NC A&T and UNCG say early voting site denial on campuses is a discriminatory move by election board Republicans.

This Thursday (depending on court processes), there may be a preliminary hearing on a new lawsuit over early voting sites.

I covered the filing last week. Students on campuses without primary EV sites are taking election boards to court.

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74331/nc-col...

Tax hike on the ballot. Counties know it's a tough sell to voters. Commissioners in Gates, Granville, Hyde and Wayne counties want revenue from 0.25% sales tax increase. Convincing NC voters not easy.

For voters in four counties, a (quarter-percent) sales tax increase is on the ballot. I talked to the commissioners who are asking for the tax hike. They know it won't be an easy sell, but most believe it's necessary.

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74372/tax-hi...

A reminder: the voter registration deadline for this year's primary election is this Friday, Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. Spread the word!

Also, there's officially have one month until the primary election.

#ncpol

'Protect Ours.' NC A&T students take the wheel on early voting. Students at NC A&T object to mentality of letting 'grown ups' decide primaries, respond with organized service to drive students to vote.

NC A&T students' plea for an early voting site on campus fell on deaf ears. Now, they're taking matters into their own hands.

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74308/protec...

Read the story to learn how these groups are thinking about changing their strategies, and what's happening on Valentine's Day that may be a first step.

Tuttle (NC Council of Churches) never thought it would get this bad. Christian nationalists in the top circles of power. A conservative overhaul of the federal government guided by Project 2025. Minnesota ICE protests turning violent.

It's a long game, she said. Almost everything needs to change.

Building on a legacy of nonviolent faith-based activism in NC NC faith-based activist leaders devoted to MLK's legacy are formulating fresh approaches, emphasizing relationships and moral courage.

Susannah Tuttle is a realist: whatever North Carolina faith activist groups have been doing hasn’t been working.

Ahead of MLK Jr Day, these groups are considering how to build a similar movement in a different age of social media and polarization.

#ncpol
carolinapublicpress.org/74224/buildi...

In half of the dozen counties with non-unanimous plans, the dispute was over Sunday voting.

In two counties (Jackson and Guilford), county board Dems and Reps disagreed on campus EV sites.

The others couldn't decide on EV locations and/or number of sites.

But the outcomes were predictable.

After Republican lawmakers transferred election appointment power from the Democratic governor to the Republican state auditor in late 2024, this result was all but assured.

The 2026 midterm is the first major election under new party control.

Over the course of 5 hours, the SBE heard counties' majority and minority plan arguments & voted (mostly) in favor of Republican plans.

State Board Democrats grew visibly frustrated as the meeting progressed, & as their colleagues denied Sunday voting and on-campus EV sites.

Early voting sites, Sunday voting axed by NC election board in multiple counties Reconstituted Republican-dominated NC state board of elections cuts voting sites and Sunday voting favored by Democrats in several counties.

NC A&T sophomore Peter Smith III skipped class Tuesday, drove over an hour to Raleigh & watched the State Board of Elections debate whether to hold early voting on his campus. He didn't get what he wanted.

Neither did most county board Democrats.

#ncpol

carolinapublicpress.org/74195/early-...

A look into:

(a) The significance (and limitations) of the GOP achievement, in light of unaffiliated voter registration.

(b) The mismatch between high unaffiliated voter registration and a near total lack of unaffiliated candidates/representation

Unaffiliated voter growth leaves other NC party registrations behind as GOP moves into 2nd place Party ideology shits, growth of unaffiliated registrations alter political landscape in NC. Major parties still win nearly all elections.

Shortly after the new year, state Republicans celebrated; for the first time in state history, registered Republicans outnumbered registered Democrats.

It’s an achievement worth acknowledging, but there’s an asterisk — they're still 2nd place.

#ncpol

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New elections aren't common — and especially, two in the same meeting.

The elections board also took on several other election protests in Murfreesboro, Kinston and Red Springs. Board members were unanimously in agreement in each case.

Do-over. Two NC towns must redo '25 elections in March '26. Issues with ineligible voters who voted and eligible voters turned away from polls force redo elections in Harrellsville, Morehead City.

In two small NC towns, March 2026 will be more than a midterm primary election. It will be a redo.

The State Board of Elections ruled that irregularities in the 2025 municipal election require Harrellsville & Morehead City to conduct new races.

#ncpol

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