https://washingtonsun.com/north-carolina North Carolina en-US Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:13:39 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/north-carolina-approves-new-mail-in-ballot-policies-hours-before-sending-them-out Avani Kalra The board of election’s new policies would not affect the ballots that are being mailed out across the state, but will alter processing guidance for the board and its staff. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:13:39 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/north-carolina-approves-new-mail-in-ballot-policies-hours-before-sending-them-out North Carolina’s board of elections approved new mail-in ballot guidelines on Friday, the same day it began sending them to voters. The new guidelines make it easier for the state to reject completed ballots over technicalities.

North Carolina is among the first in the country to begin sending out mail-in ballots ahead of the midterms, and the new guidance reflects talking points repeated by President Donald Trump, who has claimed without evidence that mail-in voting is unreliable and rife with voter fraud.

The Trump administration is currently engaged in a legal battle over a new U.S. Postal Service rule that would require state officials to turn over lists of mail-in voters’ information and require every ballot envelope to have a scannable barcode — a policy change that many election officials worry would cause chaos before midterm voting. On Thursday, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to lift a federal judge’s block on the rule.

The board of election’s new policies would not affect the ballots that are being mailed out across the state, but will alter processing guidance for the board and its staff. The changes passed on a party-line vote, with three Republicans voting in favor and two Democrats dissenting.

Sam Hayes, the executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said in a Thursday press conference that counties across the state were prepared to begin the general-election ballot rollout, calling it “business as usual.”

“Our counties are ready,” Hayes said. “They’ve received adequate guidance and support from the state board, our staff have been working with the counties throughout the preparation stations, and we’ve put in place the necessary resources.”

The updated rules direct county officials to “spoil” mail-in-ballots when the inner envelope is not properly sealed, an envelope contains more than one ballot, or a voter’s signature does not match the name of an application number on the return envelope. The guidance also specifies that only immediate relatives or legal guardians can deliver mail-in ballots for others in person.

Democratic Gov. Josh Stein decried the changes — approved on Friday after having been put on hold by state law last week — as a “slap in the face to voters” and a “blatant circumvention of the law.”

“North Carolina voters deserve transparency in their elections, not last-minute workarounds that could keep their vote from counting,” Stein said in a statement. “I will continue to stand up for voters’ access to the ballot box.”

Experts and activists across the country have pointed to North Carolina as a first test for potential problems while the USPS rule remains stalled. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on Sept. 8.

“They’re able to figure it — North Carolina’s great,” Trump told reporters who earlier this week asked about how the USPS rule could affect the state sending out ballots. “It’s a great place. I won at golf three times.”]]> https://washingtonsun.com/house-votes-censure-chuck-edwards-over-harassment-allegations Avani Kalra The North Carolina Republican ended his reelection bid following mounting pressure from his party. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:14:14 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/house-votes-censure-chuck-edwards-over-harassment-allegations The House voted to censure Rep. Chuck Edwards on Tuesday following a House Ethics Committee report that determined there was “substantial evidence” that the North Carolina Republican engaged in “persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young staffers.”

The measure passed 413-2, with Edwards and another Republican voting against censure. The Ethics Committee recommended the move after its investigation this year concluded that “there was substantial reason to believe Representative Edwards violated House Rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces.”

“The Committee therefore has recommended that the House of Representatives adopt the Report, and with it, a censure of Representative Edwards for the conduct described therein,” the committee wrote in an August press release.

The resulting scandal led Edwards to end his reelection bid earlier this year following mounting pressure from House Republicans.

Tuesday’s measure does not strip Edwards of his committee assignments or restrict his voting abilities, but is the highest form of discipline a member can receive short of expulsion. It requires Edwards to stand in the chamber as the resolution condemning his behavior is read aloud.

Edwards spoke on the House floor shortly before the vote, apologizing to the two female staffers at the center of the allegations as well as his wife and family.

“Regret is not an admission of sexual harassment,” Edwards said. “I can acknowledge poor judgment, regret the discomfort that some of my actions may have caused and apologize to those who were hurt by this episode, while still disputing a conclusion that the evidence just simply does not support.”

