July 29, 2025 • 34 mins
Former Governor Roy Cooper has officially launched his U.S. Senate campaign, setting up what’s expected to be one of the nation’s most watched—and expensive—races. Lawmakers return to Raleigh aiming to override 14 vetoes from Governor Stein. Meanwhile, the federal government is ordering Duke University to address serious allegations of racial discrimination, and SBA disaster loan applications open for victims of Tropical Storm Chantal.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
It's five oh five and welcome into a Tuesday edition
of the Carolina Journal News Hour. News Stock eleven, ten
ninety nine three WVT. I'm Nick Craig. Good morning to you.
It is official. As of Monday morning, former Democrat Governor
Roy Cooper has officially announced his bid for the United
States Senate seat that has been left vacant by Tom Tillis.
That election will be coming up in November of next year.
(00:31):
To walk us through some of those details and the
implications here across the tar Hill State, the managing editor
of Carolina Journal dot com, David Larson, joins us on
the Carolina Journal News Hour. David, this was pretty much
all but a done deal last week, as the rumors
started coming out. Early Monday morning, the former governor made
it official. What's your immediate reaction to his announcement.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, I think Democrats are probably very happy that this
is an official this is a done deal, because they've
been pushing him really hard to accept this. You know,
he said in his Twitter post that you know, he's
been praying about it, thinking about it, and he's fine
decided to do it. But a lot of that deliberation
was done under heavy pressure. By the Democrats because they
(01:12):
see him as their best shot at doing something that's
been difficult for Democrats for a while, which is winning
a US Senate race in North Carolina. You know, last
time they had in two thousand and eight k Hagen one,
nineteen ninety eight John Edwards one. But other than that,
it's been Republicans winning this particular race in North Carolina.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
So yeah, I think Democrats are going to be pretty
happy about it.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
And honestly, even if Republicans probably don't want to say it,
they're a little bit nervous because he is a pretty
he does have a lot of experience, a lot of connections,
and he has won six straight state wide races in
North Carolina. They've been you know, state positions, not federal positions.
I think North Carolinians tend to vote a little more
Republican for federal things than state things. But you know,
(01:59):
that is he's a strong candidate and Republicans probably know
they can't really just phone it in on this one.
This is gonna probably be a really tough, tough fought
battle on both sides.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Let me ask you this before we get into some
more details. You know, if Tom tillis had stayed in
this race, do you think Roy Cooper would have jumped in.
I know, the rumor mill before Tillis made his announcement
seemed to indicate that Cooper was thinking maybe about this,
And I have the feeling that because of Tillis's announcement
that he was not going to seek re election, leaving
(02:33):
essentially a wide open seat, may have pushed Roy Cooper
more over the edge than him staying in and going
head to head with Senator Tom Tillos. Any thoughts on.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
That, Yeah, you know, I don't necessarily think Tillis's incumbent
advantage was as much of a strong advantage for him,
just because the Republican base was so split about him
that there were enough. It's kind of the problem you
sold with Mark Robinson's campaign too, is there's almost two
(03:01):
camps and whether you have more than Magaside running. You know,
there's a lot of controversy around Mark Robinson and they
didn't unite around him, so he lost. And I think
almost the same thing would have happened the flip side
of that, where the establishment likes tell Us but the
base didn't, and then you would almost had the same
thing where they they wouldn't have united around him, and
then he wouldn't have got the momentum that maybe he
(03:23):
could have. But I do think Whattley is a candidate
that can unite both that establishment and MAGA wings. So,
you know, I think either way, Tillis, I'm sorry, Cooper
would have seen this as a good opportunity. Whether it's
an open seat or whether Tillis would have been there,
it almost would have been an easier you know, no
offense to Tom Tillis, you know, but I almost think
(03:46):
he wasn't going to have as strong of a running
as he had other times, just because of the disunity
around his candidacy among Republican primary voters.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
So the former governor released about a two and a
half minute campaign trailer video Monday morning, right at eight am,
right as people are getting their day started, releases this video.
