Some people may think they live in a “blue” state or a “red” state so their vote makes no difference. But really all the states are purple, made up of people who vote one way and the other. In Tennessee, for example, there is disillusionment with voting because Republicans have successfully made some people feel that their vote makes no difference. But Tennessee has a Senate race whose importance cannot be overstated, between Marsha Blackburn and Gloria Johnson.
Likewise, North Carolina voters have been successively disenfranchised and demoralized by gerrymandering, gaslighting, and corruption, but every single race on our ballots are crucial in this election and will decide whether or not we slide further into autocracy.
Mark Hellman and Marilyn Hartman came up with a great flyer about Democrats for important North Carolina offices this year. See the very end of this newsletter, or the google doc. You can also email democracyoutloud@gmail.com for the pdf.
Mark Robinson is not the only Republican candidate who is an extremist. Insurrectionists Dan Bishop, running for Attorney General, Michele Morrow, running for Superintendent of Schools, and Hal Weatherman, candidate for Lt. Governor, are just as scary.
Below are pictures of the Democratic candidates for Council of State.
Insurance Commissioner is something I don’t think about much, but it is important. Check out the Republican candidate for this position, “rate hike Mike” and vote for Natasha Marcus.
The two candidates for Labor Commissioner have starkly different platforms, and I am excited about Braxton Winston. He’s a union member who wants fair pay and safety for NC workers.
Sarah Tabor as Agricultural Commissioner would be good for our economy and good for agricultural workers and farmers. See her interview with Leigh Coulter at this link.
MAGA has made no secret of its plans to continue their coup no matter who wins the election, and if it is close and challenged, the US Supreme Court will undoubtedly award the Presidency to Trump. We cannot afford for the election to be close.
from Rosemary: We have the same problem with the NC Supreme Court, which last week made the unlawful and outrageous decision to force the NC Board of Elections to reprint millions of ballots after RFK withdrew after the deadline. We must elect Alison Riggs in a landslide, and amplify the truth about this extreme and hyper-partisan court.
To take back our state courts, work with Flip NC. To break the NCGA Republican supermajority, canvass with Neighbors on Call or County to County.
Marilyn Hartmans, “Everyday Election Activism” is a great summary of actions you can take, in person and virtually, for this election.
From Marci and Lori: Swing the vote helps get out the college vote in swing states.
Check your registration at https://iwillvote.com.
If every American knew about Project 2025, Trump and Vance’s plans for their administration, Democrats would win in a landslide. Here is a fun yet accurate 4 1/2-minute video explaining it. Clearly Project 2025 has already started with abortion bans and voucher expansions in many states, economic policy, and attacks on the immigrant and LGBT communities. We need that landslide all the way down the ballot.
This includes the proposed NC Constitutional Amendment (vote NO). The Heritage Foundation’s own study proved that noncitizen voting is vanishingly rare, and the very slight word change from our current constitution opens the way to denaturalization..
About the economy, an important issue for voters: Every Democratic President in my lifetime has reduced the deficit. Every Republican President has raised it.
Once again, the Long March will be in both Durham and Raleigh on September 24. It will be amazing. You can get the details about the entire march at this link.
From Andy: John Oliver nails it on funding for school lunches.
We have studied some of Anat Shenker-Osorio’s work on canvassing and on messaging for the election. She will be on zoom on September 20 at noon to talk about her most recent work. Register here.
From Karen B, something so cool it made me cry: The Hamilton cast singing Election 2024. I’m a big fan of this musical, but even if you are not, you might love this.
Everyone is invited to join us this Tuesday, September 24, and every Tuesday from 11:30 am (“doors open” at 11:15) to 12:30 pm. The following week, October 1, we will be celebrating our 400th-week anniversary in person. If there is a zoom that day it will just be a screen share slideshow of our nearly 8-year history. If you want to come to our in-person gathering and didn’t get an invitation, or if you need the zoom link, email democracyoutloud@gmail.com.
Below, one of our last gatherings on the street, in 2020. (photo by Mike Eisenberg)
In the past nearly eight years, we have learned so much and made so many friends. Deep gratitude to everyone who keeps showing up to work for our future and the future of those who come after us.
love, Karen
You know Josh Stein is on the ballot for Governor. Let's give him a set of well-qualified Democrats to work with!
Lt. Governor - Rachel Hunt: Rachel Hunt represents Mecklenburg County in the state Senate and is the daughter of former Governor Jim Hunt.
Attorney General - Jeff Jackson: Jeff Jackson currently represents a Charlotte district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Auditor - Jessica Holmes: Jessica Holmes is the current state Auditor. Before that, she was a Wake County Commissioner.
Commissioner of Agriculture - Sarah Taber: Sarah Taber is a farm and food systems consultant. She also works the family's vegetable farm and fruit orchards in the Fayetteville area.
Commissioner of Insurance - Natasha Marcus: Natasha Marcus is currently completing her third term in the state Senate. She pledges to hold public hearings on the rate increases that insurance companies want.
Commissioner of Labor - Braxton Winston: Braxton Winston is a union member and serves on the Charlotte City Council.
Secretary of State - Elaine Marshall: Elaine Marshall was elected in 1996 and has been re-elected six times.Superintendent of Public Instruction - Mo Green: Mo Green was superintendent of Guilford County
Schools for seven years. Before that he was the deputy superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Treasurer - Wesley Harris: Wesley Harris is an economist specializing in public finance. He grew up in rural western North Carolina and currently serves as a state House representative.
These Republican-dominated courts need some Democrats for balance:
Supreme Court of North Carolina - Allison Riggs: The highest court in the state rules on a wide range of issues.
• Allison Riggs is one of only two Democrats on the seven-member NC Supreme Court. She was previously a civil rights lawyer with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.
Court of Appeals of North Carolina - Carolyn Jennings Thompson, Ed Eldred, and Martin Moore: Three seats are on the ballot for this statewide court that hears appeals from lower courts.
• Carolyn Thompson is currently on the Court of Appeals and has over 15 years of experience as a judge. Ed Eldred and Martin Moore are experienced attorneys at law firms in Chapel Hill (Ed) and Asheville (Martin).