Colin Campbell

Happy False Fall to all who celebrate!

Crime in this area is getting way out of control

We've made it!

NC News Roundup: Senate bid announcements; lawmakers override several of Gov. Stein's vetoes; new NC immigration law Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley and former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announce their bids for the U.S. Senate, while the state legislature overrides several of the current ...

Lots of #ncpol, #ncga action this week to discuss on @wunc.org's Due South NC news round-up...plus we have a fun send-off for @lucillesherman.bsky.social as she moves on from journalism: www.wunc.org/show/due-sou...

When will Roy Cooper next wear a tie? No neckwear is no accident. North Carolina’s top Senate candidates kicked off their campaigns this week without neck ties. Plus, Duke stays quiet on Trump funding threat and inside Garner’s massive Amazon warehouse.

Fun story from @skyoutbriout.bsky.social on Cooper, Stein and the disappearing necktie. I wonder how quickly ties would disappear from the #ncga if leadership relaxes the dress code for sessions

www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol

NC House bill would allow fewer trips to the DMV State lawmakers are trying to address long lines at the Division of Motor Vehicles by making it easier to renew driver's licenses online.

State lawmakers are trying to address long lines at the Division of Motor Vehicles by making it easier to renew driver's licenses online.

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

N.C. Republicans face a flurry of vetoes and a key Senate run announcement North Carolina has a tradition of divided government, and the competition between the two parties over things like DEI, gun laws, and transgender care heated up this week.

I stopped by NPR's All Things Yesterday yesterday for updates on @ncgovernor.bsky.social vetoes, veto override votes and the U.S. Senate race: www.npr.org/2025/07/30/n... #ncpol

No surprise here, but Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley filed his FEC paperwork today to run for Senate: docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form...

I'm told he'll formally launch his campaign tomorrow in Gaston County #ncpol

NC lawmakers unveil 'mini-budget' as Stein blasts broader budget impasse State House and Senate leaders still haven’t reached an agreement on a budget for the fiscal year that started this month, but on Tuesday they introduced a “mini-budget” bill to fund urgent needs like...

As @ncgovernor.bsky.social blasts the broader #ncga budget impasse, legislative leaders have introduced a "mini-budget" bill that just passed the Senate.

Here's what's in it -- and what's not: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

Will there be seating for the public at "House Chamber Seat 6"? #ncpol #ncga

Veto Tracker: Legislature overrides 8 of Gov. Stein's 14 vetoes State lawmakers are overriding several of Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes Tuesday with help from Democrats. The vetoed bills include the repeal of a carbon reduction mandate for Duke Energy and a plan to shi...

Full story on where we stand with vetoes -- some overridden, some not yet: www.wunc.org/politics/202...

#ncga House and Senate appear to have agreement on a mini-budget, coming in as a conference report on House Bill 125: webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewBillDocu... #ncpol

Interesting trend is that the Democrats voting with Republicans aren't the ones from moderate, swing districts -- they're largely blue districts where there's no serious threat of a GOP victory in a general election #ncpol #ncga

Energy bill override passes 74-46 (biggest margin yet). It would eliminate an interim carbon dioxide emissions reduction goal for Duke Energy #ncpol #ncga

HB 805 (Recognizes male and female sexes under state law; restricts changing sex designation on birth certificates; etc.): override succeeds.

Rep. Nasif Majeed (D-Mecklenburg) votes YES with Republicans (previously an excused absence). Rep. Dante Pittman (D-Wilson), who voted YES prior, votes NO.

So far House has only added three Senate bill overrides (energy bill, donor privacy and charter school oversight)...appears they could be delaying, for now, votes on DEI bans, Senate immigration bill and concealed carry -- but we'll see if that changes #ncpol #ncga

Another 72-48 veto override vote on LGBTQ bill. House has skipped a DEI ban bill and is now adding the seven overrides that already passed the Senate.

Today is a test of @ncgovernor.bsky.social's influence over his own party, and it's not looking good for him #ncpol #ncga

House passes override on bill to allow the state auditor to access the records of any private business or nonprofit that receives state or federal funds. This was another one where Willingham was the one Democrat in support #ncpol #ncga

Immigration bill override passes House, after Rep. Cunningham's remarks that "if you ask me to line up behind another group of people to raise awareness about their plight, I unapologetically say no."

And two Democrats crossed over to back bill shifting regulatory power to the legislature. #ncpol

Now they've moved on to Speaker Destin Hall's immigration enforcement bill, where Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham is speaking in favor of the bill (she'll likely be the one vote Rs need here) #ncpol #ncga

Veto Tracker: Will the legislature override the 14 bills that Gov. Stein has vetoed? Both the N.C. House and Senate have scheduled override votes Tuesday on the 14 vetoes issued by the governor over the past month. On nine of the 14 bills, at least one House Democrat voted in favor of...

#ncga House has had its first successful veto override vote, on a bill allowing concealed-carry guns by staff in private schools. Rep. Shelly Willingham was the one Democrat who voted with the GOP.

Background on overrides: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

Cooper opting for Maddow's MSNBC show (rather than an NC outlet) for his first TV interview as a Senate candidate #ncpol

Veto Tracker: Will the legislature override the 14 bills that Gov. Stein has vetoed? Both the N.C. House and Senate have scheduled override votes Tuesday on the 14 vetoes issued by the governor over the past month. On nine of the 14 bills, at least one House Democrat voted in favor of...

Having trouble keeping track of the 14(!) vetoes issued by @joshsteinnc.bsky.social, and the prospects that the #ncga might override them this week?

Here's a full list, including which bills initially got support from some Democrats: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

WUNC Politics North Carolina’s ballot access laws create an uphill battle for third parties seeking to get their candidates on the ballot, requiring more than 14,000 registered voters to sign their petition for acc...

New podcast! A look at where the relatively new NC Forward Party (@ncfwd.bsky.social) fits in with #ncpol's third party landscape

Full episode: play.prx.org/listen?ge=pr...

Highlights: www.wunc.org/politics/202...

And this morning made it official with a press release:

“I want to serve as your next United States Senator because, even now, I still believe our best days are ahead of us,” Cooper said in the release

"I'm not sitting down, am I?" At Democratic party fundraiser, Cooper hints at U.S. Senate run The former governor's remarks were Cooper's first time speaking publicly since news of his Senate campaign broke and come just days before he's expected to formally announce.

With a grin, former two-term Gov. Roy Cooper hinted Saturday night at the announcement everyone is expecting.

The crowd of about 1,200 people at N.C. State's Talley Student Union immediately broke into a chant of "Run, Roy, run."

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

High Point mayor files to run for congressional seat in 2026 Cyril Jefferson, a Democrat, was first elected High Point mayor in 2023.

The seat Jefferson seeks covers Davidson, Davie and Rowan counties as well as parts of Guilford and Forsyth. It’s currently represented by Republican Addison McDowell, who is seeking re-election. www.wfdd.org/local/2025-0...

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley to run for NC's US Senate seat with Trump backing Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is planning a run for U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year after Sen. Thom Tillis dropped out of the race.

UPDATED: Trump posted on social media tonight promising a full endorsement "should Michael Whatley run for the Senate."

"I need him in Washington, and I need him representing YOU!"

www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

Donations to NPR and PBS Stations Surge After Funding Cuts

Positive news for public media across the country (including us), but I'm also pleased to learn from this story that the president of Rocky Mountain Public Media is named Amanda Mountain

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/b...

In April, without any warning, FEMA pulled $200 million worth of infrastructure grants intended to help communities weather natural disasters. They canceled a $6 million grant awarded to the small town I live in. Just a few weeks later this happened👇