Steve Kornacki and the Magic Board
It’s election night, and Steve Kornacki is at his big magic board. He’s looking at all the states, and suddenly, the results from Mecklenburg come in. Everyone does a double take. Steve zooms in and says, “Something seems off here. Pull up the prior years.” They pull it up on the screen. He gets out his pen, starts marking up his board, doing the math real quick, and then he exclaims, “What the heck just happened in Mecklenburg?”
The Big Announcement
Then they call the election. Not just in North Carolina, but nationally. Why? Because if North Carolina turns blue, Kamala Harris has a 97% chance of becoming President. Her path to victory goes straight through Mecklenburg.
Meet Drew Kromer
Drew Kromer is the 27-year-old Chair of the Democratic Party in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina’s largest Democratic county and home to Charlotte. Remember that name. If Kamala Harris wins North Carolina, we may owe Mr. Kromer a huge thank you.
The Challenge in Mecklenburg
Even though Mecklenburg has 36,000 more registered Democrats than Wake County, it has produced about 40-50,000 fewer votes for Democrats at the top of the ticket in recent elections. And the trend was getting worse.
The Impact of Low Turnout
According to Drew, in the 2022 midterms, Mecklenburg singlehandedly lost the Senate race with Cheri Beasley and two State Supreme Court races. This gave Republicans a majority, allowing them to gerrymander the state and making it much harder for us to wrestle the House back from Republican extremists.
Drew Takes Action
So Mr. Kromer, a resident of Mecklenburg, decided to do something about it. He recently sat down for an interview with Robert Hubbell (of Today’s Edition Newsletter) and Jessica Craven (of Chop Wood Carry Water). Instead of trying to summarize it, let me just say, you want to watch this interview. It’s about 20 minutes, but I promise, it’s worth it.
Why You Should Watch
Hubbell puts it this way: I guarantee that if you invest the time to watch, it will educate, motivate, and inspire you. It will encourage you to help get out the vote by canvassing, texting, and phone banking. Most importantly, it will help mediate and control unguided anxiety about the election.
You can find it here.
Join the Movement
I love Drew’s vision of Kornacki scratching his head trying to figure out what happened in Mecklenburg. It’s an attainable dream. Let’s help make it happen!
How You Can Help
Links to donate and volunteer are below the video, but posting them here for good measure:
FAQs About North Carolina’s Potential Shift to Blue
Here are the top 10 FAQs people might be searching for related to North Carolina’s political landscape:
- Q: What does it mean for North Carolina to go blue?A: If North Carolina were to shift to blue, it would mean that the state would likely vote for Democratic candidates in elections, potentially leading to changes in state and federal representation.
- Q: What are the key factors contributing to North Carolina’s potential shift?A: Key factors include demographic changes, urbanization, and shifts in voter demographics, particularly among younger and more diverse populations.
- Q: How has voter turnout impacted North Carolina’s elections in recent years?A: Voter turnout has been increasing in North Carolina, particularly among younger and minority voters, which could contribute to a shift towards Democratic candidates.
- Q: What role do urban areas play in North Carolina’s political landscape?A: Urban areas like Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham are increasingly becoming key battlegrounds for political campaigns, as they tend to vote more Democratic.
- Q: How significant is the impact of demographic changes on North Carolina’s politics?A: Demographic changes, such as an aging population and growing diversity, are significantly influencing voter behavior and potentially leading to a shift towards more liberal policies.
- Q: What are the implications of North Carolina going blue for national politics?A: A blue North Carolina could potentially flip the state’s electoral votes in presidential elections and impact the balance of power in Congress.
- Q: How do economic factors influence voting behavior in North Carolina?A: Economic factors such as job growth, education, and healthcare access can significantly impact voting decisions, with many voters prioritizing issues that directly affect their livelihoods.
- Q: What role do social issues play in North Carolina’s political landscape?A: Social issues like LGBTQ+ rights, gun control, and education reform are becoming increasingly important to voters, particularly younger and more progressive voters.
- Q: How can voters in North Carolina make their voices heard during this shift?A: Voters can make their voices heard by engaging in local politics, volunteering for campaigns, and participating in voter registration drives to ensure their voices are represented.
- Q: What are the potential challenges and opportunities for Democrats if North Carolina goes blue?A: Challenges include maintaining voter turnout and addressing rural-urban divides, while opportunities include leveraging urban support to drive policy changes and increase representation.
