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After the 2020 election, one story out of North Carolina had a powerful effect on Donald J. Trump. A proactive Republican, the story went, had worked behind the scenes to stop Democrats from stealing the election in the state and helped secure Mr. Trump’s victory there. That Republican was Michael Whatley, the chairman of the North Carolina G.O.P. Mr. Trump called Mr. Whatley after the election, and Mr. Whatley boasted to him about that program’s success. “That’s great,” Mr. Trump replied, as Mr. Whatley recounted the conversation in a speech to North Carolina Republicans last year.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Michael Whatley, Whatley, “, Mr, Ronna McDaniel Organizations: Republican, Mr, Carolina G.O.P, North Carolina Republicans, Republican National Locations: North Carolina, Carolina, North, Arizona, Georgia

CNN —President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump took big steps toward making their seemingly inevitable rematch official, as both notched huge Super Tuesday wins. Here are takeaways from Super Tuesday:Trump wins bigThe former president continued his run of dominance in the Republican nominating contest, despite losing one state, Vermont, to Nikki Haley. His approval ratings remain low, and the general election horse race polling is worrisome for Democrats. But on Super Tuesday, like every other primary day, he has dominated his few rivals – typically winning around 80% of the vote. “Tonight’s numbers showed that President Biden cannot earn back our votes with just rhetoric,” Vote Uncommitted MN spokesperson Asma Nizami said in a statement.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, “ uncommitted, Biden, suburbanites, Haley, Nikki Haley, CNN’s, there’s, ” Trump, Evan Vucci, Haley —, –, Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, who’s, Tapper, Warren, “, uncommitted ”, Uncommitted, Asma Nizami, ’, “ uncommitted ”, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, he’s, They’ve, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham —, —, CNN’s Dana Bash, ”, Nikki, ” Graham, Graham, Haley’s, Mark Levin, She’s, — Biden, Jason Palmer, Palmer, hasn’t, Michael Bloomberg, ” Phillips, Biden’s, Mark Robinson, Josh Stein, Roy Cooper, Bill Graham, “ Mark Robinson, Laurie Buckhout’s, Don Davis, Sandy Smith, Smith, Dan Conston, Buckhout, Davis, Nathan L, Gonzales Organizations: CNN, Biden, Tuesday, Trump, Republican, —, AP, GOP, Trump . College, South Carolina, South Carolina Republican, News, American Samoa —, Democratic, Democratic National Convention, New York City, Minnesota Rep, Democratic Party loyalists, Gov, Democratic Gov, North Carolina Republicans, North, Republicans, Congressional, Fund, House GOP, Freedom Caucus, Capitol, Air Force Locations: Vermont, Lago, Palm Beach, Mar, Fla, Gaza, North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, Israel, Minnesota, Ilhan Omar’s, Minneapolis, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Carolina, … Vermont, American Samoa, New York, Congress, Tarheel State, state’s, North Carolina’s, Washington

☆ What to watch for on Super Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Gregory Krieg | Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Here are 9 things to watch for:The night the lights go out on HaleyBarring a stunning upset – actually, multiple stunning upsets across the country – Super Tuesday is looking like the end of the road for Haley. While Haley has said she would stay in the race through at least Super Tuesday, she has not hinted at an exit. A North Carolina governor’s race with implications up and down the ballotOn a Super Tuesday with an unusual lack of spice, the North Carolina gubernatorial primary is a rare exception. Mark Robinson and Democratic state Attorney General Josh Stein are expected to coast to their parties’ respective nominations. Down-ballot in Texas, there’s more to watch, starting with the payback campaign of Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Nikki Haley, Trump’s, Dianne Feinstein, Haley, –, Liz Cheney, she’s, “, specter, MAGA, Barack Obama, Mark Robinson, Josh Stein, Robinson, Stein, Roy Cooper, Beto O’Rourke’s, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Colin Allred, Cruz, Sen, Roland Gutierrez —, Allred, ’, outraising Cruz, Ken Paxton, Paxton, Dade Phelan, He’s, Dianne Feinstein —, Laphonza Butler, Steve Garvey, Adam Schiff, Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Garvey hasn’t, Garvey, Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, Moore, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Carl, Steve Scalise, It’s, Terri Sewell, David Valadao, Michelle Steel, Young Kim, Ken Calvert’s, Katie Porter’s, Scott Baugh, Josh Harder’s, Mike Levin’s, London Breed, George Gascon, CNN’s Simone Pathe, Fredreka Schouten Organizations: CNN, South Carolina Gov, Trump, California Senate, Democrats, Haley, Trump Republicans, Wyoming, GOP, Democratic, MAGA Republicans, Virginia, North, North Carolina Republicans, Carolina governor’s, North Carolina, Republican, Gov, Texas Democrats, Cruz, NFL, Affordable, Texas Legislature, Senate, Democrat, Alabama, showdowns, 2nd, Caucus, Georgia, Louisiana Rep, Chamber of Commerce, California House, Rep, London, Supervisors, District Locations: Alaska, California, Colorado , Minnesota, North Carolina, Alabama, Gaza, Minnesota, South Carolina, Virginia, Carolina, Texas, San Antonio, Uvalde, Tuesday’s, Florida, Montana , Ohio, West Virginia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Orange County, Francisco, Los Angeles

