Weekly Recap: POTUS drama, a pair of NC lawmakers to resign and campaign spending updates
This past week saw drama over which presidential candidates would get on the ballot and important fundraising developments for North Carolina candidates.
Some Housekeeping: I’ll be taking this coming week off and returning to your feed the week of July 29. Now to the week that was in North Carolina politics…
Biden drops out. What does this mean for NC?
On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he wouldn’t seek reelection and is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him.
“I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down,” Biden said in a statement.
Harris has frequently visited North Carolina, including most recently in Fayetteville on Thursday.
The news stands to raise speculation about who will be on the 2024 presidential ticket. When Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper held an event in Raleigh this month, they punted on presidential speculation. Buttigieg said at the time he couldn’t discuss campaign matters. Cooper has also punted on the question of whether he’d join a potential Harris ticket, telling reporters this month, “That’s the kind of speculation we do not need right now.”
But with Biden no longer running, it stands to reason the speculation will ramp up, particular as Cooper could greatly bolster Democrats’ prospects of winning North Carolina, and, by extension, the White House.
"President Biden has cemented his place among our nation’s finest presidents,” Cooper said in a statement on Sunday. “When our democracy faced danger, President Biden stood strong as the rarest type of leader who could help us forge ahead with a vision to repair our country’s soul.
“He was able to pass transformative legislation that will benefit our economy, our families, and our country for generations to come. Just as impactful as the laws he passed, though, is his ability to listen to everyday people, relate to their struggles, and give them hope. I’m deeply grateful to call President Joe Biden my friend, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his service to our great nation."
Other presidential news this week: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was approved by state elections official to appear on North Carolina ballots this November, Cornel West wasn’t.
The fight over a supermajority
On Wednesday, North Carolina Republicans vowed to pour in $5.3 million to defend its House supermajority.
The money will be distributed among these 10 candidates:
For a comprehensive overview of the GOP’s pathway to retaining a supermajority and what Democrats will need to do to break, I’ve got a comprehensive breakdown of the dynamics at play that’s available here.
Retired lawmakers
Two additional lawmakers announced this past week that they’ll soon resign from the North Carolina General Assembly: Republican Rep. Jason Saine of Lincoln County and Democratic Rep. Ashton Clemmons of Guilford County. They join Sen. Jim Perry and Rep. Jon Hardister for the list of lawmakers who will have left the legislature this year.
Democratic fundraising edge
In several key statewide and legislative contests, Democratic candidates outraised Republicans and entered July with more money in the bank.
In the hotly contested gubernatorial race, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein raised $13.8 million between Feb. 18 and June 30. Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson took in $5.1 million over the same period.
Stein’s campaign also spent over three times more than Robinson and entered July with over twice the cash. Stein ended the fundraising period with $15.9 million in the bank to Robinson’s $6.6 million.
Also of note: A major amendment was made to the fundraising numbers of Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Michele Morrow.
Democrat Mo Green outraised her by a 3-to-1 margin from Feb. 18 to June 30 and entered July with 11 times more cash.
A report Morrow’s campaign initially filed showed her getting outraised by a 14-to-1 margin, having 1/41st the cash that Green had, and not a single contribution received between March 27 and June 30. Those numbers have all since been corrected in the campaign’s latest fundraising report.
A comprehensive breakdown of finances for other Council of State and General Assembly races is available here.
Quirky RNC Story
I reported on an odd story related to the Republican National Convention. The takeaway: A UNC-Chapel Hill fraternity brother featured in Trump campaign video said he was a staunch Biden supporter.
The development came as other UNC frat students were scheduled to speak at the RNC Convention.
Thank you
Welcome to all new and returning Anderson Alerts members! I shall return to your feed the week of July 29- the same week lawmakers are scheduled to return to Raleigh for as many as four days of votes.