Politics

---

NEWS 11/5/24 7:27am

LIVE BLOG: 2024 general elections in Elon, Alamance County, North Carolina

By Elon News Network

Polls closed at 7:30 p.m. In addition to North Carolina's gubernatorial race, Elon News Network will be providing live updates for every election in North Carolina and Alamance County. With 0 out of 39 precincts counted at 7:30 p.m., ENN has already made projections for the winners of uncontested races. Reporters are also reporting live from Raleigh, where both Attorney General Josh Stein and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson are hosting watch parties for the state's governor race. ENN will also be reporting from the Alamance County's Democratic Watch Party and Alamance County's Republican Headquarters.

---

NEWS 11/3/24 7:35pm

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson makes campaign stop in Elon

By Nia Bedard

With the 2024 general election less than two days away, Lt.  Gov. Mark Robinson held a rally at the Ace Speedway in Elon to push supporters to vote Republican down the ballot on Nov. 5. Robinson announced his gubernatorial bid in the same location just a year and a half earlier. Despite the majority of the attendees stating that they voted early, Robinson and other Republican candidates in races across North Carolina — including Bryan Ray, Chad Brown and Michele Morrow —  encouraged attendees to tell others to vote Republican.

---

NEWS 10/30/24 3:14pm

Tim Walz campaigns in Greensboro while Kamala Harris rallies in Raleigh

By Charlotte Pfabe

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to visit Greensboro on Oct. 30 within hours of Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris campaigning in Raleigh. Just a week ahead of the election, Walz will also be visiting Charlotte and Asheville today. Former President Donald Trump is also expected in Rocky Mount, North Carolina today as both campaigns look to gain more ground in the swing state. Walz’s last visit to North Carolina was on Oct. 24 when he stopped in Durham and Greenville and spoke in Wilmington.

---

NEWS 10/30/24 10:16am

Kamala Harris hosts rally in Raleigh days before election

By Alexa Citrin

Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris is expected to speak in Raleigh on Wednesday, Oct. 30. This rally marks the 20th visit by her and Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, who will also speak in Greensboro the same day. Harris is expected to speak about the importance of early voting, while encouraging attendees to head to the polls to cast their votes. Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is also campaigning in North Carolina on Oct. 30 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Harris is expected to take the stage between 11:30 a.m. and noon at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek.

---

NEWS 10/29/24 11:04am

ENN Election Center

By Elon News Network

Follow Elon News Network’s comprehensive election dashboard for voting resources, candidate profiles and campaign coverage pertaining to the 2024 election cycle. Our latest coverage includes the Elon Poll’s most recent findings, former President Donald Trump’s most recent visit to Greensboro on Oct. 22, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein’s meeting with the Alamance County Democratic Party and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz’ most recent stop in Durham on Oct. 17. Trump, Walz and Presidential candidate Kamala Harris are all scheduled to campaign across North Carolina on Oct. 30.

---

NEWS 10/29/24 10:47am

Elon Poll finds Hurricane Helene motivates voters this election

By Abigail Hobbs

The third Elon Poll of the 2024 election season found that Democrat Josh Stein now has a 21-point lead in the governor race against Republican Mark Robinson and North Carolina is still in a deadlock for the presidential election. The poll also found that Hurricane Helene is motivating North Carolinians to vote, which Director of Elon Poll Jason Husser said is usual after natural disasters. The poll was made up of 800 registered North Carolina voters, conducted from Oct. 10 to 17.

---

NEWS 10/28/24 9:37pm

Elon Town Council addresses first responders, looks to revitalize downtown

By Cassie Weymouth

The Town of Elon held a town council meeting Oct. 28 to commend first responders who went to western North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. The council also discussed town public transport and funding for downtown Elon’s future development. Mayor Emily Sharpe approved a $250,000 grant for downtown revitalization. This grant will go toward sidewalks specifically and will be used to revitalize downtown from the Elon Community Church to MaGerks Pub. The redesign will include extended sidewalks allowing for outdoor dining and better lighting.

---

NEWS 10/26/24 2:28pm

Alamance Burlington Association of Educators marches to polls at Elon

By Trista Panagakos

On Saturday, Oct. 26, Alamance Burlington Association of Educators organized a march from Elon Community Church to Elon University’s South Gym — which is Alamance County One Stop Early Voting Location. The goal of the march was to motivate voters to support public education and schools when they go to the polls this election season, said President of Alamance Burlington Association of Educators Robert Alvis. “Schools Vote Together” aims to charge voters  all over North Carolina to bring visibility to public education and its importance on the ballot this cycle.

---

NEWS 10/22/24 10:30pm

Democratic Women of Alamance County rally around voter turnout, key issues

By Erin Hroncich

The Red, White and Blue Rally hosted by the Democratic Women of Alamance County brought in a range of community members and candidates looking to increase voter turnout Oct. 22. Around 100 people gathered in downtown Burlington to hear from local candidates and speakers about key issues in the upcoming election, such as education and voter rights. The keynote speech was given by Kimberly Hardy, a professor at Fayetteville State University’s School of Social Work. Hardy emphasized the importance of encouraging lower turnout groups to show up this election.

---

NEWS 10/22/24 1:29pm

Former President Trump makes campaign stop in Greensboro

By Nia Bedard and Trista Panagakos

Former President Donald Trump has held multiple rallies in North Carolina in the weeks leading up to election day. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Trump is campaigning in Greensboro at Minges Coliseum. He is expected to speak at 7 p.m., but attendees have been gathering as early as 11 a.m. Trump gathers in the Tar Heel state as early voting began last Thursday, Oct. 17 and election day is exactly two weeks away. North Carolina is a swing state with 16 electoral votes, and polls have shown Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris virtually tied in North Carolina.