Edwards has maintained that he did not engage in sexual misconduct, sending lawmakers a 22-page letter defending his actions last week. In the letter, the Republican said that there is “no House rule prohibiting members and staff from being friends.”

Edwards told reporters ahead of the censure vote on Tuesday that “House members should look closely at the process and how the Ethics Committee has chosen to abandon its own rules and make up the rules as they go.”

Sources told NOTUS in May that the committee had launched an investigation into allegations that Edwards had an affair with his former deputy chief of staff, who left his office earlier this year.

Multiple sources told NOTUS that Edwards and the former deputy chief of staff were not entirely private and the relationship became well-known among staff. The rules of the House of Representatives prohibit members from having romantic or sexual relationships with employees under their supervision.

The committee’s report found that Edwards was aware his conduct toward staffers had generated “rumors” and lists instances of alleged inappropriate conduct with staffers. The report found that Edwards went beyond the norms of professional behavior by giving two staffers “lavish gifts.”

“Both women received numerous gifts from Representative Edwards, including jewelry totaling over $1,000, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, a laptop and cell phone, KitchenAid mixer, robotic vacuum, vacations, tickets to performances, and one-on-one dinners,” the report said.

Lawmakers have employed censures more frequently to target their rivals in recent years, though most recent votes have largely fallen along partisan lines. Edwards was the first Republican to be censured under GOP leadership in decades.

The case is also one in a series of recent high-profile incidents involving lawmakers and staffers. Former Reps. Eric Swalwell of California and Tony Gonzales of Texas both resigned after ethics investigations into sexual misconduct allegations.

NOTUS reported that the Ethics Committee also investigated another North Carolina member, Rep. Alma Adams, for an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Adams' office said the panel did not find an improper relationship.]]> https://washingtonsun.com/2026-election/north-carolina-chuck-edwards-replace-ballot-jennifer-balkcom Oriana González State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom will be the Republican nominee after Edwards dropped out over a sexual harassment scandal. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:05:52 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/2026-election/north-carolina-chuck-edwards-replace-ballot-jennifer-balkcom North Carolina Republican Party officials have selected state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace Rep. Chuck Edwards on the ballot, after he withdrew from the race in the wake of a House Ethics Committee report that he sexually harassed two of his staffers.

“Representative Jennifer Balkcom has what it takes to be a strong voice for Western North Carolina in Washington,” Jason Simmons, chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, said in a statement. “She is committed to fighting for our families, defending our conservative values, and making sure Western North Carolina has a strong advocate in Congress.”

The North Carolina Republican Party's 11th Congressional District Executive Committee met in a closed-door meeting Monday night to select between multiple candidates: Ken McKim, Chad Nesbitt, Matthew Burril, Kristie Sluder and Balkcom. According to North Carolina GOP rules, each member of the committee must vote for their preferred candidate, and whichever candidate gets over 50% of the vote first becomes the nominee.

Balkcom, who has served in the state’s House of Representatives since 2023, will face Democratic nominee Jamie Ager in November.

Last week, the House Ethics Committee recommended that Edwards be censured and found “substantial evidence” that the North Carolina Republican “violated the spirit of the House’s prohibition on sexual harassment and unwanted advances through his conduct” toward two female staffers in his office.

Edwards, the committee said in its report, “acknowledged” that his behavior “could be viewed as inappropriate.” He gave the staffers expensive jewelry, designer purses, vacations, guns and dinners.

In 2022, Edwards ousted a controversial Republican incumbent, Madison Cawthorn, and was viewed as a safer candidate to represent the district, which stretches across most of the western part of the state. But his own ethics issues have caused headaches for GOP leaders. Republicans in the House and the Senate had privately pushed Edwards to drop out from the race shortly after the ethics panel released its findings.

The race for North Carolina’s 11th District is one of two competitive House contests in the state. House Democrats’ campaign arm has been targeting the seat, with Ager being added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program in February.