It's received a very well on social media thus far
and over on his YouTube channel, picking up a lot
of views, picking up a lot of national attention. And
David he talked a lot about his record and when
(04:17):
we look at his approval numbers here in North Carolina
as of our last Carolina Journal poll in May, he
was a he had an eleven point advantage favorable versus
disfavorable polling almost near fifty percent for his favorability. That
is a very strong number for any political candidate, regardless
of their political party.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yes, and that's going to be a hard thing for
Republicans because he's somebody who not only has name ID,
but it's kind of baked in. If you've been around
a while, your name IDA is baked in as kind
of positive or negative or have you seen with President
Trump it's his flor and his ceiling are pretty close
to each other. So negative ads aren't going to ads
aren't going to moot sway people and Cooper's numbers might be,
(05:00):
you know, tough to move with ads, but I mean
they're sure going to try to hit him with stuff
on COVID, with stuff just you know, a lot of that,
a lot of Hurricane Helene I imagine, and areas that
the Republicans see that he might have failed Board of
Elections chaos DMV. I imagine things like that that are
(05:22):
more on the executive side that he should have overseen
better in their eyes. But you know, it could be
difficult because you know, it's even with COVID, it seems
like something that Republicans were are fairly unified that that
was greatly mishandled. But it was interesting to see that
that wasn't that didn't really bring his numbers down as.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Much as one would have thought. So, yeah, it'll be
interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
I mean, a lot of his record that he's running
on also are things that really, you know, he was
fairly powerless governor most of the time, where either there
was a complete super majority or maybe there was one
that was just shy, and then share Coatham came in
and made it a super majority again. And so a
lot of the things he's he's almost looking at the
things that the super majority Republicans did that they didn't
(06:09):
need to ask of any permission.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Even if he vetoed something, they could override it.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
And he almost can look at all the things they've
done and say, well, I liked that we kept getting
number one in business because of your taxes and regulations
going down. You know, he might not put it that way,
but or you know, he liked that Medicaid was expanded.
He liked that there are certain teacher raises, although he
fought kind of the levels that the Republican legislature decided to.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Put those raises.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
So you know a lot of what he's going to
choose to run on will be things that are are
not entirely attributable to him, but you know he can
he can make that pick, having been the person who
sat in the executive mansion.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Yeah, and you know, I want to highlight one of
those things, in particular, teacher raises. He talked about this
in that two and a half minute campaign video release
on Monday, talking about how he fought for teacher pay
increase is across the state of North Carolina and even
mentioned that he was successful in doing so with a
Republican led General Assembly. But David, I remember back two
(07:09):
months and years of former Democrat Governor Roy Cooper sparring
with Republican legislators saying that they didn't care enough about
public education, We're not putting enough money into funding public education,
and even for a large part of his governorship had
a banner on the official website for the governor talking
about how we were in a state of emergency over
(07:31):
public school funding. That one seems to be a tough
one for him to say, Hey, I did this. Meanwhile,
I think a lot of North Carolinians remember some of
the rhetoric around tea teacher pay in public school funding
here in the state.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, I guess he's in a tough position with that
because that whole time he wanted to show those as
very as far as very you know, nothing to brag about.
But now that he has to run, he kind of
has to use those same raises that he eventually you know,
my signed in the end, but he he did not
see those, as you know, sufficient, so he has to run.
(08:08):
Look at what I've done here, but also something that
I that I insulted the whole time that was happening.
So it is kind of an interesting position he'll find
himself in there. But I think that's, as I say,
that's kind of what he'll have to do because it
was really the GOP led legislature that with their superjoys,
they didn't really have to take his numbers that he
(08:28):
threw their way in the governor's proposed budget. Not much
of the governor's proposed budget really made its way into
the you know, the official budget in the end.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
So that's just kind of the position he'll find himself.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I guess let's go back to his favorability. As you noted,
He's already a well defined character. His name idea is
very high. He's spent a long time in government throughout
the state of North Carolina. However, David, I'm seeing a
lot of commentary from political analysts that maybe Roy Cooper
has not been necessarily tested with the onslaught of negative
(09:01):
advertising that is going to be levied his way. The
NRCC has already released two ads against Governor Roy Cooper
talking about his record. All everything indicates this is set
up to be the most expensive US Senate race ever
in the United States history. It's going to be interesting
to see if those approval numbers stay the same start
(09:22):
to dip when you've got potentially hundreds of millions of
dollars being thrown into negative advertising against the former governor
who has a very long track record and things that
Republicans can use against him.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
This is one area I honestly, I think that the
Republicans might be at a little bit of a disadvantage because,
as I was saying once, your name might be is that,
and you're that well known, and you've been around for
that long.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I no doubt they're going.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
To try to throw as much money as they can
and bring and to move those numbers. But it really
is easier to define somebody who's a blank slate in
the public side than it is.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
You know, people think, oh.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I remember Cooper, I might have for I remember during COVID,
I remember doing this or that. They have an idea
of him, and it is much harder to shift that
idea than if somebody hasn't been defined, like Michael Wattley.
