Letters from an American: January 12, 2025

Hosted by Heather Cox Richardson

North Carolina's Political Turmoil Post-2024 Election

In the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, North Carolina finds itself in a state of significant political upheaval. Despite electing Republican Donald Trump as President, the voters also chose Democrat Josh Stein for Governor and former Democratic Representative Jeff Jackson as Attorney General. Additionally, Democrat Allison Riggs secured a seat on the state Supreme Court. However, the Republican-controlled legislature has taken contentious actions that challenge these electoral outcomes.

Key Events:

• SB 382 Legislation: Republican legislators passed SB 382, stripping executive powers from Governor Stein and Attorney General Jackson. This law curtails public safety and utility authority from the governor and restricts the attorney general from opposing the legislature's stance. It also overhauls the election process by empowering a newly elected Republican state auditor over the election board and reducing the timeframe for vote counting and resolving ballot issues. (00:08)

• Veto and Legal Battle: Outgoing Governor Roy Cooper vetoed SB 382, condemning it as a political maneuver. The Republican majority overruled his veto, leading Cooper and Governor-elect Stein to file a lawsuit, arguing that the law breaches North Carolina's constitutional separation of powers. (00:08)

The Legacy of Operation RedMAP and Gerrymandering

The roots of North Carolina's current political conflict can be traced back to the strategic redistricting efforts known as Operation RedMAP (Redistricting Majority Project) initiated in 2010. This operation aimed to secure Republican control over state legislatures nationwide to influence redistricting after the census.

Impact in North Carolina:

• Shift in Political Representation: Post-2010, Republicans gained control of the North Carolina legislature for the first time in over a century. By 2012, congressional seats shifted dramatically from a balanced 7 Democrats and 6 Republicans to a staggering 9-4 in favor of Republicans. Similarly, legislative seats in both the House and Senate saw significant Republican gains despite Democrats earning more popular votes. (00:08)

• Legislative Manipulation: In 2012, Republicans utilized their majority to pass laws that made voting more challenging, reversing previous Democratic efforts to facilitate voter participation. This included stringent voting regulations that disproportionately affected minority voters and altered electoral fairness. (00:08)

Notable Quote:

"I do not believe it's possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats, Lewis declared. I think electing Republicans is better than electing Democrats, so I drew this map to help foster what I think is better for the country." (05:45)
— State Representative David Lewis, Chair of the Redistricting Committee

Judicial Intervention and Subsequent Redistricting

Court challenges led to temporary changes in district maps:

• Rocco v. Common Cause: The federal courts dismissed cases on partisan gerrymandering, prompting plaintiffs to pursue cases under the state constitution. In 2019, a North Carolina appeals court and later the state Supreme Court ruled the maps unconstitutional for violating free election guarantees. A new map was drawn, restoring a balanced congressional delegation.

• 2022 Reversion: The Republican majority reasserted control in 2022, dismissing the role of state courts in regulating gerrymandering. The legislature redrew the congressional map to reinstate Republican dominance, resulting in a 10-4 split favoring Republicans in the 2024 elections.

Current Legal Challenges and Election Disputes

The election of Justice Allison Riggs, a Democrat, to the North Carolina Supreme Court by a narrow margin has ignited further conflict:

• Refusal to Concede: Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin has refused to accept Riggs' victory, even after recounts affirmed her win. He is pushing to invalidate 60,000 voter ballots, aiming to alter the election outcome. (00:08)

• Court Proceedings: The dispute over the election results is being contested in state courts, where the Republican-majority Supreme Court has temporarily halted the certification of Riggs' win pending further arguments. This strategic move ensures continued Republican control, especially with three Republican seats up for election in 2028. (00:08)

National Implications and Parallels with Historical Power Consolidation

Heather Cox Richardson draws parallels between North Carolina's current political maneuvers and the historical actions of Southern elites in the 1850s. Both scenarios involve a minority leveraging governmental mechanisms to maintain and extend their power at the expense of democratic principles.

Historical Context:

• Martin Van Buren's Influence: Van Buren's establishment of the Albany Regency political machine in New York centralized power, ensuring Democratic dominance and influencing national politics through strategic electoral control. This consolidation prioritized political and economic power over democratic fairness. (00:08)

• Comparison to Modern Politics: Today, similar tactics are employed by political minorities, particularly Republican leaders in states like North Carolina and Texas, to entrench their power. Actions include redistricting for partisan advantage and challenging election results to maintain control, echoing the undemocratic strategies of the past. (00:08)

Notable Insight:

"When a Republican candidate calls for throwing out the votes of 60,000 voters to declare victory in an election he lost, they have abandoned the principles of democracy in favor of a one-party state that will operate in their favor alone." (11:45)
— Heather Cox Richardson

Conclusion: The Erosion of Democratic Norms

North Carolina's ongoing political struggle exemplifies a broader national trend where entrenched political minorities manipulate legal and electoral frameworks to sustain their dominance. This erosion of democratic norms threatens to undermine the foundational principles of fair representation and power distribution, drawing alarming similarities to historical precedents of power consolidation and minority rule.

Production Credits:

Letters from an American was produced at Soundscape Productions, Dedham, MA. Recorded with music composed by Michael Moss.