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renlarson.bsky.social

@renlarson.bsky.social
1.1K followers 400 following 64 posts

data- and records-obsessed journalist. Feeding your brain North Carolina stories at @theassemblync.bsky.social lifelong language learner, rock climber

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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Why don't we ever learn from disasters? Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land. @renlarson.bsky.social @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land.
Residents of a riverfront trailer park in the Appalachian Mountains have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
A heartbreaking story that raises major policy questions: Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land. by @renlarson.bsky.social @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land.
Residents of a riverfront trailer park in the Appalachian Mountains have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Multiple storms have swept homes out of a North Carolina trailer park, but new residents continue to move to those same flood-prone plots. @renlarson.bsky.social explains why this is allowed. @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land.
Residents of a riverfront trailer park in the Appalachian Mountains have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
2004's Hurricane Frances swept a mobile home near Clyde, NC, into the river, its owner evacuated minutes before In 2024, Hurricane Helene swept the neighboring home away, a resident was unable to escape A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way www.theassemblync.com/news/busines...
theassemblync.com
Hurricane Helene Washed His Wife Away From Their Mobile Home. Now New Residents Live on the Same Land.
Residents of this riverfront trailer park have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap means many face repeated flodding.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Johanna Still @j-still.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Documents reveal WakeMed snubbed its rival’s offer to merge, despite UNC Health offering $3 billion more than Charlotte-based Atrium Health. @theassemblync.bsky.social www.theassemblync.com/news/health/...
theassemblync.com
UNC Offered WakeMed $5 Billion, More Than Double Atrium’s Bid
Documents reveal WakeMed snubbed its rival’s offer to merge, despite UNC Health offering $3 billion more than Charlotte-based Atrium Health.
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Dash Lewis // Gardener @gardenerjams.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
i went to fayetteville, nc a last month to learn about the city and scene that made j. cole who he is. read about it here at @theassemblync.bsky.social
theassemblync.com
A Tale of Two Six
How Fayettevillle's superstar native son J. Cole and his new album, The Fall-Off, put the local hip-hop scene on the map for one night.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
The Upshot @upshot.nytimes.com · 09/03/2026
Via Claire Brown and @rjnskl.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
How Rising Home Insurance Costs Are Linked to Credit Scores (Gift Article)
In many states, homeowners with excellent credit scores are charged less for home insurance than those with worse scores, even if they live in a disaster-prone area.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Soraya Nadia McDonald @soraya.press · 02/03/2026
"H.I.V. medications suppress the virus to undetectable levels, eliminating the chance of spreading the virus to others, so interrupting treatment may lead to an increase in new infections."
nytimes.com
States Move to Limit Access to H.I.V. Treatment
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Tyler Dukes @mtdukes.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Ring’s controversial, AI-powered “Search Party” feature isn’t intended to always be limited only to dogs, the company’s founder, Jamie Siminoff, told Ring employees in an internal email obtained by 404 Media. www.404media.co/leaked-email...
404media.co
Leaked Email Suggests Ring Plans to Expand ‘Search Party’ Surveillance Beyond Dogs
Ring's CEO told staff the feature is “first for finding dogs,” indicating a plan to expand.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Jordan Green @byjordangreen.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
NEW: 8 men linked to Vinlanders Social Club, a notorious violent racist skinhead group, have been detained for hate crimes. Police in Charlotte, NC seized 3 members' phones last October after they brought knives and brass knuckles to a pro-Palestine protest. 1/4 www.rawstory.com/raw-investig...
rawstory.com
‘The white man’s coming back’: Eight held over links to resurgent violent skinhead group
Eight men linked to a violent racist skinhead group are in jail in the U.S. South on felony conspiracy charges or awaiting extradition for hate crimes against Jewish and LGBTQ+ targets, Raw Story has ...
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Colin Campbell @raleighreporter.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Happy Municipal Election Day, #ncpol! Polls in places holding elections are open from now until 7:30 p.m. Details on how to find a sample ballot, and on some Triangle races to watch: www.wunc.org/tags/triangl...
wunc.org
Triangle Elections 2025
Voters in more than 500 municipalities in North Carolina will go to the polls this fall to choose mayors and city council members. These are important elections, as city leaders make crucial decisions...
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Are you still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene? We want to hear from you. www.theassemblync.com/environment/...
theassemblync.com
Are You Still Rebuilding After Helene? We Want To Hear Your Story
ProPublica and The Assembly are reporting on rebuilding after Helene. We want to hear from you about your experience.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
10/ A year after Helene’s destruction, the Hills expect to move back in any day. 1000s of others aren’t even close. Michelle now lives alone in a donated camper. Moving into a permanent home feels more unreachable than ever. www.theassemblync.com/environment/...
theassemblync.com
Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene
A ProPublica and Assembly analysis of the more rural counties Helene pummeled found households that got the most aid had higher incomes.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
9/ FEMA did not respond to the news organizations’ requests for comment. The agency previously told the U.S. Government Accountability Organization that it encourages all survivors with property damage to apply, and those with minimal damage are “driving down the average award amount.”