This story has been updated to include a comment from the North Carolina Republican Party chair.]]> https://washingtonsun.com/2026-election/chuck-edwards-drops-reelection Christa Dutton The House Ethics Committee had recommended the North Carolina Republican be censured. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:36:48 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/2026-election/chuck-edwards-drops-reelection Rep. Chuck Edwards suspended his campaign for reelection early Wednesday morning following a House Ethics report that cited alleged inappropriate behavior toward two women staffers.

“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” he posted on X. “I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America.”

The Ethics Committee recommended on Monday that the North Carolina Republican be censured and found “substantial reason to believe Representative Edwards violated House Rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces,” according to a committee press release.

Edwards was running for reelection in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, one of two competitive districts in the state crucial to both parties’ paths to a majority in Congress.

Pressure had been building among Republicans to force him out.

House Republicans were privately trying to convince Edwards to abandon his reelection bid in light of the House Ethics Committee’s report, CNN reported on Tuesday. A source on Capitol Hill told The News & Observer that Sen. Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) asked Edwards to drop out of the race.

A spokesperson for Budd told NOTUS on Tuesday that while the senator doesn’t disclose his private conversations, he “finds the House Ethics report deeply concerning.” The spokesperson added that Budd "believes Rep. Edwards faces a significant uphill battle in his reelection bid,” pointing to Edwards’ trailing poll numbers and that his opponent is vastly outraising Edwards.

The House Ethics Committee found that Edwards gave the two women staffers “lavish gifts,” including expensive jewelry, designer purses, vacations, guns and dinners.

The report also pointed to instances when Edwards paid for spa trips, talked to staffers about going to D.C. strip clubs, and told one of the staffers not to let his scheduler know about a dinner the two had planned.

The committee did not find evidence that Edwards “engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned any individual under his employ.” The report said that Edwards was aware that his “excessive attention toward the young women had led to rumors and innuendo in the office” and “acknowledged at least some of the behavior at issue could be viewed as inappropriate.”  

Even before news broke about him being the subject of a House Ethics investigation in May, Edwards faced a competitive challenge from Democrat Jamie Ager, a farmer backed by the centrist group Blue Dog Democrats who comes from a family of North Carolina politicians.

Ager is one of several Democrats running in red districts that have the backing of House Democrats’ campaign arm through its Red to Blue program. The Cook Political Report changed the district’s rating from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican” in June.

The state’s other competitive seat is North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, currently held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis.]]> https://washingtonsun.com/house/ethics-committee-censure-chuck-edwards-inappropriate-conduct Jenna Monnin Edwards denies that the conduct was “intended as a sexual or romantic advance.” Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:57:44 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/house/ethics-committee-censure-chuck-edwards-inappropriate-conduct The House Ethics Committee recommended censuring Rep. Chuck Edwards on Monday, citing his alleged inappropriate relationships with staffers.

“The Committee concluded there was substantial reason to believe Representative Edwards violated House Rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces,” the committee wrote in a press release about the North Carolina Republican.

The committee’s report found that Edwards “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.” Edwards, 65, who has been married since 1980,has denied that the alleged conduct “was intended as a sexual or romantic advance.”

Edwards’ campaign said in a statement later Monday that, “The Committee findings completely exonerate Representative Edwards under the House rules governing sexual misconduct or harassment; they contradict the committee's conclusion. They concluded that he neither engaged in sexual activity with nor explicitly propositioned any individual staff member.”

The congressman’s campaign added that Edwards is looking “forward to having his name cleared” because he “has brought no harm to others.”

Sources told NOTUS in May that the House Ethics Committee had launched an investigation into allegations that Edwards had an affair with a former staffer who left the office earlier this year. The staffer was Edwards’ former deputy chief of staff, and she was initially hired as a legislative assistant to Edwards when he was a state senator in 2021.

The committee issued a public request in April for anyone to report information about House members or staffers engaging in sexual misconduct.

“Shortly after that announcement, the Committee was informed of allegations regarding Representative Edwards’ conduct towards women in his office and began confidentially reviewing the allegations,” the committee wrote in its 25-page report.

Edwards was aware that his conduct toward the staffers had generated discussion and “rumors” in his office, according to the report.