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans on Wednesday pitched new maps for the state's congressional districts starting in 2024 that appear to threaten the reelection of at least three current Democratic U.S. House members. Senate redistricting committee leaders introduced two proposals that would rework the boundary lines for the state's 14 U.S. House seats. The state House and Senate want to enact a final plan by the end of the month. He said House leaders “worked with Senate leadership on the congressional plan,” but he didn't say which Senate plan the House supported. House and Senate redistricting committees also filed separate legislation Wednesday that would rework their own districts — the House for its 120 seats and the Senate for its 50 seats.

Persons: Roy Cooper’s, Asher Hildebrand, David Price, Jeff Jackson, Charlotte, Wiley Nickel, Kathy Manning, Valerie Foushee, Hill, Don Davis, Greene County —, you’ve, ” Hildebrand, Republican —, “, Cooper, they've Organizations: — North Carolina Republicans, Wednesday, Democratic U.S . House, Republican, General, Democratic Gov, U.S . House, Duke University, Democratic Rep, Current, Democratic, Republicans, GOP, Greensboro —, Destin, Senate, Democrat, Legislative Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, U.S, Cary, Greensboro, Greene County, Wednesday's, Charlotte, Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans enacted vote-count restrictions and weakened the governor's ability to oversee elections and other state regulatory bodies on Tuesday by overriding Democratic Gov. But Cooper and his allies contend the election legislation is an attack on voting that will give Republicans the upper hand on close results. The state elections board has been five members, with the governor’s party historically holding three of the seats. The law says the new state board also would have barely a week to decide whether to keep current state elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell on the job or hire someone else. And an energy bill designed to encourage nuclear energy production and the legislature’s annual “regulatory reform” measure also are now law.

Persons: Roy Cooper's, Cooper, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Critics, Karen Brinson Bell, Phil Berger, Brinson Bell —, —, Marc Elias, Tuesday’s Organizations: — North, — North Carolina Republicans, Democratic, State Board, Republican, Democrat, Republican Party, White, Trump, North, North Carolina GOP, Republicans Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, — North Carolina, North Carolina, U.S, Carolina

☆ North Carolina Republicans override governor's vetoes of sweeping elections bills
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Jane C. Timm | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

North Carolina Republican lawmakers voted to override the Democratic governor's vetoes on two election bills on Tuesday, giving themselves new power over election administration and shortening a key voting deadline ahead of the 2024 election. Currently, all election boards in the state are controlled by the governor's party, with nominations made by state parties and appointments made by the governor. "The legislative takeover of state and local elections boards could doom our state's elections to gridlock and severely limit early voting," Cooper said when he vetoed the bill. If county or state election boards do not approve early voting sites and schedules in accordance with state law, early voting can only take place at the county board of elections office. In populous counties, that could leave hundreds of thousands of voters with just one early voting option.

