From Vol. 90, Ed. 08 May 2, 2024
The 2024 general election is quickly approaching and there is still much to learn about the candidates on the ballot. What is next for the 2024 election in North Carolina?
Things seem to have died down since the March primary. Campaign signs have been taken down, billboard ads have shifted away from politics and the public’s attention has moved toward other issues.
But campaigning isn’t over yet.
North Carolina will hold a second primary election May 14 for republican nominations for state auditor, lieutenant governor and U.S. House Representative for District 13.
These positions have the potential to impact a wide range of areas of public interest.
Dave Boliek and Jack Clark will compete in the state auditor runoff.
The state auditor keeps track of tax dollars moving throughout the state. They identify potential improvements to make tax dollars more effective and ensure programs funded by taxes are meeting the criteria for their funding.
Jim O’Neil and Hal Weatherman are running for lieutenant governor.
The lieutenant governor of North Carolina is essentially the vice-governor. They preside over the state senate and serve as a member or chairman of various councils and commissions.
Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott will compete for the U.S. House District 13 seat.
The House holds the “power of the purse,” allocating funds for organizations and bills passed through the federal chambers.
Looking outside of this runoff, candidates who have won their primaries are listed on the draft ballot. The draft ballot provides a great opportunity to get acquainted with nominees for the November election and the policies they endorse.
Researching candidates does not have to be a burden. It can often be easily worked into day-to-day life.
WCU political science professor Chris Cooper advocates for people to educate themselves on each race, the candidates and the positions that will be on the ballot.
“Before things get ramped up it’s a great time to learn about the candidates,” Cooper said. “You can look at your ballot right now on the State Board of Elections website. So maybe next week you learn about the state treasurer and what they do and who’s running for office, and then next week you learn about the auditor, so it doesn’t take over your life.”
Education is a key component to civic engagement. With politics being very complex and having multiple levels, it can be hard to decide where to dedicate your attention.
Cooper encourages voters to focus on local elections.
“The first thing I would do is pay less attention to the presidential race,” Cooper said. “We know who those people are, we know where they stand. There’s nothing else to be learned about Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”
“My guess is the average student doesn’t have an opinion on the Superintendent of Public Instruction race in North Carolina,” he continued. “They do on the presidential race, so lean into what you don’t know as much.”
There are many resources available for voters to educate themselves on different races, ranging from voter guides published by newspapers, to non-profit organizations dedicated to voter education.