“Representative Edwards also went beyond norms of professional behavior by giving both women lavish gifts,” the committee wrote. “Both women received numerous gifts from Representative Edwards, including jewelry totaling over $1,000, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, a laptop and cell phone, KitchenAid mixer, robotic vacuum, vacations, tickets to performances, and one-on-one dinners.”

One of the staffers said she felt “obligated to wear” a necklace Edwards gave her, and the congressman told her he was disappointed when she did not wear it.

The report catalogues instances of alleged inappropriate conduct with the staffers, including the congressman paying for spa treatments, discussing going to strip clubs in D.C. and directing one of the staffers not to notify Edwards’ scheduler about a dinner the pair had planned.

Edwards brought one of the staffers to a holiday event at the White House and told her he wanted the night to be “perfect.” The congressman allegedly pressured the staffer to continue the evening with him and asked her to travel to and from the event in his car with his driver.

Edwards told the committee he did not recall pressuring her that evening, but he acknowledged traveling with her to her home in Virginia because he “felt uncomfortable dumping a young lady on the street.”

The congressman skipped House votes to decorate a Christmas tree with one of the staffers, according to the committee. He also went to that same staffer’s house to “perform chores like yardwork, pick her up and drop her off for events and activities with his driver.”

The committee found that Edwards wrote poems for one of the staffers, “including one that he read at her going away party in the congressional office accompanied by a slideshow, during which he cried.” Multiple staffers testified to the committee that the incident made them feel uncomfortable, and Edwards said he recognized the discomfort among his staff. 

A censure serves as a public condemnation of a congress member’s behavior. The committee will bring Edwards’ censure recommendation for a vote by the full House.

This is the first time the Ethics Committee has recommended censure since it took action against former Rep. Charles Rangel (D-New York) in 2010 over improper fundraising, financial disclosures and failing to pay taxes.

Edwards is running for reelection in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District against Democratic challenger Jamie Ager. The committee’s report complicates Edwards’ path to victory, as his party can only afford to lose a few seats to maintain control of the House.

“If a bipartisan ethics committee has acknowledged that there was some wrongdoing, I think it's going to be problematic for his campaign,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) said Monday.

This story has been updated with more details from the Ethics Committee report and comments from Sen. Thom Tillis.]]> https://washingtonsun.com/money/robert-pittenger-north-carolina-congress-campaign-debt Christa Dutton The old reelection committee for ex-Rep. Robert Pittenger of North Carolina still owes about $726,000. Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:27:00 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/money/robert-pittenger-north-carolina-congress-campaign-debt As a congressional candidate, former Rep. Robert Pittenger, a North Carolina Republican, promised “fiscal responsibility” and a conservative approach to government finances.

But the ex-congressman’s old campaign committee still owes creditors hundreds of thousands of dollars — and does not plan to ever pay them back.

That’s according to a debt settlement plan Pittenger filed last week with the Federal Election Commission. The Pittenger committee owes about $726,000 in total across 24 creditors, according to a federal financial statement.

The financial document indicates that as of June 19, the committee has no remaining funds.

A line in the document reading “Total Amount to be Paid to Creditors” is left blank, indicating the committee does not plan to pay its debt. Line items for proposed payments to individual creditors are likewise listed as “$0.”

The FEC can choose to approve or deny the Pittenger committee’s debt repayment plan, which if approved, would allow Pittenger to terminate his committee once and for all.

Neither Pittenger nor his campaign committee’s treasurer returned NOTUS’ request for comment.

The Pittenger campaign’s largest debt, of $591,700, is to himself, although Pittenger forgave loans he made to the committee using personal funds, per the report.

The Pittenger campaign’s next largest debts are owed to:

• High Cotton Consulting (which was acquired by Axiom Strategies in 2017): $28,000.01
• Public Opinion Strategies: $25,250
• Chatham Light Media: $14,510
• Crosby Ottenhoff Group: $14,187.81

These creditors did not return requests for comment.

Pittenger’s campaign also owes $9,333 to Capitol Communications, a North Carolina-based political consulting firm run by Paul Shumaker.

