I don’t spend a huge amount of time in this space detailing the goings-on in individual states because, well, there’s just too much of it!
But, every once in a while something happens that I think is worthy of your attention. And what North Carolina Republicans did on Wednesday is one of those moments.
Here’s the quick summary: Despite Donald Trump winning the state last month, downballot Democrats had a good year in North Carolina. (Thanks to Mark Robinson!) Josh Stein won the governor’s race. Jeff Jackson got elected state Attorney General. And Democrats broke the veto-proof, super majority Republicans had enjoyed in the General Assembly.
That reversal in fortune led Republicans in the legislature to act. Under the guise of providing financial assistance to western North Carolina in the wake of the massive flooding damage caused by Hurricane Helene, the GOP-controlled Assembly and Senate moved to restrict the power and influence of the incoming Democratic elected officials.
Among the changes:
The power to appoint people to the 5-person state Board of Elections is moved from the governor to the state auditor. The incoming state auditor? He’s a Republican.
Jackson will be blocked from taking positions different from the state’s legislative leaders in lawsuits brought by the state and is banned from arguing in cases where current state law would be overturned.
Limit the window where voters can request absentee ballots as well as curtail the time they have to correct errors on those ballots. Election officials are also more limited now in the time they have to count those ballots.
This is hardball politics — plain and simple. And it is an absolute Trojan Horse — slipping these changes in a bill that, ostensibly, is aimed at helping hurricane victims.
As NC Newsline concluded:
Senate Bill 382 strips offices soon to be held by Democrats of appointment power, redirecting much of that authority to Republicans. And it makes a litany of changes to election administration, including stricter deadlines for absentee voting, and other parts of government.
And while it does lay out more money for relief in the mountains, it is less than prior aid packages — and much of it has not yet been allocated for specific purposes.
What happens in these state legislatures — often out of sight of the national media — matters. Big time. Especially in close and contested elections. In swing states. Like North Carolina.
The Morning is always a FREE post. But, if you think this sort of state-based coverage matters, I hope you will consider becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter. It’s $6 a month or $60 for the year.
Share this post