Cry more, MAGA. Republicans who embraced extreme gerrymandering and cheered mid-decade redistricting are suddenly upset. Poor babies.

After years of hearing Republicans defending extreme gerrymandering, their hypocritical whining is music to my ears. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Thomas's rule Candidates matter, even in wave elections.

In wave elections, ride the wave, don’t make more of them. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The liars, the deniers, and the aggressively ignorant Individual responsibility and public accountability are casualties of the modern GOP.

Democrats hold their own accountable. Republicans don’t. What’s wrong with them? open.substack.com/pub/politics...

April Montgomery, independent for state house Montgomery's candidacy can combat hyper-partisanship and gerrymandering.

Independent candidates can breach the partisan divide and combat gerrymandering. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

SHiLL The conservative safe space at UNC will fail. It probably already has.

If conservative ideas were compelling to academics, they wouldn't need SCiLL in the first place. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

University snowflakes Conservatives at UNC-CH are attacking free speech.

The adults at UNC-CH should be standing up for the students and their rights, not th snowflakes at the Board of Trustees. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

They aren't who they used to be. Or maybe they are. I appreciate Thom Tillis taking stands on principles. I just wish he had done it before he lost them.

I’ve been revisiting posts I wrote back in 2103 and the GOP is fundamentally different party that has largely abandoned its principles. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Turning their backs on rural children The end of Leandro is the latest blow to public schools as Republicans shift funds to private schools.

Republicans dismantled a public education system that was working and improving to shift money from public schools to private ones. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The popularity gap Democrats have an advantage in identification and should build on it.

Democrats have an opportunity. They shouldn’t blow it by overpromising and underdelivering. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Cooper's position is strong The political environment is better for Democrats and the fundamentals are in his favor.

Three new polls show Cooper leading and a good environment for Democrats in North Carolina. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The real legacy of Phil Berger and Thom Tillis They unleashed a wave of ugly populism that had been kept at bay for 50 years.

They unleashed a populism that left North Carolina more divided than it’s been in 50 years. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

A civil concession Phil Berger will step away as leader of the Senate without gnashing teeth.

I’ve had grudging respect for Berger since he’s been in power. I appreciate his concession without dragging out the election for months. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Democrats concede, Republicans don't Republicans have undermined faith in the system for electoral success.

Instead of conceding, Republicans cast doubt on the system and look for venues like courts and boards of elections where they might gain an advantage. It’s damaging to our democracy. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

He's baaack Mark Robinson wants some more attention.

Mark Robinson is a still a good representation of the modern GOP. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Saving us from the SAVE Act The bill takes a page out of Jim Crow, shaping the electorate by disenfranchising people.

The SAVE Act is probably dead in the water, but its intent is disenfranchisement, not voter integrity. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Run some independents Thinking outside the box is good, but it needs to be strategic.

As long as the courts uphold partisan gerrymandering, Democrats and their allies need to get more strategic. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

All the best people A story of election fraud, cynicism, and the death of accountability.

The people who perpetuated one of the most egregious election fraud scandals in recent history were never held accountable. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Failing the stress test of democracy The NC GOP has whittled away at the checks and balances that protect our democracy and now control elections in the state.

The North Carolina state board of elections needs to prove its mettle, because Republicans have not. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Exiting the stage they entered together Berger and Tillis took became dominant Republicans in 2011 and appear likely to leave together in 2017.

Phil Berger and Thom Tillis ushered in a new era of politics in NC and now look poised to leave together. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Restless Natives NC, post-primary episode Catch Anderson Clayton's energy. It's infectious. Travis Fain and I have some words of wisdom, too.

Catch Anderson Clayton’s energy. It’s infectious. Travis Fain and I have a few words of wisdom, too. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

More resignations, please Auditor Dave Boliek is undermining trust in our election system.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has credibility problem. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Ten million down and two votes shy A look at primary results across North Carolina.

In the most expensive primary in North Carolina history, the President Pro-tem of the Senate is two votes down. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Primary races A short list of some of the races to watch.

The races tomorrow will shape the general election and possibly influence the Democrats’ power in the legislature. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

To buy an election Once dark money seeps into an election ecosystem, it rarely goes away.

Once dark money enters an election ecosystem it rarely goes away. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

North Carolinians are in a bad mood A poll shows a pessimistic electorate unhappy with Trump and where he's taken the country.

An in depth poll shows a pessimist electorate in North Carolina with broad dissatisfaction of Donald Trump in a year that will be a referendum on his presidency. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Nationalizing local elections A shady dark money group from Washington, DC, is playing in Orange County's sheriff's race.

Why is a shady dark money group from Washington, DC, playing in Orange County’s sheriff’s race? open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Advantage Page Early numbers don't look good for Berger right now.

Berger will likely need to see a big increase in Guilford turnout to overcome Page’s advantage in their home county. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

To Morrow Michele Morrow may have run her course.

Have Republicans gotten their crazy under control? open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The generational primary The Democratic primary in in NC-04 has national implications.

The primary playing out in NC-04 has all the elements of the generational divide that’s pulling at the Democratic Party today. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The GOP crime problem Michael Whatley needs to let us know where he stands on the pardoning sex abusers, selling pardons, and covering up the Epstein files.

Democrats need to flip the script on crime. The GOP is covering up a sex scandal, pardoning felons, and putting sex abusers back on the streets. open.substack.com/pub/politics...