When asked by NOTUS about Pittenger’s debt, Shumaker said he didn’t know the former congressman’s campaign committee even owed him the cash.

“He must be good at recordkeeping.”

Pittenger, who represented North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District from 2013 to 2019, joins a host of other also-ran federal political candidates who have failed to pay off significant campaign debts, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and former presidential candidates Al Sharpton, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

Pittenger left office after losing the Republican primary to Rep. Mark Harris in 2018. Harris now represents North Carolina’s 8th District.

While in Congress, Pittenger led a bipartisan effort in 2013 calling on Democratic and Republican leaders to address the national debt. He also served on the House Financial Services committee.]]> https://washingtonsun.com/money/north-carolina-democrats-outraising-republicans Christa Dutton In the three races considered competitive, new campaign filings show Democrats finished with more cash on hand and outraised their Republican opponents. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:16:58 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/money/north-carolina-democrats-outraising-republicans Democrats in North Carolina’s most competitive races raised more money to start this year than their Republican opponents and now have more money on hand, according to new FEC reports.

That gap is largest in the state’s marquee race: the Senate contest between former Democratic governor Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. Cooper ended the first quarter of the year with more than $18.4 million on hand across his affiliated PACs. Whatley finished with more than $6.3 million across affiliated PACs.

“This fundraising reflects the campaign’s growing momentum and as the most competitive race in the country, our team will work to earn every vote and make sure North Carolina has a senator who will fight for them,” Jeff Allen, Cooper’s campaign manager, said in a press release.

Cooper raked in roughly $13.8 million in the first quarter across his affiliated PACs, his campaign said, compared to Whatley’s $5 million, the Republican’s campaign said.

“For decades, North Carolina Democrats have been setting fundraising records just to lose in the general election,” DJ Griffin, a spokesperson for Whatley’s campaign, told the Carolina Journal. “We look forward to history repeating itself this November.”

In North Carolina’s 1st District, vulnerable Democrat Rep. Don Davis finished the quarter with more than $2.8 million cash on hand. His opponent, Republican Laurie Buckhout, has more than $1.4 million.

“Congressman Davis, an eastern North Carolina native, prioritizes listening to communities and delivering commonsense solutions that cut costs, create jobs, and improve rural healthcare outcomes across our region,” said spokesperson Hannah Spengler. “Our record speaks for itself, causing voters to rally around our campaign.”

The seat is one of Republicans’ best flip opportunities after the state legislature redrew the district to be more conservative.

Davis raised more than $772,000 this quarter compared to Buckhout’s nearly $392,000. Transfers from other committees bring Davis’s total contributions to $1.1 million, and Buckhout’s to nearly $600,000. Buckhout’s campaign has been largely self-financed: She loaned her campaign roughly $3.5 million this quarter.

A spokesperson for the Buckhout campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

On the western side of the state, Democrat Jamie Ager ended the quarter with $1.1 million on hand compared to Rep. Chuck Edwards’ $487,217.

Cook Political Report rates the district — North Carolina’s 11th — “Likely Republican,” and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considers it in play this midterm.

Ager raised nearly $955,952 this quarter compared to Edwards’ $192,475.

“I’m proud of the strong grassroots campaign we’re running,” Ager said. “We’ve had thousands of people who are stepping up and helping shape this movement.”

Paul Shumaker, a consultant and spokesperson for Edwards’ campaign, said that the congressman “has been focused on doing his job and as the year progresses we shift a greater workload to the campaign.”

This story has been updated to include money the Davis and Buckhout campaigns had transferred into their accounts.]]> https://washingtonsun.com/money/democrats-fundraising-house-senate-election-2026-congress Alex Roarty Liberal money is pouring into races in Ohio, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia, where Democrats must win to win back the House or Senate. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:31:41 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/money/democrats-fundraising-house-senate-election-2026-congress Even at a time of inflated political-fundraising hauls, the numbers Democrats reported Wednesday stand out.

