Politics

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NEWS 11/25/24 4:41pm

North Carolina Student Legislature empowers students to shape state politics

By Gaby Maldonado

The North Carolina Student Legislature is a nonprofit organization that gives students firsthand experience of the legislative process at Elon University. Through debates, students enhance their public speaking skills and work on real-world policy ideas. Junior Eva Farmer, who serves as the vice president of Elon’s NCSL, explained that members bring resolutions to meetings — written proposals for new laws or changes to existing ones — sparking debates among the group.  Every Monday, NCSL holds meetings where members propose resolutions on various topics, ranging from education to abortion and other pressing issues. 

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NEWS 11/22/24 1:14pm

Split ticket voting increases across the country

By Erin Martin

Split-ticket voting occurs when an individual chooses candidates from different political parties for different races on the same ballot. In the 2024 election, North Carolina upheld its tradition of split-ticket voting, where North Carolina voted for a Republican president and a Democratic governor. Steven Greene, a professor of political science at North Carolina State University, sat down with Elon News Network to discuss the revival of split-ticket voting in the 2024 elections. From North Carolina's history of divided voting for president and governor to the potential influence of independent voters, Greene provides insights into how this electoral behavior shaped outcomes at both state and national levels.

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NEWS 11/19/24 4:29pm

Republican candidate for North Carolina Supreme Court asks for recount

By Nia Bedard

Democrat and incumbent candidate for North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs is currently leading over Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin by 625 votes. A representative from the North Carolina State Board of Elections told Elon News Network that Griffin filed a motion to request a recount earlier today, Nov. 19, and that the recount will begin Nov. 20 and will finish on Nov. 27. The NCSBE said a candidate can request a recount if the difference in votes is less than 1%. As of Nov. 19 at 9:55 a.m., Riggs is leading Griffin by 0.02% with 5.5 million ballots being counted.

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NEWS 11/13/24 3:56pm

Elon Votes expands efforts to close voter participation gap on campus

By Avery Sloan

Senior Bo Dalrymple said he has felt a different, more positive energy on campus this year regarding politics and civic engagement. The midterm elections voter rate across all institutions was 30.6% and Elon’s was 25% — 3.3% less than in 2018, according to data from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement. As co-coordinator for Elon Votes, Dalrymple said the organization has been working to increase the voter rate on campus and reach students politically who might be less likely to seek out civic engagement.

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NEWS 11/6/24 5:39am

Donald Trump elected 47th president of U.S.

By Alexa Citrin

The 2024 election has been noted as one of the closest races in U.S. history with candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump fighting for the 47th spot in the Oval Office. After a neck-and-neck campaign season and election night, the winner was declared to be Republican Donald Trump — marking his second term in office. This election cycle was much closer, with early voting polls showing Harris leading by 1% nationally, and Trump winning by 1% in many southern states. As of 5:36 a.m. on Nov. 6, Trump won 277 electoral votes, while Harris won 224.

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NEWS 11/6/24 2:52am

Dennis Riddell elected North Carolina House of Representatives District 64

By Avery Sloan

Republican Dennis Riddell won the North Carolina House of Representatives District 64 seat by 54.95% of the votes. Democrat LeVon Barnes received 45.05% of the votes. This will be Riddell’s seventh term in office. When running for office, Riddell campaigned on lowering income tax rates and protecting the Second Amendment. He also previously told Elon News Network that he is comfortable with the current 12-week abortion ban and supports exceptions up to 20 weeks for rape and incest. He said he cares about the environment, but is skeptical of claims of rising sea levels. His main platform is focused on maintaining a strong economy.

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NEWS 11/6/24 2:48am

Stephen Ross elected North Carolina House of Representatives District 63

By Avery Sloan

Republican Stephen Ross won the North Carolina House of Representatives District 63 seat by 55.13% of the votes. Democrat Robin Wintringham received 44.87% of the votes. Ross previously served as the state house representative for District 63 from 2013 to 2021, he lost his election in 2020 to Ricky Hurtado, but won in 2022 rematch. Ross did not respond to any interview requests from Elon News Network, but according to his biography on the North Carolina General Assembly website, he is the chair of the commerce, house select committee on substance abuse and finance committees.

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NEWS 11/6/24 2:39am

Amy Galey wins North Carolina State Senate District 25

By Abigail Hobbs

North Carolina State Sen. Republican Amy Galey won her reelection campaign for District 25’s state senate seat. Galey won against Democrat Donna Vanhook with 60.34% and Vanhook received 39.66% of the votes. Galey previously told Elon News Network she works to serve all of her constituents — even those who did not vote for her. 

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NEWS 11/6/24 2:38am

Rachel Hunt elected lieutenant governor of North Carolina

By Ryan Kupperman

Democratic candidate Rachel Hunt won her bid for lieutenant governor of North Carolina with 49.44% of the votes statewide. Hunt beat Republican opponent Hal Weatherman, the Constitution Party’s Wayne Jones and Libertarian Shannon Bray. Hunt has served as a North Carolina state senator since 2023 and previously served as a state representative from 2019 to 2023. She has worked as a private practice attorney and owns her own educational consulting business. Hunt also served on the board of directors for the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children.

