Ground Gained From The Election
While Republicans did retain control over both chambers in the NC General Assembly, Democratic gains broke the supermajority in NC and will provide Democrat Governor Roy Cooper with a more meaningful veto power. As a result, education supporters can expect greater collaboration between Democrat and Republican legislators, which is likely to produce a more moderate education agenda.
While 4 of the amendments to the NC constitution passed, The Bipartisan Ethics and Elections Enforcement and the Judicial Vacancy Sunset Amendment both failed and were publicly criticized by former governors as unnecessary attempts by the legislature to limit the Governor’s powers. Anita Earls’ win on the NC Supreme Court was a triumph. The state’s party chairman, Wayne Goodwin, said the party was “incredibly proud of all that she has accomplished and all that she will accomplish as a justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court.”
Democrats also won seats on the NC Court of Appeals, including John Arrowood, Tobias Hampson and Allegra Katherine Collins (the daughter in law of Ida Collins). And Claude Shew, Jr. won the Soil & Water Supervisor race (along with Brian Parker).
Disappointments
The voter ID amendment was one that passed and legislation has passed the lame duck General Assembly this week. The Senate voted 25-7 on Thursday to accept House changes to the measure and sent it to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, a voter ID opponent. Republicans in charge of the legislature can override a Cooper veto at their current numbers, as the super-majority is still in session.Senate Democrats urged GOP colleagues to delay the vote until an investigation into absentee ballot fraud in the 9th Congressional District is complete. The measure directs state election officials to set rules requiring mail-in ballot requesters to provide ID.
The state passed a voter suppressive photo ID law previously in 2013 that was alive for a short time and was used in the March 2016 primary before a federal court threw it out. A federal appeals court panel overturned it as part of a package of election laws that reduced the early voting period by a week, ended same-day registration during early voting, eliminated pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, and outlawed out-of-precinct voting.
Local politics failed to recognize the talent of LB Prevette for County Commissioners, but we hope she hasn't been deterred from running in the future. Dianne Little and John Worth Wiles weren't able to win a majority, but both were strong candidates that worked hard in our area. Wes Luther did an amazing job with little time or resources in the NC Senate Race and earned 35% of the vote. DD Adams utlimately couldn't compete with Virginia Foxx's coffers, but still earned 43% of the vote
Where Wilkes Contributed
In Wilkes County specifically, Democratic candidates couldn't seem to earn more than 20-25% of the vote county-wide. However, remember that in state races, those votes counted towards the end goal and many of these races were so tight, so it did make a difference.
In an interesting twist, however, Wilkes' North Wilkesboro precinct elected Anita Earls to the NC Supreme Court with 44.58% of the vote. LB Prevette also carried the North Wilkesboro precinct with 35% of the vote. We need to make more precincts turn to islands of blue in the sea of red that is Wilkes
Out of 42,000 registered voters in Wilkes County, only 23% of them are registered Democrats, so the numbers are consistent with voter participation. And an impressive 53% of voter turnout means only 23,069 voters even bothered to participate in the midterm elections. In future months we'll work on getting more specific data breakdown by precinct and party.
But in the end, don't lose heart, Wilkes Democrats. You contributed to important and key wins for our state. We need to continue to keep our ranks engaged going into 2020. Precinct organization, having enough great poll workers for our poll positions, educating people on these new ID laws and making sure everyone is properly prepared and able to vote are all of vital importance.
To review and slice and dice the election results for yourself, visit: NCSBE Contest Results
While Republicans did retain control over both chambers in the NC General Assembly, Democratic gains broke the supermajority in NC and will provide Democrat Governor Roy Cooper with a more meaningful veto power. As a result, education supporters can expect greater collaboration between Democrat and Republican legislators, which is likely to produce a more moderate education agenda.
While 4 of the amendments to the NC constitution passed, The Bipartisan Ethics and Elections Enforcement and the Judicial Vacancy Sunset Amendment both failed and were publicly criticized by former governors as unnecessary attempts by the legislature to limit the Governor’s powers. Anita Earls’ win on the NC Supreme Court was a triumph. The state’s party chairman, Wayne Goodwin, said the party was “incredibly proud of all that she has accomplished and all that she will accomplish as a justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court.”
Democrats also won seats on the NC Court of Appeals, including John Arrowood, Tobias Hampson and Allegra Katherine Collins (the daughter in law of Ida Collins). And Claude Shew, Jr. won the Soil & Water Supervisor race (along with Brian Parker).
Disappointments
The voter ID amendment was one that passed and legislation has passed the lame duck General Assembly this week. The Senate voted 25-7 on Thursday to accept House changes to the measure and sent it to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, a voter ID opponent. Republicans in charge of the legislature can override a Cooper veto at their current numbers, as the super-majority is still in session.Senate Democrats urged GOP colleagues to delay the vote until an investigation into absentee ballot fraud in the 9th Congressional District is complete. The measure directs state election officials to set rules requiring mail-in ballot requesters to provide ID.
The state passed a voter suppressive photo ID law previously in 2013 that was alive for a short time and was used in the March 2016 primary before a federal court threw it out. A federal appeals court panel overturned it as part of a package of election laws that reduced the early voting period by a week, ended same-day registration during early voting, eliminated pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, and outlawed out-of-precinct voting.
Local politics failed to recognize the talent of LB Prevette for County Commissioners, but we hope she hasn't been deterred from running in the future. Dianne Little and John Worth Wiles weren't able to win a majority, but both were strong candidates that worked hard in our area. Wes Luther did an amazing job with little time or resources in the NC Senate Race and earned 35% of the vote. DD Adams utlimately couldn't compete with Virginia Foxx's coffers, but still earned 43% of the vote
Where Wilkes Contributed
In Wilkes County specifically, Democratic candidates couldn't seem to earn more than 20-25% of the vote county-wide. However, remember that in state races, those votes counted towards the end goal and many of these races were so tight, so it did make a difference.
In an interesting twist, however, Wilkes' North Wilkesboro precinct elected Anita Earls to the NC Supreme Court with 44.58% of the vote. LB Prevette also carried the North Wilkesboro precinct with 35% of the vote. We need to make more precincts turn to islands of blue in the sea of red that is Wilkes
Out of 42,000 registered voters in Wilkes County, only 23% of them are registered Democrats, so the numbers are consistent with voter participation. And an impressive 53% of voter turnout means only 23,069 voters even bothered to participate in the midterm elections. In future months we'll work on getting more specific data breakdown by precinct and party.
But in the end, don't lose heart, Wilkes Democrats. You contributed to important and key wins for our state. We need to continue to keep our ranks engaged going into 2020. Precinct organization, having enough great poll workers for our poll positions, educating people on these new ID laws and making sure everyone is properly prepared and able to vote are all of vital importance.
To review and slice and dice the election results for yourself, visit: NCSBE Contest Results