North Carolina politics Coverage

Biden to visit North Carolina this week, his third trip to the state this year

Thursday's planned visit to Wilmington comes after Republican presidential challenger Donald Trump had to cancel a rally in the same city due to weather.

Brian Murphy, WRAL News

US Senate committee investigates weight-loss drug costs as NC negotiates with manufacturer

A U.S. Senate committee is investigating the prices that Novo Nordisk charges for its blockbuster medications, Ozempic and Wegovy. North Carolina officials, who canceled coverage of the drugs over costs, are trying to negotiate lower prices with the drug maker.

Dani Blum, New York Times

North Carolina Voter Guide 2024: Who's running, how, where, when to vote in NC election

NC Voter Guide 2024: Everything you need to know about North Carolina's second primary election on May 14, 2024. Who's running, how, where, when you can vote.

Cooper: GOP is 'trying to choke' public schools, calls for higher teacher pay, end to vouchers

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper called on legislative leaders to focus on boosting teacher pay and to invest in child care.

Brian Murphy, WRAL News

Lawmakers return to Raleigh to begin 2024 legislative session Wednesday

The state budget is already set, but there's an extra one billion dollars left over. On Wednesday, state lawmakers will gather at the legislative building to figure out what they're going to do with it.

Planned Parenthood Plans $10 Million Boost for Democrats in North Carolina

The money will pay for digital advertisements, new field offices and a canvassing operation concentrated in a handful of swing counties. The leaders of the group, Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic, say it plans to knock on more than 1 million doors through the end of 2024 to talk to voters about preserving abortion access.

Maya King, New York Times

Matt Judge named executive director of North Carolina Republican Party

Judge, who has served as the state GOP's political director since 2021, succeeds Jason Simmons, who was named the state party chairman last month.

By Jack Hagel, WRAL News

Dozens of NC students gather in Raleigh for Youth Legislative Assembly

High school students from across the state are heading home after a weekend at the state legislature.

'I am so sorry, but we will do it again' Donald Trump calls off Wilmington rally due to severe weather

Former President Donald Trump was forced to cancel the Wilmington rally scheduled for Saturday evening due to severe weather conditions.

WRAL staff

In local congressional runoff, Republicans Daughtry and Knott fight over Democratic ties

Republicans in North Carolina's 13th congressional district are accusing each other of holding secret liberal beliefs. Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott are competing in the runoff scheduled for May 14.

Deja vu: NC lawmakers likely to try again to compel sheriffs to work with federal immigration officials

When North Carolina lawmakers return to work April 24, one of their first orders of business is likely to be an familiar one. For the fourth year out of the past five, they're expected to debate whether sheriffs should be required to cooperate with directives from federal immigration officials.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

NC lawmakers may reconsider bill requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE

The bill state lawmakers are considering would require sheriffs in North Carolina to hold suspected undocumented immigrants in custody at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, otherwise known as ICE, without a warrant or official detainer.

Biden softens stance on Gaza. Could it decide who wins NC in 2024 election?

Protests over the U.S.'s support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas underscore challenges to President Joe Biden's efforts to win North Carolina and other swing states.

By Will Doran and Eric Miller, WRAL News

How Israel-Hamas is dividing the Democratic Party ahead of 2024 election

The war in Gaza has become a major issue for the upcoming presidential election. WRAL anchor/reporter Eric Miller talked with protesters and WRAL's NCCaptiol team about what it means for the presidential election for a swing state like North Carolina.

A top NC Republican lawmaker announces early resignation

A member of House Republican leadership from Guilford County, Jon Hardister has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives since the 2010 Tea Party wave that swept the Republican Party into power.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

More than 1,600 ballots thrown out in NC primary elections

More than 1,600 ballots were rejected in the March 5 primary election, according to data from the North Carolina Board of Elections. This was the first statewide election since 2014 to require voter ID, due to a court ruling that enacted the law after a long legal battle, as well as the first to implement a tighter deadline for mail-in ballots.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol bureau chief

Editorial: Two views of 2024 campaign in N.C. Feuding Democrats or return to Jim Crow era?

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 -- The next seven months are shaping up to be a rearview, 126-year-old reflection of politics in an era of intolerance and prejudice. Will North Carolina voters in 2024 make different choices than voters did in 1898?

Mark Robinson pushes Biden for details on terror watchlist suspect arrested in NC

The public deserves more information after police in rural North Carolina arrested a man whose name allegedly appears on a federal terrorist watch list, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson said Monday.

One political issue North Carolinians agree on? Stronger border security, new WRAL poll shows

Ahead of the 2024 elections, North Carolina polling numbers show Democrats tend to agree with Republicans that stronger border security is needed. It comes as Democratic President Joe Biden has shifted to the right on immigration.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

GOP nominee to run North Carolina public schools called for violence against Democrats, including executing Obama and Biden

(CNN) -- The Republican nominee for superintendent overseeing North Carolina's public schools and its $11 billion budget has a history marked by extreme and controversial comments, including sharing baseless conspiracy theories and frequent calls for the execution of prominent Democrats.

By Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck, CNN

Whatley, now RNC chairman, says he'll step down from state GOP role

State Republican Chairman Michael Whatley is stepping down from the role days after he was named chairman of the Republican National Committee. He says the state should have a full-time chair.

By Jack Hagel, WRAL News

NC voters split on Green and Morrow in state superintendent race

Republican Michele Morrow and Democrat Mo Green are in a statistical dead heat in the race to oversee North Carolina's public schools, according to a WRAL News Poll released Monday.

By Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Why Democrats Are Hopeful in North Carolina and Nervous in Georgia

ATLANTA -- Democrats are starting to dream that President Joe Biden can wrench North Carolina away from Donald Trump in November.

Maya King and Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times

Conservative activist defeats incumbent NC schools superintendent

A candidate who has called public schools "indoctrination centers," urged people not to send their children defeated the incumbent Tuesday in the GOP primary to run the state's public schools.

Mark Robinson, Josh Stein set to run in NC governor's race

The next eight months in North Carolina are expected to feature one of the most intensely watched governor's races in the 2024 elections, with state and national implications.