Jessi Rae Morton, News Editor

While much reporting and social media activity remains focused on federal-level election results, North Carolina state and local Guilford County races have also been called. These down ballot elections have important implications for the UNC Greensboro community and the state. 

Although Donald Trump did carry North Carolina in the presidential race, Democrats won several state level positions. Josh Stein has been elected Governor, with Rachel Hunt as the incoming Lieutenant Governor. Jeff Jackson was successful in the race for State Attorney General. Elaine Marshall will be Secretary of State, and Mo Green will be Superintendent of Public Instruction. Republicans won several state-level leadership positions as well, including Dave Boliek as Auditor and Brad Briner as Treasurer. Republicans also swept the state commissioner races, placing Steve Troxler as Commissioner of Agriculture, Mike Causey as Commissioner of Insurance, and Luke Farley as Commissioner of Labor. All of the election outcomes are posted online by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. 

Significantly, Democrats were able to break through the Republican supermajority in the North Carolina state legislature. Since spring 2023, when Rep. Tricia Cotham changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, Republicans have operated with a veto-proof majority at the state level. With the November 2024 election, though, Democrat Dante Pittman unseated Republican Rep. Ken Fontenot in House District 24, which includes Wilson County and a small portion of Nash County. This outcome has been reported by Lucille Sherman for Axios Raleigh, among others. Republicans still have a majority in the state house as well as a supermajority in the state senate, but supermajorities in both are necessary to override a veto by the governor. This could mean that the state legislature will need to negotiate more effectively with Josh Stein than they have with Roy Cooper. 

North Carolina is still a swing state overall. As Lucille Sherman put it, “North Carolina is the same as it ever was: swingy, unpredictable and reliably purple.” Ultimately, this means that “North Carolina will continue its era of divided government, with a Democrat in the governor’s mansion, Republicans in control of the state legislature and the courts, and both parties well-represented on the council of state.” 

Specifically in Guilford County, though, Democratic incumbents held onto all four available County Commission seats, as reported by Triad City Beat on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Democrats also swept the available Board of Education seats in Guilford County. Additionally, a Guilford County local sales and use tax referendum intended to support teachers and staff failed to pass. As reported by Brayden Stamps for Fox News 8, “The measure would have increased sales tax in Guilford County from 6.75% to 7% and would not have applied to prescriptions, gas or groceries. The funds from that tax increase would have been used to raise the pay of Guilford County Schools employees.” 

Not much is likely to change within the UNC system, either. The Board of Governors is made up of members elected by the North Carolina General Assembly. As Siri Patterson reported for The Appalachian earlier this semester, “The BOG elects each UNC System institution’s chancellor after the president makes a nomination, according to the UNC Policy manual. They also elect eight of the 13 members of each university’s Board of Trustees,” among many other responsibilities. The people elected to state legislature directly determine who will sit on the Board of Governors, but for the most part, voters, faculty, and students do not have any way to directly influence the BOG. However, as Patterson reports, “The BOG holds at least six regular meetings each year, according to the UNC Policy Manual. These meetings are open to the public and can be viewed through a video stream or through PBS North Carolina’s stream.” 

Even though the election is over, there are still many ways for community members to stay informed and involved at the state and local level. The next Board of Governors meeting will be livestreamed on Dec. 12, 2024.