He's known, he's a non name, especially if you're somebody
who pays attention to politics.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
But you know, there's a lot more room there for defining.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
So that I think in this race that is an
advantage that the Democrats will have. And as you said,
it's going to be an expensive an expensive one. So
we heard from an insider with the Watley team that
was telling us that they thought it would be about
seven hundred and fifty million was the estimate that they
were seeing, which you know, that's not just the most
(10:42):
expensive US Senate campaign.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Ever, that blows all the other ones.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
So four hundred and four million was the previous record
that was the state of Ohio in the in the
last election, So this is you know, not quite double that,
but getting close to double the previous records.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Part of that is there's.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Not a lot of other races that are at a
national level are gonna be attracting money. There's I think
the other two maybe big ones will be Maine with
Senator Collins up there that she looks a little bit weaker,
she's been there a long time, but some Democrats actually
like her up there. That's why she's been able to
hang out in a more left leaning state because she
(11:24):
doesn't really always vote with the Republicans anyways, so maybe
Democrats don't even see her as as much of a
threat as they do.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
A sort of maga.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Michael White Wattley North Carolina US senator would be a
bigger threat anyways. And then maybe the third one that'll
get some funding, big funding will be the Georgia one
because Senator Osoff is a Democrat and he won in
kind of an odd time when Trump was feuding with
the Georgia Republicans, and so he's also fairly weak. So
(11:52):
I'd say that one will get a bunch of funding.
But you know, that's that's gonna be an expensive race
and a general election, and I think, as you're saying,
Republicans are already spending money against Cooper, which is a
sign I think the general election has basically started. You
were saying that these two announcements with Waltley and Cooper
are sort of field clearing announcements. I think for all
(12:14):
intents and purposes, the people with the checkbooks are looking
at it as if the general election has started. There's
no other person to really see as a threat in
the primaries for either side.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
If somebody does pop up, they're going to get a.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Lot of phone calls, a lot of threats about their
future future political career. So I don't know that anybody's
going to have the guts to jump in, and if
they did, I don't know if they'd have the money
to put up any kind of a fight. So, for
all intents and purposes, the general election has begun, really and.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
It's going to be a long and likely nasty battle
unfolding here in North Carolina. Will keep you up to
date with the latest details right here on the Carolina
Journal News Hour and of course on our website Carolina
Journal dot com. We appreciate the update. This morning, David
Larson joins us on the Carolina Journal News Hour. It's
(13:04):
twenty three minutes Past the Hour. Welcome back to the
Carolina Journal News Hour, Newstock eleven, ten ninety nine to
three WBT. I'm Nick Craig, A good morning to you.
The United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights
is launching an investigation into Duke University and the Duke
Law Journal for allegedly violating a Title nine of the
(13:26):
Civil Rights Act of nineteen sixty four. In July the
earlier this month, I should say the Duke Law Journal
sparked controversy after reports emerged that confidential memos were sent
to minority applicants offering personalized advice on improving their personal statements,
potentially giving them an advantage over other students. In a
(13:48):
letter to the Duke University President, DHHS Secretary Robert Kennedy
and Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the importance of meritted missions,
particularly in the field of medicine. The letter reads, in part,
racial preferences in hiring, student, admissions, governance, patient care, and
(14:11):
other operations betray the mission and endanger human lives. There
is arguably no other area of our education system where
the rejection of merit based is more dangerous than medicine.
Where the competence of doctors mean the difference between life
and death for patients, and where scientific discovery is the
(14:32):
difference between life saving creers and the ravages of diseases.
The letter accuses Duke University School of Medicine and Duke
Health of engaging in illegal racial preferences and discriminatory practices.
It goes on to read, Duke University School of Medicine
and other components of Duke Health are engaged in practices that,
(14:54):
if true, would violate the Civil Rights Act and Section
fifteen fifty seve of the Affordable Care Act and render
Duke Health unfit for any further financial relationship with the
federal government. Our departments have historically recognized Duke's commitment to
medical excellence and would prefer to partner with Duke to
(15:17):
uncover and repair these problems rather than terminate this relationship.
That said, the concern is pressing and dire for the
sake of not only the law, but patient health. Both
secretaries urge the university to review all policies for unlawful
race based preferences, perform reform for any that violate the law,
(15:41):
and provide clear assurances, including a leading or a leadership
or staffing changes that future compliance will be upheld. The university,
according to the letter, has six months to implement these changes.