---

NEWS 10/19/24 5:37pm

Josh Stein visits Alamance County Democratic Party

By Charlotte Pfabe

With the general election swiftly approaching, Democratic candidate for governor and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein visited the Alamance County Democratic Party Headquarters in Burlington on Oct. 19. Volunteers at the ACDP showed their support with cheers for Stein as he spoke about his plans if elected as governor this November. The event brought together both local community members, but also students from Elon University. Elon Law student Dimitri McKinney works on Stein’s campaign as a volunteer. An Alamance County native himself, McKinney said local politics are just as important as the federal elections.

---

NEWS 10/18/24 1:07pm

Elon’s College Democrats host town hall with state house candidates

By Alannah Klingsporn

Elon University’s College Democrats hosted a panel with North Carolina House of Representative Democratic candidates LeVon Barnes and Robin Wintringham on Oct.17. The discussion was held to give students more information about both candidates and what issues they are running on. Wintringham, who graduated from Elon University’s School of Law and previously worked with Habitat for Humanity for over 20 years, is running for a seat to represent District 63. Barnes, who previously worked in education as a public school teacher and coach, is running to represent District 64.

---

NEWS 10/17/24 11:56pm

Tim Walz, former President Bill Clinton stop in Durham on first day of early voting

By Fiona McAllister

Durham held two prominent Democratic guests Oct. 17 — vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and former President Bill Clinton. Both Walz and Clinton, accompanied by local political figures such as Durham’s Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton, made key points about why casting an early ballot is important in order to stop Republicans from taking over the state’s elected positions. Clinton repeatedly reminded the crowd that their vote in this election matters and should be for Harris and Walz.

---

NEWS 10/17/24 5:04pm

Gubernatorial candidate hosts virtual press conference for North Carolina student media

By Trista Panagakos

As early voting started across North Carolina on Oct. 17, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein held a virtual press conference for student journalists across the state. Throughout the press conference, Stein focused on issues such as public education, the economy and LGBTQ+ rights. He also heavily contrasted his own campaign with his Republican counterpart’s, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Stein said he has made it a priority to energize college students to vote in this election cycle. Stein’s final message to readers of student publications: vote.

---

NEWS 10/15/24 6:19pm

Elon Votes helps students request absentee ballots

By Alice Morrissey

With elections less than 21 days away, most students are gearing up to vote in their first presidential election. However, the process of registering to vote can seem daunting, especially for students opting to vote back in their home states, according to freshman Madeline Dolan. Elon Votes, an organization on campus geared toward students political involvement, has been helping students register to vote in the upcoming election across campus. Though a lot of resources have been focused on students voting locally, it also provides resources for those looking to cast votes outside of North Carolina. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 29.

---

NEWS 10/13/24 2:26pm

Elon freshman finds passion in local politics, community engagement

By Sarah T. Moore

This election season, Elon freshman Micah Ash McFadden has been running Bryan Norris’ campaign for Alamance County District Court judge. Ash McFadden also serves as third vice-chair of the Alamance County Democratic Party. In 2021, he interned with the town of Green Level. Next, he managed Patricia Jones’ 2021 Green Level town council campaign. Then he was a community organizer for Ricky Hurtado’s North Carolina state house reelection campaign in 2022. Ash McFadden said he’s spent hundreds of hours canvassing across different corners of the county.

---

NEWS 10/12/24 12:41pm

2024 election candidates utilize digital advertising to reach first-time voters

By Nia Bedard

Forty-one million members of Generation Z will be voting in the 2024 election, including 8.3 million new eligible voters since the 2022 midterm election, according to Tufts University. With this influx of new voters, candidates are now allocating large amounts of money into digital advertising to reach Gen Z voters using social media. It was predicted that digital advertising for the 2024 presidential election would increase 156% compared to the 2020 presidential election, making the total spending $3.46 billion, according to a report released by Insider Intelligence. Politicians have to start utilizing digital advertising, Michele Lashley, professor of strategic communications, said.

---

NEWS 10/11/24 12:36pm

North Carolina voting maps to shift representation in 2024 election

By Madison Powers

North Carolina congressional maps may allow for as much as a 10-4 Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives as opposed to the current 7-7 split, according to Dillan Bono-Lunn, professor of political science and public policy and faculty fellow for Civic Engagement. Bono-Lunn said gerrymandering, which is a term that describes how voting districts are drawn, has been done for years by both Republicans and Democrats. As of Oct. 5, there were 2,418,633 registered Democrat voters, 2,298,019 registered Republicans and 2,912,447 unaffiliated voters, according to the NCSBE.

---

NEWS 10/10/24 6:31pm

JD Vance stops for town hall in Greensboro weeks ahead of election

By Ryan Kupperman

Vice Presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance made a campaign stop in Greensboro on Oct. 10 at the Koury Convention Center. Vance is expected to speak on his economic and immigration policies, as well as criticize the Biden-Harris administration for hurricane relief efforts. This is Vance’s fifth stop in North Carolina since becoming former President Donald Trump’s running mate, and his appearance occurs less than four weeks ahead of election day. Elon News Network attempted to get access to the event at the gate but was turned away.

---

NEWS 10/10/24 10:10am

North Carolina governor race defined by stark contrast, serious consequences

By Miles Hayford

North Carolina’s general election for governor is a battle between contrasts. Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will face off against Attorney General Josh Stein on Nov. 5, along with Libertarian Mike Ross, Green Party’s Wayne Turner and Constitution Party’s Vinny Smith. Ross, Smith and Turner are all polling at 3% or less, according to data from Sept. 25 to 29 in a Quinnipiac University poll. The two main candidates disagree on a number of issues and have been heavily in the spotlight with Robinson's most recent alleged offensive remarks.

---