Down The Ballot: NC Legislature

Down The Ballot: NC Legislature

Author: WUNC News November 1, 2024 Duration: 34:13
For the final installment of our Down The Ballot series, we’re turning to the races for state legislature. The district lines drawn by GOP lawmakers will virtually ensure that Republicans keep at least a majority in the House and Senate. But if Democrat Josh Stein wins the governor’s race, the outcome of the race for a legislative supermajority will determine the policy direction of the state for the next two years. If Democrats can flip seats in either or both chambers, a veto from Stein could stop GOP legislation. One of the N.C. House races that will determine that power dynamic is in the Wilson area, where Republican Rep. Ken Fontenot is defending a seat he flipped from Democrats two years ago. WUNC spoke with Fontenot and his Democratic opponent, Dante Pittman, about the key issues in the race and why the district is so competitive. 

Tune in for the conversations happening behind the headlines across the state. WUNC Politics, from the journalists at WUNC News, moves beyond the official statements and press conferences to bring you the context and candid insights shaping North Carolina. Each episode feels like catching up with a well-informed friend who just left the floor of the General Assembly or a key campaign stop, translating the day’s political maneuvers into something relatable and clear. You’ll hear directly from reporters about the whispers in the legislative hallways, the shifting dynamics on the trail, and the real-world impacts of policy debates. This isn't about partisan scoring; it's about understanding the how and why of Tar Heel politics. The podcast delivers a grounded, weekly perspective that helps make sense of the rapid changes in our state's government and elections. For anyone curious about the forces driving decisions in Raleigh and beyond, this is an essential listen. The analysis is sharp, the reporting is trustworthy, and the discussion always points toward what it all means for the people who live here. Dive into the nuanced and often surprising stories that define political life in North Carolina.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

WUNC Politics
Podcast Episodes
Down The Ballot: Attorney General [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:03
We’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. Next up: The race for attorney general. North Carolina’s attorney general is a key – and powerful –…
Down The Ballot: State Auditor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:02
We’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. Next up: The race for state auditor. The office audits state agencies from the governor’s administr…
Down The Ballot: Superintendent of Public Instruction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:32
We’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. Next up: The race for superintendent of public instruction. Current Republican Superintendent of Pu…
Down The Ballot: NC Supreme Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:22
As the election grows closer, we’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. You can also read more about the candidates in the weekly WUNC Politi…
Down The Ballot: The race for lieutenant governor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:52
As the election grows closer, we’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. You can also read more about the candidates in the weekly WUNC Politi…
Down The Ballot: The race for state treasurer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:47
As the election grows closer, we’re talking to candidates for key downballot races in the coming weeks on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. You can also read more about the candidates in th…
VP candidate Roy Cooper? The NC impact of a presidential reset [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:32
With all the news swirling this week about the presidential campaign and the possibility of Gov. Roy Cooper as a vice presidential candidate, we’re bringing you a segment from WUNC’s Due South. Host Jeff Tiberii spoke wi…
NC's only unaffiliated congressional candidate charts a unique path [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:58
North Carolina law makes it extremely hard to run for office if you’re not willing to register as a Republican or Democrat and go through the party primary process. This year though, an unaffiliated candidate for Congres…
Private records: A look at NC legislature's transparency problems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:56
Thanks to a budget provision last year, state lawmakers can now deny the public access to their emails, documents and other records that most other branches of state government are required to release. That move toward s…
The Tuscarora Nation's long struggle for recognition in NC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:31
Members of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina recently visited the state legislature to push for a House bill that would grant them formal state recognition as an American Indian tribe. They've been fighting for the…