Many of the Democratic Party’s top candidates reported gargantuan fundraising totals for the first three months of the year — figures that reinforce the party’s growing confidence that it is gaining momentum roughly six months before the midterm election.

The Democrats’ Senate nominee in Texas, James Talarico, led the way by raising $27 million in the year’s first fundraising quarter, a figure that until recently would have been considered a strong return for a major presidential candidate, let alone a congressional contender.

But he wasn’t the only Senate Democratic nominee to post an impressive report to the Federal Election Commission: Roy Cooper, the Democrats’ Senate nominee in North Carolina, raised nearly $14 million, and Mary Peltola, the putative party nominee for Senate in Alaska, raised almost $9 million. Sherrod Brown, the likely nominee in Ohio, raised $12.5 million.

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff’s totals might be the most striking: The incumbent raised $14 million last quarter and has $31.7 million on hand, per FEC reports.
Jon Ossoff AP - 26038790210178 (5107x3314, AR: 1.54)Ossoff, Talarico, Cooper, Peltola and Brown had, combined, more than $80 million on hand to start April.

The Democrats’ financial successes last quarter, however, come with a caveat.

At the national level, the party still faces a steep financial disparity against Republicans, when including outside groups like MAGA Inc. and super PACs like the Senate Leadership Fund. And an expected Supreme Court decision this spring could give the GOP another advantage, letting them maximize the political impact of contributions from big donors and the more than $100 million in the Republican National Committee’s own warchest.

Here are other takeaways from the first-quarter fundraising deadline:

House Democrats score, too

Like their Senate counterparts, House Democratic candidates challenging Republican incumbents also reported impressive fundraising figures.

Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke ($2.4 million) outraised Rep. Derrick Van Orden ($1.3 million) in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. Sarah Trone Garriott ($1.7 million) raised more than Republican Rep. Zach Nunn ($1.3 million) in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Janelle Stelson ($2.2 million) collected more than Rep. Scott Perry ($1.1 million). JoAnna Mendoza ($2.4 million) hauled in more than Rep. Juan Ciscomani ($1.1 million).
JanelleStelson (6432x4288, AR: 1.50)All four districts are top-tier battlegrounds in this year’s midterm election, the kind of races Democrats might need to win to claim a House majority in 2027.

Republican challengers also had financial success, with Tano Tijerina raising more than Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar in Texas’ battleground 28th Congressional District, $600,000 to $490,000.

In another Texas swing district, Eric Flores raised $1.2 million, edging out Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez’s $1.1 million for the quarter.

House Republicans are counting on gaining seats in Texas after the state’s mid-decade redistricting to help combat a potentially difficult political environment in November and hold on to the party’s slim majority.

Cash-strapped primaries

Democratic Senate candidates aren’t raising as much money in contested primaries, suggesting that many of the party’s small and large donors alike are more interested in trying to defeat Republicans than settle intraparty scores.

In Iowa, for example, state Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls each raised an almost identical $1.1 million last fundraising quarter. Rep. Angie Craig raised $2.5 million to Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s $1.3 million in Minnesota, while the three Democratic Senate candidates in Michigan raised a collective $7.2 million in the first fundraising quarter (more on that race below).
Election 2026 Senate Maine Graham Platner AP - 25293626326255 (3334x2222, AR: 1.50)Even in Maine, leftist firebrand Graham Platner reported raising $4 million, a strong quarter for a newcomer to politics but not the outrageous sum some Democratic candidates with uncontested primaries collected. His opponent in the Democratic primary, Gov. Janet Mills, raised $2.6 million.

Mills had just $1 million on hand to start the month, less than half of Platner’s $2.7 million, amid ongoing concerns about the state of her campaign.

Michigan stays tight 

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow posted the most impressive fundraising report in the closely watched three-way Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, although her two competitors trailed closely behind.

McMorrow raised the most cash during the year’s first three months ($3 million) and had the most cash on hand ($3.7 million) of the three competitors. Former gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed raised $2.2 million last quarter and had $2.5 million on hand, while Rep. Haley Stevens raised $2 million and had $3.4 million available to start April.