DHHS Secretariat Robert Kennedy said, HHS is making it clear
federal funding must support excellence, not race, in medical education,
(16:06):
research and training. Today, Secretary McMahon and I are calling
on Duke to address these serious allegations of racial discrimination
by forming a merit and civil rights committee to work
with the federal government to uphold civil rights and merit
based standards at Duke Health. This is not exactly the
(16:27):
same but similar letters and trends that have been sent
out to other institutions throughout the country over the last
couple of months. As the Trump administration and the President
himself is following through on one of his campaign promises
of removing diversity, equity, and inclusion from a higher education,
it's going to be interesting to watch how this process
(16:50):
unfolds over at Duke, specifically Duke Law School and the
Duke of Medical Program. Will continue to keep an eye
on the details right here on the Carolina Journal News
Hour in some other statewide news This morning, homeowners, renters
and businesses affected by tropical storm Chantal can now apply
(17:11):
for low interest disaster loans through the US Small Business Administration,
or the SBA. The SBA approved in administrative disaster declaration
for impacted counties following the tropical storm earlier this year.
Those counties include Alimance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Granville, Orange, Pearson,
(17:33):
and Wake Counties, and a press release from Democrat Governor
Josh Stein, He says, quote this declaration will help families
and business owners across central North Carolina who are still
reeling from the severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Chantal.
I want to thank the Small Business Administration for swift
(17:53):
approval of this request. North Carolinians are resilient and we
will get through this together. Eligible homeowners and renters may
borrow up to five hundred thousand dollars for repairs or
reconstruction costs for their primary residence. Loans of up to
one hundred thousand dollars are available to cover expenses related
(18:14):
to damaged or destroyed personal property, including clothing, furniture, cars,
and appliances. Eligible businesses and nonprofits have the ability to
borrow up to two million dollars to repair or replace property,
including real estate. Inventory and equipment. The governor did declare
a state of emergency back on July the sixteenth, as
(18:37):
that storm unloaded more than ten inches of rain in
a variety of counties across the central half of the state,
many that are in this SBA disaster declaration. In the
Piedmont rivers swelled to record or near record levels, with
the Hall River cresting at thirty two and a half
feet and the Eno River setting a new record at
twenty five point six feet. The storm asked the one
(19:00):
hundred year flood levels in places like Saxophab where watermarks
surpassed those from storms in both nineteen forty five in
nineteen ninety six. Additionally, nc DOOT officially officials reported over
one hundred and twenty road closures at the time, including
major arteries such as I forty and I eighty five
(19:22):
in Alamance Counties. At least five deaths were confirmed with
the storm, with over eighty rescues being completed in both
Chapel Hill and Durham. Applications for SBA disaster loans can
be submitted online. The address for that is lending at
dot SBA dot gov. That's lending dot SBA at dot gov.
(19:44):
We've also got the link in our story this morning
over at Carolina Journal dot com. This as the North
Carolina Emergency Management Entity continues to work with local officials
to assess the scope of the damage. As full damage
assessments are completely are completed, jointly with federal partners, the
assessment analysts will determine eligibility for additional recovery resources any
(20:09):
resident that is again looking for some of that relief
lending dot SBA dot gov. The link in our story
this morning over on our website, Carolina Journal dot com.
It's five thirty seven. Welcome back to the Carolina Journal
News Hour. Good Tuesday morning to you New Stock eleven
(20:30):
ninety nine to three WBT. While the calendar is set,
a busy morning and then day expected in Raleigh as
members of the North Carolina General Assembly will reconvene starting
at eight thirty this morning in the Senate nine am
in the House as they look to override fourteen vetos
from Democrat Governor Josh Stein. Each chamber will review seven
(20:55):
of those of vetos, sending them across to the other
chamber if overridden. And from our sources inside the North
Carolina General Assembly, As soon as a veto is overridden
in one chamber, it will immediately head on over to
the opposite chamber and will be voted on on the
same day. So we are expecting a busy day morning
(21:15):
and probably into the afternoon. In Raleigh, Senate Majority Leader
Phil Berger released a statement back last week saying, by
vetoing these common sense bills, Governor Stein confirms that he
is out of touch with the people of North Carolina.
He tolerates criminal illegal aliens roaming our streets, divisive DEI
concepts in our school and government infringements on our Second
(21:39):
Amendment rights. I look forward to leading Senate Republicans and
overriding these harmful vetos and putting North Carolina families first.
With Republicans holding a supermajority in the North Carolina Senate
and being just one vote short in the House, overriding
Stein's vetos will require full attendance from Republican lawmakers and
(22:01):
at least in the House, support from at least one Democrat.
We'll start with those House vetos and the bills this morning,
and did they have any bipartisan support. We'll start with
House Built one ninety three. That's the Firearm Law Revision Act.
