Chris Cooper

Good week for world-class authors who happen to live nearby

An excerpt fron @thejeremybjones.bsky.social ‘s forthcoming book is on @longreads.com & @annettesclapsaddle.bsky.social’s Even As We Breathe was named the One Book for West Virginia.

An embarrassment of literary riches around here

Read & decide for yourself:

ncappellatecourts.org/search-resul...

(8/8)

I'm not arguing the merits of the claim (& certainly not on social media), but merely that we should pay attention to it.

As we sit perched on the precipice of a doom loop of partisan gerrymandering, it's worth asking whether there is the potential for a new a path forward.

(7/8)

It's, of course, worth noting that @judgeboborr.bsky.social
& colleagues are bringing this on appeal and, the defendants claim that all of this talk of "free & fair" is just partisan considerations w/ different language.

(6/8)

In a departure from many redistricting cases, the remedy suggested isn't a partisan one. (5/8)

In the brief, @judgeboborr.bsky.social & colleagues cite a Republican brief in 2002 making a similar argument when it was Democrats who were in charge of the #ncga & accused of gerrymandering.

(Strach is an attorney for the defendants in the Orr case)

(4/8)

. @judgeboborr.bsky.social & colleagues' argument is that gerrymandering is a legal, rather than a political question & should be treated as such. (3/8)

. @judgeboborr.bsky.social & others have a case that is currently before the NC Court of Appeals that makes that argument.

The case is focused on congressional districts 6, 13, & 14, #ncga House district 105 & #ncga Senate district 7 but has implications that extend far beyond (2/8)

As the threats of tit-for-tat arms race redistricting continue (TX, IL, CA, etc.), it's worth looking at a case in #ncpol that attempts to look at redistricting not as a partisan issue, but rather as a free & fair elections issue.

a #redistricting #elections 🧵 (1/8)

🙏 to the NC State Board of Elections for making these data available to the public.

Remember: People on the RRP can still vote, their ballots are just considered provisional. For more on provisional ballots in NC, see www.ncsbe.gov/voting/provi...

7/7

For a more complete analysis, including background and details about where these numbers come from and how they were computed, see @oldnorthstpolitics.bsky.social

www.oldnorthstatepolitics.com/2025/07/an-a...

6/7

There is considerable variance in curing by county. Cherokee County has cured 57% of its RRP registrants; 5 counties have cured none.

(5/7)

Older people, Democrats, Republicans and people w/identified race, ethnicity & gender are, comparatively more likely to have cured their reg.

Takeaway: Thus far, It seems like the RRP message isn't getting through as well to young people.

(4/7)

Why the overrepresentation of those groups? If you don't complete party, ethnicity, race & gender, you are recorded as unaffiliated & unidentified

Young people are the most likely to be in these categories. Young people are also overrepresented in the RRP.

(3/7)

Young people, Unaffiliated voters & people of unidentified race, gender & ethnicity were overrepresented on the original RRP list.

2/7

Registration Recovery Project Aug 4 update:

🗳️~12,000 fewer names appear on the RRP list today than did on the original list
🗳️ 28 people have been added
🗳️ 596 have been dropped from the voter reg list altogether; the remainder were cured

An #ncpol/#electionadministration 🧵

Sometimes you’re reading a book (in this case, the Optimist about Sam Altman) and you’re rolling along when a phrase or clause stops you in your tracks.

That phase, this evening, is “Koko, the sign language-speaking gorilla”

Sounds lovely

Just walked outside into a cold, wet rainy mess and I’d like to have a word with the person who Novembered my August.

And another one w/the person who packed away all of my cool weather kayaking gear

Registration Recovery Project Update #ncpol Aug 1
~1,740 registrations cured yesterday
~10,900 cured since July 17
~92,300 people remaining

More at: oldnorthstatepolitics.com/2025/07/an-a...

#electionadministration

Notable, not just b/c it's the first #ncsen polling this cycle, but because it's the first (as far as I can tell) polling about Michael Whatley anywhere.

#ncpol

I am going to miss @tommytomlinson.bsky.social's SouthBound & On My Mind on @wfae.bsky.social.

Few people are able to communicate empathy, warmth & curiosity so consistently & so effectively

I'll continue to read his Substack & books--which are terrific-but I sure will miss the sound of his voice

Registration Recovery Project (RRP) update for July 31
🗳️ 1,154 people cured their registration yesterday
🗳️ 4 people were added to the RRP yesterday
🗳️ 94,073 people remain--9,173 fewer than on July 17

#ncpol #electionadministration

For more analysis ⤵️ www.oldnorthstatepolitics.com/2025/07/an-a...

The Berger King Phil Berger has been the state’s most powerful politician for more than a decade. He no longer looks invincible.

Next time someone asks me why they should subscribe to @theassemblync.bsky.social , I’m just going to send them this link:

www.theassemblync.com/politics/phi...

@jeffreybillman.bsky.social weaves a story of power, place & history into one compelling narrative.

#ncpol

Some North Carolina voters need to fix their voter registration. Do you? The North Carolina Board of Elections is moving forward with plans to update information on thousands of voters. Some of their registrations don’t comply with the law and now, many of those already-re...

Went on @wfae.bsky.social this morning with @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social to discuss election administration changes and how that could impact voting for tens of thousands of North Carolinians. #ncpol

Tune-in here—> www.wfae.org/show/charlot...

July 30 #ncpol Registration Recovery Project Update:
🗳️ 430 registrations cured since yesterday.
🗳️ 1 added
🗳️ 95,223 registered voters remain

For more: www.oldnorthstatepolitics.com/2025/07/an-a...

#ncpol #electionadministration

Updated NC veto graph after today's override-palooza in #ncpol ⬇️. Dots represent the number of vetoes in a given session. Bars represent the number that have been overriden.

As @bryanranderson.bsky.social notes ⬇️⬇️, there may (likely will) be more overrides to come.

North Carolina's Registration Recovery Program (RRP) skinny update for July 29.

🗳️ 428 people have dropped off the RRP list since July 26
🗳️ 95,652 registered voters remain

#ncpol #electionadministration

More at: www.oldnorthstatepolitics.com/2025/07/an-a...

US Congress seats: Another Democrat launches campaign to represent NC 11th district If elected, Jacob Lawrence, 26, said he'll focus on gerrymandering and campaign finance reform, plus local issues like Helene recovery.

Good introduction to "young guy" Jacob Lawrence (candidate for #nc11) by @jacobbiba.bsky.social : www.citizen-times.com/story/news/l...

Make sure to follow through to his announcement video & decide whether it's lit or cringe (did I do that right?): www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Dz...

#ncpol

This view never gets old.