Persons: Roy Cooper, Bill, Cooper, That's, Megan Bellamy Organizations: North Carolina Gov, Emergency, Center, North Carolina Republican, Democratic, Republicans, Republican Locations: Raleigh, N.C, gridlock

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans in Wisconsin are threatening to impeach a recently elected state Supreme Court justice and raised the possibility of doing the same to the state’s election director. A Georgia Republican called for impeaching the Fulton County prosecutor who brought racketeering charges against former President Donald Trump. None of the targets met the bar traditionally set for impeachment — credible allegations of committing a crime while in office. Over the past two years, Republicans also have sought to pry Democrats and nonpartisan executives from office through recalls, legislative maneuvers and forced removals, even when no allegations of wrongdoing have surfaced. They’re upset with her over a legal settlement as voting began in 2020 that eased some rules for mailed ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic beyond what state law permitted.

Persons: Donald Trump, Republicans didn’t, Joe Biden, It’s, ”, Melissa Agard, Janet Protasiewicz, Ben Wikler, “, Robin Vos, we’re, Vos, Larry Krasner, impeaching Krasner, Fani Willis, Georgia’s, Brian Kemp, Sen, Colton Moore, Kemp’s, Ken Paxton, Paxton, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, They’re, Gavin Newsom, Newsom breezed, Brian Kalt, ” Richard Hasen, ” ___ Bauer, Brooke Schultz Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Republicans, Georgia Republican, Republicans, Pennsylvania House, Congress, Democrat, Republican, Court, GOP, state's Democratic Party, Philadelphia, Democratic, Trump, Republican Gov, Caucus, Texas, Representatives, Justice Department, North Carolina Republicans, Michigan State University, University of California, Associated Press Locations: Wisconsin, Georgia, Fulton, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Fulton County, Florida, California, Los Angeles, Madison , Wisconsin, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania

☆ Top North Carolina Republicans privately encouraged then-Democrat Tricia Cotham to run for the state House in 2022, a year before she switched parties and gave the GOP a veto-proof majority
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Two of North Carolina's top GOP leaders encouraged Tricia Cotham to run for office last year, per The Times. Cotham, from a family with deep Democratic roots, flipped to the GOP three months into her new term. And then Cotham in April made a decision that immediately transformed North Carolina politics, as she switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP, giving the latter party supermajorities in both the state House and state Senate. What was previously unknown until now was that top North Carolina Republicans — namely House Speaker Tim Moore and House Majority Leader John Bell — had encouraged Cotham to run for the seat last year, according to The Times. Jonathan Coby, Cotham's former campaign consultant, told The Times that Cotham was irate over her political predicament.

Persons: Tricia Cotham, Roy Cooper, Tricia Cotham mulled, Cotham, didn't, Tim Moore, John Bell —, Bell, Cooper, Jonathan Coby Organizations: GOP, Democratic Gov, Service, North Carolina House of Representatives, Democratic, New York Times, House Democratic, Democratic Party, North Carolina Republicans, The Times, Times, Republicans Locations: Carolina's, Wall, Silicon, Charlotte, North Carolina

The 6-3 decision, authored by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, upheld a 2022 ruling by the North Carolina Supreme Court against the Republican legislators. Another state court replaced that map with one drawn by a bipartisan group of experts, and that one was in effect for the November 2022 elections. They contended that the state court usurped the North Carolina General Assembly's authority under that provision to regulate federal elections. The plaintiffs argued that the map violated the North Carolina state constitution's provisions concerning free elections and freedom of assembly, among others. Democratic President Joe Biden's administration argued against the Republican position when the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in December.

Persons: John Roberts, Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden's, Andrew Chung Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Republican, North Carolina Supreme Court, Conservative, . House, North Carolina Supreme, Democratic, North Carolina's Republican, North, North Carolina Republicans, North Carolina General, Thomson Locations: North Carolina, Legislative, U.S, American, North Carolina's

☆ As South Carolina governor signs new law, abortion restrictions strain providers in U.S. South
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The South Carolina House of Representatives is called back by Gov. "This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed," Republican South Carolina Gov. The new law signed by South Carolina governor's will change that status, according to Caitlin Myers, an economics professor at Middlebury College. Over the past two months, Republican officials in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida have pushed Virginia closer to being a regional outlier as a place with relatively permissive access.