This bill passed both chambers, with the House concurring with
changes made by the Senate. The final House vote in
(22:23):
this legislation was sixty one to forty six, with one
Democrat voting in favor. So if that same Democrat supports
the legislation in the override, well, then it would in
fact go through the House. House Bill ninety six expedited
Removal of Unauthorized Persons Persons. Governor Stein vetoed this bill,
stating that while he generally supported its core provisions, he
(22:47):
was opposed to several amendments that were added to the bill. However,
it did receive strong bipartisan support, with seventeen House Democrats
joining Republicans to pass the measure. House Bill eight oh
five is called Preventing a Sexual Exploitation of Women and Miners,
and it defines sex in state law based on biological
(23:09):
attributes and bars K through twelve schools from placing male
and female students in the same sleeping quarters. It also
prohibits state funds for gender transition procedures in correctional facilities,
as well as increasing the statute of limitation on lawsuits
for transition surgeries. To up to ten years. Similar stories
(23:32):
are some of the other pieces of legislation. One House
Democrat voting in favor when it originally passed earlier this year.
Continuing in the House, HB one seventy one Equality in
State Agencies Prohibition on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that bans
DEI initiatives in state government agencies. No House Democrats voted
(23:54):
to support that bill. House Bill five forty nine Clarifying
Power of the State Auditor, would give State Auditor Dave Bullock,
who is a Republican, access to state agency databases, digital records, facilities,
and property. One Democrat voted in favor of that bill,
originally Houspill four H two. This is originally called the
(24:17):
Rains Act. We talked about this a lot earlier this year.
This legislation would require greater legislative scrutiny and oversights for
burdensome rules and regulations that impose high financial costs on
state businesses and residents. The Rains Act and the Rains
movement has been something that has been cascading throughout the
(24:37):
United States. It's not just a push here In North Carolina.
Three House Democrats voted in favor of that bill when
it passed earlier this year, and finally in the House,
House Bill three eighteen, the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act
TITANS the timeline on the law that mandating that law
enforcement alerts ICE before an illegal alien criminal su suspect
(25:00):
is scheduled to be released. This is one of two
bills that the House Republican Caucus is focusing on and
targeting politically vulnerable Democrats ahead of the twenty twenty six midterms.
And like some of the other pieces of legislation, one
House Democrat voted in favor of that legislation. So as
we look at the math, you've got a couple of
(25:21):
bills that one Democrat originally voted in favor of. Will
they stand up with the veto override Well, we'll find
that out a little bit later on this morning. Now
over in the Senate, all Republicans being in the chamber
would give them enough votes within their own party to
override any of the governor's vetos. Will start with Senate
Bill fifty. That's the Freedom to Carry n See Act.
(25:44):
It allows permitless concealed carry of handguns for adults aged
eighteen and over. It passed the Senate in a twenty
six to eighteen vote. The House later followed suit, passing
it one oh seven to fifty nine with no House
Democrats vote in favor. Senate Bill one fifty three, the
North Carolina Border Protection Act, mandates cooperation with federal immigration
(26:09):
enforcement and empowers residents to sue local governments that adopt
what are described as sanctuary city policies. That passed the
Senate twenty six to seventeen and the House one oh
six to forty six, with no House Democrats voting in
favor of it. Senate Bill two twenty seven Eliminating DEI
in Public Education. That legislation would prohibit DEI offices and
(26:34):
diversity training in public schools by targeting what are described
as divisive concepts like race based meritocracy. As you can imagine,
no House Democrats voted to pass that. A similar piece
of legislation, Senate Bill five point fifty eight, called Eliminating
DEI in a Public Higher Education, does a similar thing.
(26:54):
It prohibits DEI offices and statements in the UNC system
campus as well as the community college system. It passed
the Senate on a party line votes. Of party line vote,
opponents argue that it quote chills free speech, while supporters
say at combat's divisive campus practices. No House Democrat voted
(27:15):
for it to pass. Senate Bill two fifty four that's
Charter School Changes. This legislation expands charter school authority by
empowering the Charter School Review Board. The Board of Education
criticized the measure as unconstitutional. That that bill did pass
both chambers, with eight House Democrats voting in favor of it,
(27:38):
so that'll be an interesting one to watch today. Senate
Bill two sixty six, the Power Bill Reduction Act, repeals
North Carolina's interim twenty thirty carbon reduction mandate, projected to
save consumers across North Carolina some fifteen billion dollars by
eliminating costly compliance measures. The Senate in a twenty nine
(28:01):
to eleven vote. The House also approved the legislation, with
three House Democrats supporting the measure. And finally, Senate Bill
four sixteen that's the Personal Privacy Protection Act. It bars
state agencies from collecting or disclosing nonprofit donor data, imposing
penalties on officials who disclose that information. The Senate passed it,
(28:26):
but Stein Democrat Governor Josh Stein vetoed it citing unrelated amendments.
