The Untold Election Story

by Phil Kirk

The untold election story thus far is the tremendous successes achieved by Republican candidates at every level in eastern North Carolina. It hasn't been many years since the Republican Party generally wrote off eastern North Carolina and concentrated its resources elsewhere.  That is no longer the case.

While Republican successes have occurred in the East for decades, especially in counties such as Johnston, Carteret, Dare, Sampson, Brunswick and New Hanover, the number of Republican legislators hailing in eastern North Carolina has skyrocketed during the past several elections.  The same is true with locally elected officials, such as county commissioners and sheriffs.

If anyone had told me that Republicans would be winning in such counties as Wilson, Nash, Pitt, Harnett, and Duplin, for example, I would never have believed it.  One of the biggest surprises was the election of a Republican County Commissioner in strongly-Democratic Robeson County two years ago!

Pat McCrory has practically lived in eastern North Carolina since his narrow loss for Governor four years ago and the Republicans no longer take losing there for granted.  In fact, some would say that Republican candidates have a big advantage in a growing number of eastern counties.

Historically Republicans have fared well in most mountain counties with Buncombe and Watauga sometimes presenting challenges, primarily due to the fact that universities are located in both Asheville and Boone.  The latter votes Republican much of the time, but can stray from the GOP column.

Ironically, it is the large counties in the Piedmont, such as Mecklenburg, Forsyth, and Guilford which have presented challenges to Republicans, especially in federal and statewide elections.  I believe all counties in Piedmont North Carolina currently have or have recently elected Republicans at the legislative and local level.

It is premature to say that North Carolina is a solid Republican state since Democrats still occupy six Council of State seats (out of 10) and a number of judgeships on the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court are filled by Democrats.

How the Republicans handle the challenges of governing will go a long way toward assuring future successes at the hands of the voters.  The 2011-12 legislature achieved many successes and fulfilled many campaign promises.  Now with larger majorities in both the Senate and the House, plus a business-friendly Governor, those successes are expected to grow.

Phil Kirk is former chair, State Board of Education and Political Analyst