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NEWS 11/6/24 2:29am

Mo Green elected North Carolina’s superintendent of public instruction

By Ryan Kupperman

Democratic candidate Mo Green won his bid for North Carolina’s superintendent of public instruction with 51.12% of the votes statewide. State superintendent of public instruction oversees day-to-day operations of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, serves as secretary and chief administrative officer of the State Board of Education and serves in the North Carolina Council of State. The superintendent’s race has gained national attention for one of North Carolina’s most polarizing races on the ballot. Republican candidate Michele Morrow turned heads by expressing support for abolishing the North Carolina Department of Education and cutting the state off from federal funds.

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NEWS 11/6/24 1:44am

Richard Hudson elected to U.S House of Representatives District 9

By Ryan Kupperman

Republican incumbent Richard Hudson won his bid for the U.S. House of Representatives District 9 with 56.4% of the votes statewide. Hudson beat Democratic opponent Nigel Bristow and Independent opponent Shelane Etchison. Hudson was first elected to represent North Carolina’s 9th District in 2012. He serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which aims to elect Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also rated the most effective legislator from North Carolina and the 12th most conservative member of the house.

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NEWS 11/6/24 1:25am

Four board of education candidates elected

By Avery Sloan

Four candidates — Sandy Ellington-Graves, Avery Wagoner, Seneca Rogers and Tameka Harvey — were elected to the Alamance County Board of Education. Ellington-Graves received 15.35% of the votes, Wagoner received 14.71%, Rogers received 14.65% and Harvey received 13.67%. Eight candidates ran, but did not receive enough votes to be on the board. Last fall, mold was found in 32 of the 36 ABSS schools, leading to a late start for the school year and an estimated recovery plan totaling $225 million over five years.

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NEWS 11/6/24 1:18am

District 17 judge seat results

By Abigail Hobbs

Republican Bryan Ray won the first of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Democrat Larry Brown Jr. won the second of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Republican Craig Turner won the third of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Democrat incumbent Kathryn Overby won reelection for the fourth of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats. Republican Meredith Tuck Edwards won the fifth of five of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge seats.

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NEWS 11/6/24 12:46am

Three board of commissioners candidates elected

By Abigail Hobbs

Three candidates — Pamela Thompson, John Paisley Jr. and Ed Priola were elected to the Alamance County Board of Commissioners. They respectively received 18.13% of the votes, 17.89% and 17.37%.

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NEWS 11/5/24 11:46pm

Jeff Jackson elected attorney general of North Carolina

By Ryan Kupperman

Congressman and Democratic candidate Jeff Jackson won his bid for attorney general of North Carolina with 51.65% of the votes statewide. While North Carolina had a Republican majority in the state general assembly heading into the 2024 election, the swing state had a Democratic triplex in the officers of governor, secretary of state and attorney general — all three of which were up for election this cycle. Jackson’s win defends one leg of this triangle for the Democratic Party. WRAL reported that Republican candidate Dan Bishop conceded the race at 11:32 p.m.

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NEWS 11/5/24 9:26pm

Josh Stein projected governor of North Carolina

By Ryan Kupperman

AP News has called North Carolina’s governor race in favor of Democratic candidate and Attorney General Josh Stein. With 23% of the votes counted, Stein has a 52.7% lead. Robinson has 42.6% of the vote. Stein beat Lt. Gov. and Republican candidate Mark Robinson with a steady lead in a race defined by starkly opposed campaigns. Projected ahead of Robinson in the last three Elon Poll surveys, Stein’s victory maintains the divide between North Carolina’s Republican-majority General Assembly.

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NEWS 11/5/24 8:50pm

Elon Votes hosts election night watch party

By Audrey Geib

Roughly 55 students are gathering in the Global Commons Great Hall for an election night watch party hosted by Elon Votes and funded by the Student Government Association from 8 to 11 p.m. Junior Emily Stuart, co-lead civic engagement ambassador with Elon Votes, said events like this are important to bring students together. North Carolina is among the seven battleground states that will help decide the outcome of the presidential race, making this an important night for many Elon students. Freshman and North Carolina native Isis Ruiz-Nunez said she chose to attend the watch party because of the community support.

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NEWS 11/5/24 8:45pm

Mark Robinson hosts watch party in Raleigh ahead of election results

By Nia Bedard

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson held a watch party at the City Club in Raleigh for the gubernatorial race. With the race called for Attorney General Josh Stein, Robinson has conceded the governorship. Robinson addressed the crowd at 9:04 p.m. saying he is still proud of the work he has done as lieutenant governor of North Carolina in spite of the loss. Throughout Robinson's address the crowd of supporters cheered for him and thanked him for running in the governor election.

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NEWS 11/5/24 8:12pm

North Carolina Democrats, Stein await election results

By Miles Hayford

In preparation for election results, particularly the results of the gubernatorial race, the North Carolina Democratic Party is hosting a watch party in Raleigh at the Marriott City Center. Attorney General Josh Stein and several key North Carolinian Democrats are expected to appear. As of 8:15 p.m., the event is in full swing. Droves of people, almost 100 so far, are piling in to see Stein and other Democratic politicians speak later. Gil Genn, a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, is at the event and said he is most excited to see a transition from the old tonight.

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NEWS 11/5/24 7:27am

Election Day 2024: morning of general elections in Elon, Alamance County, North Carolina

By Elon News Network

Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. today for one of the most historic general elections in U.S. history. If elected, former President Donald Trump would be the second president in history to win his bid after losing a first attempt at reelection — and will have done so after being the first former president to be convicted of a crime. If Vice President Kamala Harris is elected, she will be the first woman to serve as president of the U.S. North Carolina also plays a pivotal role in this election as one of seven crucial battleground states.

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