In one of the more important races in North Carolina, Supreme Court candidates Republican Paul Newby and Democrat Sam Ervin have roughly the same amount of cash on hand in their latest campaign reports. They both received over $240,000 in public finance funds. But the State Board of Elections ruled they would not be given rescue funds because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that such matching funds violated free speech. Rescue funds were designed to match contributions raised by an opponent who opted out of public financing. This is the first time since public financing was passed that the candidates for Supreme Counrt who opted for public funds will have to actively seek more contributions.
Ervin is running ahead in individual contributions with over $92,000. Newby reported receiving over $82,000 from individuals but has more cash on hand with over $321,600. Ervin’s campaign report shows he has over $302,700 cash on hand.
Many people see this race as the pivotal vote on challenges to the redistrticting maps drawn by a Republican legislature. If that pivotal vote supports those maps the GOP could have a majority in the House and Senate for the next ten years.
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