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
8/ The agency was working to improve its online application, but under the Trump administration, the team has disintegrated. In January, the team had at least 10 people. Now, sources said, it’s down to two.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
7/ FEMA has faced years of criticism from people applying for aid. inconsistent payouts an onerous application process incomprehensible communication
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
6/ Michelle requested more rental assistance and uploaded an employer letter, a rental agreement, utility bills and a rent receipt. She called FEMA repeatedly. In June, her husband died. She called in July, but wait times were over 2 hours. She stopped calling.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
5/ In Haywood County, Michelle & Jeff Parker returned to their home to find it had flooded with 8 feet of water. They had just rebuilt after flooding in 2021. They applied for a buyout, seeking FEMA’s rental assistance to help while they’re displaced. One rental payment came.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
4/ In Yancey County, the Hill family received $0 from their insurance but neared the maximum $42,500 payout from FEMA. With school closed for nearly two months after Helene, the two-teacher family had time to push for FEMA aid, get estimates and upload documents.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
3/ Disparities in who receives FEMA aid have long been known to researchers, like @sarahlabo.bsky.social , a Senior Fellow at @carnegieendowment.org, who studies and writes about disasters.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
2/ A year after Hurricane Helene ravaged Western NC, @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social & I reported on FEMA aid in the 10 counties where the storm hit hardest. In some counties, the highest-income homeowners received 2-3x as much housing assistance as those with lower incomes.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
1/ After a natural disaster, people often turn to FEMA for housing aid. Income is not supposed to play a role. A @propublica/@TheAssemblyNC analysis found in rural counties hardest-hit by Helene, the highest-income owners typically received more housing aid. www.propublica.org/article/fema...
propublica.org
Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene
An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
% of US men under 30 who say legal sports betting is a *bad thing* for society 22% in 2022 47% in 2025 No other demographic group has seen a bigger increase.
pewresearch.org
Americans increasingly see legal sports betting as a bad thing for society and sports
Today, 43% of U.S. adults say the fact that sports betting is now legal in much of the country is a bad thing for society, up from 34% in 2022.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Must read: The Arduous and Unequal Fight to Get FEMA Aid After Hurricane Helene, by @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social w/ @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene
An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
One year ago, Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina. Since then, people who lost their homes have turned to FEMA for aid. Some are still slogging through red tape. @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social w/ @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene
An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
NEW: Reuters examined more than 500 local-court cases filed since the start of Trump's takeover of policing in D.C. Nearly half of the cases involving federal agents have been for comparatively minor charges, including public drinking and marijuana. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
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Tyler Dukes @mtdukes.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Charlotte-area deputies hid their identities with face coverings when they arrested 10 people on drug charges earlier this month, mirroring a technique now used by federal ICE agents. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c... (gift link)
charlotteobserver.com
NC sheriff says deputies OK to cover faces, critics raise concerns
Iredell County's sheriff defends deputies wearing face coverings, while critics worry it erodes public trust and lacks clear policy guidelines.
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Robert Hernandez @webjournalist.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
This is a powerful piece of journalism. “… each of the men were not only losing time, they were losing loved ones. They were missing major life moments that can never be recovered. Not only did the men say they were tortured during these four months; their families said they were too.”
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The Assembly @theassemblync.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
In the Small Digital Organization Sports Reporting category, @renlarson.bsky.social won for her story on the US Performance Center. www.theassemblync.com/politics/oly...
theassemblync.com
North Carolina’s $55 Million Olympic Dream
Top legislators quietly allocated large state grants to attract Olympic organizations to the Charlotte area, with little to show for it.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
An audit of $25 million awarded to the for-profit company found they misspent $6.2M state funds -- attempting to bill state taxpayers for alcohol, IRS late payment fees, interest, a personal vehicle, contributions to NASCAR driver Richard Childress' charity, etc www.theassemblync.com/politics/oly...
theassemblync.com
Company Misspent $6.2 Million in State Funds to Lure Olympic Groups, Audit Finds
A state audit found the Charlotte-based U.S. Performance Center misspent nearly a quarter of the money awarded by the legislature.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
We wrote about the #ncga awarding a for-profit company and its nonprofit $55 million to lure Olympic teams and governing bodies to NC. We found: * funds were awarded w/o public discussion or economic development targets * they paid themselves, politically-connected consultants, and board members
theassemblync.com
North Carolina’s $55 Million Olympic Dream
Top legislators quietly allocated large state grants to attract Olympic organizations to the Charlotte area, with little to show for it.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Proud reporter moment. @theassemblync.bsky.social was awarded its first National Murrow Award. And it won its second. “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”
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404 Media @404media.co · 14/08/2025
BREAKING: ICE Adds Random Person to Group Chat, Exposes Details of Manhunt in Real-Time 🔗 www.404media.co/ice-adds-ran...
