How Ag Shaped NC’s “Red Wave”

North Carolina experienced a “Red Wave” in Tuesday’s election – BUT not strong enough to completely swamp the “Blue Shore” in the NC House.
 
The NC House and Senate results will shift the balance of power further toward the GOP in next year’s long session. The House fell short of another Republican supermajority by a close loss in Suburban Cabarrus County House District 73 by 425 votes. I am sure that someone somewhere is “kicking” themselves. This was the closest House race, and Cabarrus County is typically a reliable Republican stronghold.
 
Senate Republicans won the exact number of seats needed for a veto-proof majority: 30 of 50. But House Republicans fell one vote short, winning 71 seats when they needed 72 for a supermajority.
 
It’s a change from the GOP’s current 69 House and 28 Senate seats. While Gov. Cooper won’t automatically see his vetoes overridden – we can expect close votes next year. You can expect that if a bill is vetoed, House leadership will have a quick count on what is needed to override, either securing that one additional vote or may “park” the bill until the attendance numbers are there for a successful override – Look for more high drama.
 
Ag generally fairs well in a pro-business legislative environment. With a few exceptions, we should continue our substantial successes in the General Assembly.
 
Because of the Ag Community’s long history of legislative successes, the opposition has turned to regulatory agencies and the court system to promote their extreme agendas. Filing lawsuits and executing “sue and settle” schemes with favorable state agencies is part of their playbook. The Court system is seen as a backdoor way to “legislate” their agendas through activist agencies and judges.
 
The NC Ag Partnership, NC Chamber Legal Institute, and NC Pork Council have been working hard to counteract this strategy. Nothing helps our efforts like a SWEEP Election that helps take the pressure off. Tuesday provided a sea of change in the makeup of the NC Supreme Court and preserved the conservative majority on the NC Court of Appeals.
 
Because the NC Ag Partnership engaged in the NC Supreme Court races through our unique rural outreach, coupled with the television advertising produced by the NC Chamber, we will have a conservative Republican majority on the NC Supreme Court through at least 2028 and perhaps beyond.
 
This year’s Supreme Court races were some of the most expensive in state history, with $15 million spent by both sides. Your NC Ag Partnership was able to engage because many of you helped fund this outreach producing solid victories.
 
You should feel a sense of great satisfaction that both the Ag and Business Communities developed and executed well-thought-out, successful plans in this election cycle. We are pleased that the Ag Partnership played a significant role and were able to accomplish this because of your engagement.