GOP lawmakers argue it protects free speech. Three House Democrats
voted in favor of that bill as well. So as
lawmakers make their trek up to Raleigh this morning, we
will see the relationship between Democrat Governor Josh Stein and
(28:48):
the General Assembly has a fractured and frayed over the
last couple of weeks, with him vetoing now fourteen bills
coming out of the state Republican led to legislature. We
will have eyes and ears in the General Assembly throughout
the day today, full of coverage over on our website,
Carolina Journal dot com, and of course we'll bring you
(29:08):
the latest details coming up tomorrow morning right here on
the Carolina Journal News Hour. Good morning again, it's five
point fifty two. Welcome back to the Carolina Journal News Hour,
Newstock eleven, ten ninety nine three wb T recapping our
big political news a Yesterday, former Democrat Governor Roy Cooper
(29:31):
made it official after rumors late last week that he
is jumping in the race for the United States Senate
coming up here in November of next year.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
It wasn't always this hard, because being in the middle
class meant something you could afford a home, your kids
went to good schools, your job paid enough to cover
the basics, and most summers you could get away for
a few days. For the most part, life was pretty good.
I'm Roy Cooper, and I know that today for too
many of the Mo Americans, the middle class feels like
(30:02):
a distant dream. Meanwhile, the biggest corporations and the richest
Americans have grabbed unimaginable wealth at your expense. It's time
for that to change.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
The governor former governor, releasing that video yesterday on his
social media platforms talking about his record as a two
term governor here in North Carolina, he officially launching his
bid to flip the Republican held Senate seat and setting
the stage for what is expected to be one of
the most competitive races of the twenty twenty sixth election cycle.
(30:36):
Insiders believing that this race could top more than seven
hundred and fifty million dollars in spending, which would make
it the most expensive Senate race in United States history.
A little backstory. Cooper, a Democrat who served two terms
as governor from twenty seventeen to twenty twenty five, is
aiming to succeed Republican Senator Tom Tillis, who of course,
(30:58):
made a national headline a late last month announcing that
he would not run for reelection. In his launch video,
Cooper emphasized his record on education, healthcare, and economic development.
Democrats believe that Cooper is best positioned to reverse a
historic struggle that they've had to win Senate seats in
(31:19):
North Carolina over the past few decades. Democrats have only
carried two races since nineteen ninety. Going back to nineteen
ninety eight, Democrat John Edwards defeated Republican incumbent Launched Faircloth,
becoming the first Democrat to win a North Carolina Senate
race since nineteen eighty six. A decade later, in two
(31:40):
thousand and eight, Democrat kay Hagen unseated Republican Senator Elizabeth
Dole in a high profile contest that coincided with Barack
Obama's strong showing in the state of North Carolina. Since
Hagen's single term, however, Democrats have failed to reclaim a
Senate seat. Hagen lost her twenty fourteen reelection bid, and
(32:02):
Republicans have held both of the United States Senate seats
through various victories. In twenty sixteen, twenty twenty, and in
twenty twenty two. Cooper's early entry into the race gives
him a head start in fundraising and organizing, but he
is expected to face a formidable Republican opponent in Michael Wattley,
(32:22):
the former North Carolina GOP chair and current co chair
of the Republican National Committee. Wally has been endorsed by
former President Donald Trump, who praised him as a strong
America First candidate, and while Wattley has not formally launched
his campaign, Carolina Journal confirmed last week that an announcement
is expected within the next couple of days. Richard Hudson,
(32:46):
who is a congressman he's also the chairman of the
National Republican Congressional Committee, said quote, Roy Cooper spent decades
dragging North Carolina left, and now he wants to do
the same to a mayor. Roy Cooper supports men playing
in girls' sports and raising taxes on working families. Roy
(33:07):
Cooper marched with protesters and let them burn Raleigh, and
Roy Cooper assured that all of America that Joe Biden
was perfectly capable of being the president for four more years.
Roy Cooper doesn't want to make America great again. He
just wants to take America left. Cooper was widely criticized
(33:27):
for extensive shutdowns across the state of North Carolina during
the COVID nineteen pandemic and his decision to march with
Black Lives Matter protesters during a time when the state
government under his direction, was refusing to let people gather
for worship, schools to be in session, and other public activities.