☆ Opinion | The Four Freedoms, According to Republicans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Jamelle Bouie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Tuesday, Republicans in North Carolina overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto to pass a strict limit on bodily autonomy in the form of a 12-week abortion ban. North Carolina Republicans are obviously not the only ones fighting to ban, limit or restrict the right to bodily autonomy, whether abortion or gender-affirming health care for transgender people. All across the country, Republicans have passed laws to do exactly that wherever they have the power to do so, regardless of public opinion in their states or anywhere else. The war on bodily autonomy is a critical project for nearly the entire G.O.P., pursued with dedication by Republicans from the lowliest state legislator to the party’s powerful functionaries on the Supreme Court.

☆ Madison Cawthorn pleads guilty in case over bringing a loaded handgun through TSA checkpoint
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Rebekah Riess | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn pleaded guilty Friday to bringing a loaded handgun through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport last year, according to his attorney. Cawthorn’s weapon was “secured at the airport and he retrieved it after his flight,” the newspaper reported, citing the airport spokesperson. In July 2021, when the story was published, a Cawthorn spokesperson told the Citizen-Times that the congressman had brought the gun “by mistake.” He was not charged in the incident. Despite having Trump’s endorsement, he lost in the Republican primary to Chuck Edwards, who had the backing of several top North Carolina Republicans. Edwards easily went on to win the general election for the western North Carolina seat.

☆ North Carolina Republicans reach agreement on 12-week abortion ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Sharon Bernstein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The proposal is the latest effort by lawmakers in Republican-dominated state legislatures to limit abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to end a pregnancy last year. "The bill that has been developed is a commonsense, reasonable approach to restricting second and third trimester abortions," state senate leader Phil Berger said at a news conference. The legislation would limit elective abortions to 12 weeks' gestation, with exceptions for rape, incest, life-limiting fetal anomalies and the life of the mother. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said on Tuesday he "strongly opposed" the measure. The move by North Carolina Republicans comes days after a far more restrictive anti-abortion bill was successfully blocked in neighboring South Carolina by a group of five women lawmakers, three of them Republicans.

☆ In win for Republicans, North Carolina court allows partisan gerrymandering
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Voters line up a few minutes before the polls close during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections in Durham, North Carolina, U.S., November 8, 2022. In the same election, Republicans flipped two Democratic seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court, securing a 5-2 conservative majority. "I think it's the worst decision the North Carolina Supreme Court perhaps has ever made," Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, told reporters. When the North Carolina court agreed to rehear the case, however, the U.S. Supreme Court asked for additional briefing from the parties about whether it still had legal jurisdiction over the matter. Now that the North Carolina court has vacated the decision that formed the basis for the U.S. Supreme Court's review, the U.S. Supreme Court may conclude it no longer has a role to play in resolving the matter.

☆ Opinion | What a Party Switch in North Carolina Means for Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Tressie Mcmillan Cottom | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Her media tour on the subject is nonsensical and vague, though, by the most generous standards. She stutters about unspecified run-ins in public with mean constituents and unwelcoming Democrats, for instance. For a model on the choices before Cotham, one need look no further than conservative commentator Matt Walsh. Representative Graig Meyer of North Carolina had a more practical read of the changes in the state’s new balance of power. On Twitter, Meyer, a Democrat, laid out how much national abortion policy boxes in North Carolina Republicans.

☆ A North Carolina Democrat's shocking party switch may hand complete power over to the state's Republicans, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A North Carolina lawmaker is expected to switch parties in what would be a stunning turn of events. It would give the GOP a supermajority, meaning they could override the Dem governor's vetoes. As of March 2023, Cooper had issued 75 vetoes — more than all previous North Carolina governors combined — since taking office six years ago, according to The Assembly NC. From 2005 to 2009, Jerry Meek, whom Cotham married in late 2008, was the chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. According to the North Carolina political blog Watauga Watch, Cotham and Meek are no longer married.

The hearing in Raleigh took place after the state Supreme Court's conservative justices agreed to reconsider a 2022 ruling that found partisan redistricting, or gerrymandering, was unlawful under the state constitution. In the same elections, Republicans flipped two Democratic seats on the court, installing a 5-2 conservative majority that weeks later made the extremely unusual decision to rehear the redistricting case. Several conservative justices appeared sympathetic to the Republicans' arguments, while the court's two Democrats expressed skepticism. The Supreme Court's conservative justices appeared to agree during oral arguments in December. But after the North Carolina court's decision to rehear the case, the U.S. Supreme Court asked the various parties in the case to weigh in on whether the court still has jurisdiction over the matter.