The race remains very competitive, with polls finding each of the three candidates within striking distance of one another. And like past fundraising quarters in this race, all three candidates continue to spend relatively heavily with the August primary still months away, much of it on costly digital-fundraising efforts.]]> https://washingtonsun.com/climate-environment/markwayne-mullin-dhs-western-north-carolina-support-noem Christa Dutton In his first weeks on the job, Mullin surveyed the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and hosted a roundtable with local, state, and federal officials. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:59:44 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/climate-environment/markwayne-mullin-dhs-western-north-carolina-support-noem Markwayne Mullin made his first trip of his tenure as secretary of Homeland Security to western North Carolina — aiming to reassure the storm-battered community that his agency will now grant it more support, after months of complaints about his predecessor.

“No one in D.C. is forgetting about it,” Mullin said at a roundtable Tuesday with North Carolina state officials, first responders, lawmakers and Federal Emergency Management Agency staff in Chimney Rock, North Carolina.

North Carolina lawmakers had quickly requested that Mullin visit the region. Sen. Ted Budd said he talked to Mullin about the trip on the Senate floor during his confirmation, and Rep. Chuck Edwards invited him to his district, which covers much of western North Carolina.

Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina in 2024, killing 107 people. For 18 months, state officials have demanded federal funds to repair homes and infrastructure.

“The president made it very clear when we were going through the nomination process that this is where he wanted my first stop to be because he said there's still a tremendous amount of work to go,” Mullin said.

Rep. Tim Moore, who represents Chimney Rock in Congress, said that Mullin has already sped up resources.

Mullin’s visit, Moore said, “sends a very important message to the folks who live here that Washington is not forgetting this area and continues to invest resources.”

The secretary’s trip to Chimney Rock offered a contrast to former Secretary Kristi Noem’s contentious tenure at DHS, which included, at times, harsh rebukes from the state’s lawmakers.

Budd placed holds on all DHS nominees in response to FEMA delaying billions of dollars in aid for Hurricane Helene recovery. Sen. Thom Tillis blasted Noem at a Senate judiciary hearing for the slow trickle of funds to the state.

“The big question that keeps coming up is, have our Western North Carolinians been forgotten about? And the answer is clearly no,” Budd told NOTUS in a statement. “You can see from the attention that started 18 months ago, and you can see from the attention that we're still getting.”

He acknowledged that “we've seen some hiccups at DHS.”

“But we've got a great Secretary that the President has picked, the Senate has confirmed. And even only two weeks in, he's already released $134 million+ of public assistance. But we've got a lot more to go,” he said.

FEMA gave more than $26 million to the state on Monday to buy 75 damaged residential properties in three counties. Mullin also asked FEMA to clear the backlog of buyout requests and expedite approvals, per a FEMA press release.

Budd praised Mullin at the roundtable for his attention to the backlog and reversal of a Noem-era policy requiring that the secretary approve any project that cost more than $100,000.

“A lot of this, I'd add, is just leadership,” Budd said. “Because we had the 100k threshold before, and that was really creating a bottleneck at the top level, but now that's been pushed down to trustworthy staff again.”

Other roundtable attendees praised Mullin for the attention and money he’s directed toward the region.

“Hearing him talk about an interest in urgency, in moving projects forward at a good pace is certainly very well received, given the need to continue to move quickly,” Matt Calabria, director of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, said in an interview. “I think that what we've seen in the last couple of weeks is a solid step in the right direction.”

Those at the roundtable also reminded the secretary that the region is still waiting for more Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds.

“Imagine a family up here in one of these 50 hazard mitigation buyout properties, some of which you'll drop by today. They've been waiting for 18 months, and there's probably in the housing assistance provided by the federal government, they can't go to the next thing until this completes,” said John Mitchell, Henderson County manager.

Mullin also addressed questions about President Donald Trump’s vision for FEMA, which at one point included eliminating it. Mullin said the president is trying to “reform” FEMA.

“We want to make sure we get it to the state faster, and not look at FEMA as being the first responder, but look at FEMA as supporting the first responders.”