(33:48):
The protests spread and led to riots, destruction, and curfews
in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Fayetteville. Republican aligned groups have
already started targeting Cooper, branding him as radical roy and
accusing him of pushing a left wing agenda during his
time in office. The Senate Leadership Fund, which is a
(34:08):
GOP super pac closely tied to Senate Republican Leadership, blasted
Cooper's record, pointing to his vetoed pieces of legislation including
gender policies, parental rights, and immigration enforcement. This is set
to be a major political battle here in the state
of North Carolina, and it seemingly kicked off yesterday. Will
(34:32):
continue to track its details right here on The Carolina
Journal News Hour, and of course, on our website Carolina
Journal dot com. That's going to do it for a
Tuesday edition at WBT News is next, followed by Good
morning BT. We're back with you tomorrow morning, five to
six right here on News Talk eleven, ten, and ninety
nine three WBT
It's five oh five and welcome into a Tuesday edition
of the Carolina Journal News Hour. News Stock eleven, ten
ninety nine three WVT. I'm Nick Craig. Good morning to you.
It is official. As of Monday morning, former Democrat Governor
Roy Cooper has officially announced his bid for the United
States Senate seat that has been left vacant by Tom Tillis.
That election will be coming up in November of next year.
(00:31):
To walk us through some of those details and the
implications here across the tar Hill State, the managing editor
of Carolina Journal dot com, David Larson, joins us on
the Carolina Journal News Hour. David, this was pretty much
all but a done deal last week, as the rumors
started coming out. Early Monday morning, the former governor made
it official. What's your immediate reaction to his announcement.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, I think Democrats are probably very happy that this
is an official this is a done deal, because they've
been pushing him really hard to accept this. You know,
he said in his Twitter post that you know, he's
been praying about it, thinking about it, and he's fine
decided to do it. But a lot of that deliberation
was done under heavy pressure. By the Democrats because they
(01:12):
see him as their best shot at doing something that's
been difficult for Democrats for a while, which is winning
a US Senate race in North Carolina. You know, last
time they had in two thousand and eight k Hagen one,
nineteen ninety eight John Edwards one. But other than that,
it's been Republicans winning this particular race in North Carolina.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
So yeah, I think Democrats are going to be pretty
happy about it.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
And honestly, even if Republicans probably don't want to say it,
they're a little bit nervous because he is a pretty
he does have a lot of experience, a lot of connections,
and he has won six straight state wide races in
North Carolina. They've been you know, state positions, not federal positions.
I think North Carolinians tend to vote a little more
Republican for federal things than state things. But you know,
(01:59):
that is he's a strong candidate and Republicans probably know
they can't really just phone it in on this one.
This is gonna probably be a really tough, tough fought
battle on both sides.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Let me ask you this before we get into some
more details. You know, if Tom tillis had stayed in
this race, do you think Roy Cooper would have jumped in.
I know, the rumor mill before Tillis made his announcement
seemed to indicate that Cooper was thinking maybe about this,
And I have the feeling that because of Tillis's announcement
that he was not going to seek re election, leaving
(02:33):
essentially a wide open seat, may have pushed Roy Cooper
more over the edge than him staying in and going
head to head with Senator Tom Tillos. Any thoughts on.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
That, Yeah, you know, I don't necessarily think Tillis's incumbent
advantage was as much of a strong advantage for him,
just because the Republican base was so split about him
that there were enough. It's kind of the problem you
sold with Mark Robinson's campaign too, is there's almost two
(03:01):
camps and whether you have more than Magaside running. You know,
there's a lot of controversy around Mark Robinson and they
didn't unite around him, so he lost. And I think
almost the same thing would have happened the flip side
of that, where the establishment likes tell Us but the
base didn't, and then you would almost had the same
thing where they they wouldn't have united around him, and
then he wouldn't have got the momentum that maybe he
(03:23):
could have. But I do think Whattley is a candidate
that can unite both that establishment and MAGA wings. So,
you know, I think either way, Tillis, I'm sorry, Cooper
would have seen this as a good opportunity. Whether it's
an open seat or whether Tillis would have been there,
it almost would have been an easier you know, no
offense to Tom Tillis, you know, but I almost think
(03:46):
he wasn't going to have as strong of a running
as he had other times, just because of the disunity
around his candidacy among Republican primary voters.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
So the former governor released about a two and a
half minute campaign trailer video Monday morning, right at eight am,
right as people are getting their day started, releases this video.