The new court agreed along party lines to rehear the redistricting case, as well as a case in which the previous Democratic majority struck down a Republican-backed voter identification law. In court filings, Republican lawmakers argue that redistricting is inherently political and should be left to legislators, rather than judges. Last year's redistricting decision also prompted North Carolina Republicans to turn to the U.S. Supreme Court in what has become a high-profile case. The Supreme Court's conservative justices appeared sympathetic to the Republicans' argument during oral arguments in December. But after the North Carolina Supreme Court's decision to rehear the case, the U.S. Supreme Court asked the various parties in the case to weigh in on whether the court still has jurisdiction over the matter.

The state Supreme Court blocked the Republican map as unlawfully biased against Democratic voters. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the dispute in December but has not issued a ruling in the high-profile case. The justices' order on Thursday cited a federal law giving it jurisdiction over final judgments issued by state supreme courts. Members of the state Supreme Court are elected by voters in North Carolina. In their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the North Carolina Republicans contended that the state court usurped the state General Assembly's authority under that provision to regulate federal elections.

☆ Supreme Court signals it could sidestep ruling in major elections case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday sought additional briefings in a major elections case from North Carolina, signaling it could sidestep a ruling on a broad theory that could upend election law nationwide. The brief court order asked the parties involved to file new court papers on the impact of recent actions by the North Carolina Supreme Court. The case before the justices, argued in December, concerns whether the North Carolina Supreme Court had the authority last year to throw out Republican-drawn congressional districts. Since then, the North Carolina Supreme Court has flipped from Democratic to Republican control and the new majority has moved to revisit some of the earlier rulings. Oral arguments in the North Carolina court are scheduled for March 14.

☆ North Carolina Republicans reap reward of judicial wins in redistricting ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

'RAW PARTISANSHIP'In North Carolina, Republican candidates in November won two seats held by Democrats, wresting away the majority. The office of the Republican state Senate leader, Phil Berger, did not respond to a request for comment on the ruling on Monday. That decision led North Carolina Republican lawmakers to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in what has become one of the year's most momentous cases. The North Carolina Supreme Court – whose previous decision gave rise to the U.S. Supreme Court case – could now choose to embrace the notion regardless of what the U.S. Supreme Court eventually rules. "We either get Moore v. Harper and it's the Wild West everywhere, or we get a Republican state Supreme Court to overturn it and it's just the Wild West in North Carolina," Hildebrand said.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a major case that could upend election law as the justices consider whether to reinstate Republican-drawn congressional districts in North Carolina. The case, which could have a broad impact on an array of election issues, is being closely watched for its potential impact on the 2024 presidential election. Republicans led by Tim Moore, the Republican speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, invoked the theory after the state Supreme Court in February struck down the congressional district map. Activists protest partisan gerrymandering at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Mar. Moore and other Republicans immediately asked the Supreme Court to reinstate the maps, saying the state court had overstepped its authority.

☆ Supreme Court justices grapple with a Republican challenge that could upend how elections are run: 'This is a theory with big consequences'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Supreme Court heard three hours of oral arguments on a GOP-led challenge from North Carolina. Barrett said adopting the North Carolina Republicans' approach would mean judges would have "notoriously difficult lines to draw." The state supreme court ruled that the map was a partisan gerrymander that favored Republicans, deeming it a violation of the state constitution. Alito noted that in some places, like North Carolina, state supreme court judges are elected by voters. The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision in the case by June.

☆ Midterm elections live updates: Pennsylvania races, New Hampshire Senate race too early to call
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Brandy Zadrozny | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Sahil-Kapur-Headshot.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +109 min

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate and governor's races too early to call It is too early to call the Senate and gubernatorial races in Wisconsin, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedNew Hampshire Senate race too early to call The Senate race in New Hampshire is too early to call, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedPennsylvania Senate and governor races are too early to call After polls closed at 8 p.m. While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. According to the poll, 46% of voters said their family’s financial situation is worse than it was two years ago. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

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