2020 Legislative Races to Watch: August Update
2020 is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal legislative elections in North Carolina history. Democrats have a clear path to win majorities in both chambers of the legislature after historic pickups last cycle broke Republican supermajorities. With a decennial census and subsequent redistricting coming up, control of the legislature will impact not only the next two years, but also the next decade of North Carolina policy. Competitive races for Governor and a US Senate seat are gaining significant media attention and the state is becoming a key presidential battleground. In totality, these races represent major change from last cycle’s blue moon election with no top of the ticket races.
This report highlights the 24 House and 14 Senate districts most likely to be competitive this cycle. This assessment incorporates candidate fundraising information where available, detailed analysis of new legislative districts (including past Democratic performance and demographic information), and other qualitative data about each candidate.
15 Legislative Actions That Leave North Carolina Workers Disenfranchised
On July 20th North Carolina workers joined workers across the nation to Strike for Black Lives. Though the strike itself only spanned a single day, the demands are still available and applicable. The demands set forth by this strike would benefit all North Carolinians - though they originate…
Read MoreFor a Safer Reopening, Apply Legislative Support: A Look at Unemployment and Worker Protections in North Carolina
The North Carolina General Assembly just wrapped up their regularly scheduled short session, leaving us with a set of bills that put North Carolinians at risk for exposure to COVID-19 and few bills that protect North Carolinians from the negative health and financial impacts of this pa…
Read More2020 Races to Watch: Second Quarter Campaign Finance Reports
2020 second quarter campaign finance reports were due July 10, 2020. Here we've aggregated Election to Date totals for candidates on our 2020 Races to Watch list as well as key statewide races. Check out the NC State Board of Elections for more reports and data.
Read MoreShort Session Takeaways: NCGA Leaders punt on life-affirming measures, choose politics over people.
The North Carolina General Assembly concluded their regularly scheduled short session at the end of last week similarly to how they’ve done their business over the last decade: back room deals, late-night shenanigans, playing politics, all on the public’s dime. These tactics shou…
Read More2020 NEA Report Displays Gap in Spending and Teacher Pay in North Carolina
The NEA has released the latest edition of its 2020 Rankings and Estimates, which show North Carolina continuing to lag behind in spending in teacher pay in North Carolina. Last year Real Facts NC reported that North Carolina ranked near the bottom nationally in per-pupil spending on average…
Read MoreHere are some of the ways Republican-rule has worsened the impact of COVID-19 for North Carolinians
Last week the General Assembly passed a historic, bipartisan, first-step relief package to help North Carolina recover from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, a headline in the News & Observer pointed out that the package did not expand Medicaid or jobless benefits. Lawmakers said they wanted to avoid these controversial issues in order to pass this legislation quickly, but the exclusion of those potentially lifesaving expansions is part of a dangerous trend Republicans have established since taking control of the legislature in 2011.
Click here to learn more about these harmful policy decisions.
Read MoreWe must all work together to protect each other during this pandemic and unite for changes that move toward a more resilient and just future for everyone in North Carolina.
CORE MESSAGE: COVID-19 is a public health crisis that shows how interconnected we all are, and magnifies the inequalities in our economy, health care and government systems. Future generations will hold us accountable for how we respond to this moment. As individuals, we have a responsibility to stay safe and help protect community health. Our leaders have a responsibility to get us through this pandemic now and build a better tomorrow that leaves no one behind.
KEY POINT: COVID-19 is a public health crisis that has deeply affected the lives of all North Carolinians. We must all work together to protect each other during the pandemic and unite for changes that move toward a more resilient and just future for everyone in our state.
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