The results of the national election were incredibly disappointing for many, and Democrats across the country were searching for answers and a path forward in the aftermath of the devastating defeat. Real and serious dialogue is needed as Donald Trump improves profit margins Across all demographics. The Democratic Party needs to regroup and chart a new path forward.
As Democrats search for answers and solutions, North Carolina represents a blueprint that can provide valuable insight into success.
On a night full of darkness and regret, North Carolina was one of the few bright spots in the nation. Democrats were able to accomplish something truly unique. We rejected the extremism in our state's leadership and elected Josh Stein as our governor. maximum margin of victory More than 20 years later. We elected Rachel Hunt as Lieutenant Governor, Jeff Jackson as Attorney General, and Moe Green as Superintendent of Public Schools. We reelected Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and defeated the Republican supermajority in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
We also re-elected Congressman Don Davis in one of the most difficult districts in the country. especially gerrymandered by the Republican Party. To defeat him. Supreme Court Justice Alison Riggs, took the lead In her Supreme Court election. Her election will give Democrats a total of six statewide wins in 2024.
Not only did Democrats win North Carolina, they defeated some of the most extreme, anti-abortion, election denial, social media conspiracy theorists ever to run in the state. Even before Mark Robinson Explicit posts A post on a porn forum was discovered that read, “Abortion in this country is not about saving the mother's life; No. It's about you killing that child. I wasn't responsible enough to keep my skirt down.”
But his success at North Carolina was not based on Robinson's inherent weaknesses as a candidate. Democrats in the state have quietly racked up long-term victories.
Since 1992, the Democratic Party I won safely Eight of the past nine gubernatorial elections, nine of the past nine attorney general elections, and nine of the past nine secretary of state elections. No other battleground state in the country comes close to this record, but we were able to accomplish this at the same time that Republicans accomplished it. took charge of the country North Carolina's Democratic Party has been successful because its candidates have campaigned (and then ruled) as pragmatic problem-solvers. As we begin to rebuild and realign our party, we should learn lessons from these state-level candidates.
Under the leadership of Governor Roy Cooper, the Democratic Party developed a positive and effective governance strategy that led to electoral success. Despite sticking to a Republican gerrymandered majority throughout his governorship, North Carolina under his leadership 550,000 new jobsMedicaid expansion (enrollment) almost 600,000 North Carolinian), state The future of clean energyAnd he has successfully guided our country through a global pandemic. Two once-in-500-year floods occur eastern North Carolina and recently Once-in-a-millennium storm Located in western North Carolina.
Governor-elect Stein ran a campaign focused on making North Carolina safer and stronger, and on her track record of eliminating gangs. Largest backlog of rape kits in Japantackling the opioid epidemic and combating fentanyl abuse. By doing so, he Significant crossover support He was elected as a Republican and won. majority Number of independent voters.
North Carolina is one of them. fastest growing states It is consistently ranked high in the country. Top destination for new job creation. Demographic growth favors Democrats over the long term, as more college-educated voters move to the state and deep blue areas of the Research Triangle and Charlotte grow larger by the day. This growth will have a major impact on the 2026 U.S. Senate elections. The 2028 presidential election will have even greater implications.
Although national experts often classify North Carolina as a red state, strong and capable leaders like Josh Stein and Roy Cooper are pragmatic and capable leaders that other states can use as a model for success. We built something sustainable. Please help us continue the progress we have made and build on this strong foundation. And for Democrats across the country looking for optimism and positive progress, look to North Carolina as a beacon of light.
Morgan Jackson is a longtime Democratic strategist from North Carolina who helped oversee the successful gubernatorial and attorney general campaigns of Governor Roy Cooper and Governor-elect Josh Stein.