404media.co
ICE Adds Random Person to Group Chat, Exposes Details of Manhunt in Real-Time
The texts were sent to a group called “Mass Text” and show ICE using DMV and license plate reader data in an attempt to find their target, copies of the messages obtained by 404 Media show.
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Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
BREAKING: With #2030Census prep already underway, President Trump says he's instructed Commerce Dept to "immediately begin work" on a "new" census that excludes people living in the states without legal status from a count the 14th Amendment says must include “whole number of persons in each state”
I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024. People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
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Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · 31/07/2025
I'm quoted in this great piece diving into the closure of St. Andrews University in North Carolina and what it means for the local community. The Assembly is one of the best local sources for higher ed coverage in the country. www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...
theassemblync.com
What Remains of St. Andrews
Following the sudden closure of St. Andrews University, Laurinburg grapples with the fallout and a now-empty campus.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
.@jeffreybillman.bsky.social knocked it out of the park reporting on #ncpol's most powerful man. “You know as well as I do that you don’t scrape a pimple off a gnat’s ass w/o Bill Rabon & Phil Berger’s permission in the NC Senate,” state Sen. Bobby Hanig said. www.theassemblync.com/politics/phi...
theassemblync.com
The Berger King
Phil Berger has been the state’s most powerful politician for more than a decade. He no longer looks invincible.
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Chris Cooper @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Registration Recovery Program July 23 Update for #ncpol: 🗳️ 99,989 people remain on the RRP list 🗳️ 3,285 people have cured their registration or dropped off the list for other reasons. 🗳️ 6 voters have been added to the list For background & details: www.oldnorthstatepolitics.com/2025/07/an-a...
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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
A question asked in June 2025 Catawba-YouGov Poll of 1K North Carolinians was "how important is the principle that regardless of which political party is in power, government agencies are not used to monitor, attack, or punish political opponents." NC Republicans: 88% very/somewhat important #ncpol
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
ICYMI -- Today, members of NC's county elections boards will take the oath of office. Republicans now have 3 of 5 seats on local boards, but despite gaining 100 seats statewide, many GOP incumbents aren't returning, & some say they were pushed out. #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Michael Hewlett @blackmuse.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
The latest from my colleague @renlarson.bsky.social: Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
The Assembly's summer sale is cheaper than parking in downtown Raleigh! Less than the cost of adding avocado to a taco! Cheaper than a postage stamp! Just 50 cents a week gives you access to our statewide, in-depth reporting. www.theassemblync.com/subscriptions/
theassemblync.com
Subscribe to The Assembly NC
Support our journalism by subscribing to The Assembly today!
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Here's one more link to the story, which has the gift of unbelievable photos from @cornwhizzle.bsky.social. & remember to support local journalism: reading, subscribing, and informing reporters are all great. @TheAssemblyNC has a summer sale, just 50c/week! www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
6/ When the Randolph County executive committee voted for new board members, GOP Chair Rick Smith didn't present the two incumbents' names. The new board members include people whose elections experience includes running for office and campaigning, not administration.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
5/ Jim Womack, president of the nonprofit North Carolina Election Integrity Team, is among those alarmed by the changes. Womack considers McNutt among the top two Harnett County Republicans “in the elections space” & says he would have liked for him to be appointed chair.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
4/ Bill McNutt (Harnett Co.) sought reappointment on his local board. The lifelong Republican's said he reduced voter wait times & helped recruit/retain county elections staff. He spoke out to use schools for elections, opposing the policy of local GOP leadership.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
3/ Among the changes: 31 counties have chairs who weren't on the local board last term. The turnover doesn't startle @MargoinWNC, who noted many members may want to retire and local GOP leadership may want more partisan members.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
3/ While Republicans gained 100 seats (and Democrats lost 100) statewide, 1 in 4 election boards will lose a Republican incumbent, and 5 will have a fully clean slate of GOP members, losing institutional memory.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
2/ NC has 100 counties, each w/ their own elections board. After Democrat Josh Stein won the governor's race in November, Republican lawmakers moved elections oversight & appointment powers to newly-elected Repub. state auditor. EFFECT: The majority on 100 boards went from DEM -> REP
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
🚨 NEW: 1/ As Republicans take control of North Carolina's election administration, ~1 in 4 incumbent GOP members weren't reappointed. Some former local board members say they were pushed out for not taking direction from county party leadership. #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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Carli Brosseau @carlibrosseau.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
@renlarson.bsky.social found that despite the number of GOP seats on county boards of election increasing from 200 to 300, 1 in 4 counties will lose an incumbent GOP member and many new board chairs lack experience with election administration. #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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