The secretary also took questions from reporters about the Trump administration’s potential plan to pull customs officers from airports in sanctuary cities, which would effectively cancel international flights to the country’s busiest travel destinations.

“If cities are going to sit there and say that they're not going to enforce immigration policies, then I'll repeat myself and say it doesn't make any sense for us to process international travelers through that city,” Mullin said.

When asked if the president knew about that idea, Mullin replied, “We've had very top-line conversations, but I imagine this conversation will come up today when I'm talking to him.” Mullin said he planned to meet with Trump Tuesday to brief him on 22 other disasters around the country.

Volunteer firefighters from Chimney Rock who responded when the hurricane hit were also present at the roundtable. Mullin asked one of them about a tattered American flag hanging on the wall. Chris Melton, the department’s chief, grew emotional telling the story of how a police officer found the flag in the river and gave it to him.

He figured the secretary’s visit was a good time to display it, although it needed a frame.

“Would you allow me to pay for that frame?” Mullin asked. He turned to his staff. “Make sure I get the bill.”
]]> https://washingtonsun.com/2026-election/democratic-candidate-recruitment-state-legislative Alex Roarty Democrats, hoping for a wave, are pushing candidates in state legislative districts that only recently went unchallenged. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT https://washingtonsun.com/2026-election/democratic-candidate-recruitment-state-legislative Democrats say a recruitment effort to find candidates in Republican strongholds has paid off — even in often-overlooked races down the ballot.

In a handful of key states this year, Democrats are running an uncommonly broad field of state legislative candidates, challenging Republicans in races that had often gone unopposed in recent elections. The data, compiled by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, show that in states like Texas and North Carolina, the party has recruited a candidate to run in every state House and Senate district up for election this year. Other states have more Democratic candidates running than any time in recent history.

“There’s no question that state Democrats are breaking recruitment records across the country,” Heather Williams, DLCC president, said in an interview. “We’re hitting these markers in all of these important states.”

The success in recruiting at the state legislative level is another force behind the wave of Democratic candidates this election, many of them motivated by an animus toward President Donald Trump.

It’s also the product of a party that — eyeing the president’s low approval ratings and mindful that out-of-power parties traditionally do well in midterm elections — says it’s made a conscious effort to recruit candidates in places it previously hadn’t, eager to take maximum advantage of a favorable political climate should the fall’s election go its way.

Democrats have taken a similar approach in U.S. House, Senate and gubernatorial races, challenging in places like rural North Carolina, deep red Mississippi or heavily conservative Oklahoma.

“The work we’ve been able to do in states is demonstrating that it’s not just in Democratic districts or even toss-up districts that we should be able to run candidates,” Williams said. “It’s in every corner of the country.”

Even candidates recruited by the party establishment don’t always run serious campaigns, of course, much less win on Election Day. And many of them running in Republican-heavy districts aren’t guaranteed to receive substantial support from a party with limited resources, leaving them vulnerable to blow-out defeats even in a strong year for Democrats.

But the increase in the number of candidates running is stark. Texas Democrats fielded candidates in only 73% of state House seats during the last midterm election, in 2022, according to the DLCC. In North Carolina, only 76% of General Assembly races had a Democratic candidate that year.

In South Carolina, the share of state House candidates running from 2022 to 2026 jumped from 56% to 100%. In Georgia’s state House, the share increased from 71% to 88%. States like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maine saw similar spikes.

And in Indiana, Democrats went from contesting 68 of the 100 state House seats in 2022 to 90 of the 100 this year. In state Senate races, they went from 68% to 100%.

“It’s the highest number that we’ve had in a long time,” said Indiana Democratic state Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, the state House’s minority leader.

GiaQuinta said he thought concern about Trump’s presidency had helped motivate some Democratic candidates to run, some of them aware that the party has overperformed in a number of special state legislative elections across the country.

Victory isn’t guaranteed, he said, but the party is eager to try to take advantage of what it hopes is a strong political environment.

“I tell everyone, if you’re in a district with even just 30 or 35% Democrats, work hard, knock on as many doors as you can and talk about the issues. You never know what may happen.”]]>