According to the Civitas Poll, Republicans gained some momentum for October when compared to the previous month. While the midterm elections are headed into the home stretch, Democrats still lead on the generic ballot for Congress and legislative races in North Carolina. The GOP closed the gap by three points in the Congressional races (43-39%) but only by a single point in the legislative races (44-39%).
President Donald Trump saw his numbers approve, finding himself above water in North Carolina when it comes to job approval (48%-47%). Democrats are relying on Trump’s unpopularity across the country and particularly in suburban areas of the nation to propel them to big gains. The latest Civitas flash poll has Republican incumbent George Holding opening up a nine-point lead on Linda Coleman in the 2nd District. A previous poll showed Coleman with a one-point lead in the race. Republican and Freedom Caucus member Ted Budd appears to be strengthening of late too in his race against Democrat Kathy Manning in North Carolina 13. The matchup between Republican Mark Harris and Dan McCready in the 9th District may end up as the closest Congressional race in North Carolina.
Most national political experts expect Democrats to retake the U.S. House and install Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. At the same time, Republicans could narrowly add to their majority in the U.S. Senate.
The November issue has a lot of content. Particularly of interest to readers should be the articles related to state expenditure obligations and what that means for the future economic health of this state. Leah Byers makes a great point when she insists that lawmakers need to start considering those obligations when making annual budget decisions.
We’ve also added a map highlighting the gas tax in North Carolina, comparing the tax rates with other states in our region. At the very least, I think it’s essential that we keep tabs on what we are paying at the pump. Gas taxes are regressive and unfortunately hit lower-income citizens and families in the state much harder. One of the stories I admire about Jesse Helms is that he fought the Ronald Reagan administration hard and virtually by himself to stop a federal gas tax increase in the 1980s. Helms ultimately lost the battle but his constituents stood with him and applauded his tenacity.
Civitas will continue to have plenty of analysis beyond the election online, in print, on video, and through our podcast. We appreciate our readers and as always, value your feedback.