It's received a very well on social media thus far
and over on his YouTube channel, picking up a lot
of views, picking up a lot of national attention. And
David he talked a lot about his record and when
(04:17):
we look at his approval numbers here in North Carolina
as of our last Carolina Journal poll in May, he
was a he had an eleven point advantage favorable versus
disfavorable polling almost near fifty percent for his favorability. That
is a very strong number for any political candidate, regardless
of their political party.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yes, and that's going to be a hard thing for
Republicans because he's somebody who not only has name ID,
but it's kind of baked in. If you've been around
a while, your name IDA is baked in as kind
of positive or negative or have you seen with President
Trump it's his flor and his ceiling are pretty close
to each other. So negative ads aren't going to ads
aren't going to moot sway people and Cooper's numbers might be,
(05:00):
you know, tough to move with ads, but I mean
they're sure going to try to hit him with stuff
on COVID, with stuff just you know, a lot of that,
a lot of Hurricane Helene I imagine, and areas that
the Republicans see that he might have failed Board of
Elections chaos DMV. I imagine things like that that are
(05:22):
more on the executive side that he should have overseen
better in their eyes. But you know, it could be
difficult because you know, it's even with COVID, it seems
like something that Republicans were are fairly unified that that
was greatly mishandled. But it was interesting to see that
that wasn't that didn't really bring his numbers down as.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Much as one would have thought. So, yeah, it'll be
interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
I mean, a lot of his record that he's running
on also are things that really, you know, he was
fairly powerless governor most of the time, where either there
was a complete super majority or maybe there was one
that was just shy, and then share Coatham came in
and made it a super majority again. And so a
lot of the things he's he's almost looking at the
things that the super majority Republicans did that they didn't
(06:09):
need to ask of any permission.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Even if he vetoed something, they could override it.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
And he almost can look at all the things they've
done and say, well, I liked that we kept getting
number one in business because of your taxes and regulations
going down. You know, he might not put it that way,
but or you know, he liked that Medicaid was expanded.
He liked that there are certain teacher raises, although he
fought kind of the levels that the Republican legislature decided to.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Put those raises.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
So you know a lot of what he's going to
choose to run on will be things that are are
not entirely attributable to him, but you know he can
he can make that pick, having been the person who
sat in the executive mansion.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Yeah, and you know, I want to highlight one of
those things, in particular, teacher raises. He talked about this
in that two and a half minute campaign video release
on Monday, talking about how he fought for teacher pay
increase is across the state of North Carolina and even
mentioned that he was successful in doing so with a
Republican led General Assembly. But David, I remember back two
(07:09):
months and years of former Democrat Governor Roy Cooper sparring
with Republican legislators saying that they didn't care enough about
public education, We're not putting enough money into funding public education,
and even for a large part of his governorship had
a banner on the official website for the governor talking
about how we were in a state of emergency over
(07:31):
public school funding. That one seems to be a tough
one for him to say, Hey, I did this. Meanwhile,
I think a lot of North Carolinians remember some of
the rhetoric around tea teacher pay in public school funding
here in the state.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, I guess he's in a tough position with that
because that whole time he wanted to show those as
very as far as very you know, nothing to brag about.
But now that he has to run, he kind of
has to use those same raises that he eventually you know,
my signed in the end, but he he did not
see those, as you know, sufficient, so he has to run.
(08:08):
Look at what I've done here, but also something that
I that I insulted the whole time that was happening.
So it is kind of an interesting position he'll find
himself in there. But I think that's, as I say,
that's kind of what he'll have to do because it
was really the GOP led legislature that with their superjoys,
they didn't really have to take his numbers that he
(08:28):
threw their way in the governor's proposed budget. Not much
of the governor's proposed budget really made its way into
the you know, the official budget in the end.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
So that's just kind of the position he'll find himself.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I guess let's go back to his favorability. As you noted,
He's already a well defined character. His name idea is
very high. He's spent a long time in government throughout
the state of North Carolina. However, David, I'm seeing a
lot of commentary from political analysts that maybe Roy Cooper
has not been necessarily tested with the onslaught of negative
(09:01):
advertising that is going to be levied his way. The
NRCC has already released two ads against Governor Roy Cooper
talking about his record. All everything indicates this is set
up to be the most expensive US Senate race ever
in the United States history. It's going to be interesting
to see if those approval numbers stay the same start
(09:22):
to dip when you've got potentially hundreds of millions of
dollars being thrown into negative advertising against the former governor
who has a very long track record and things that
Republicans can use against him.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
This is one area I honestly, I think that the
Republicans might be at a little bit of a disadvantage because,
as I was saying once, your name might be is that,
and you're that well known, and you've been around for
that long.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I no doubt they're going.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
To try to throw as much money as they can
and bring and to move those numbers. But it really
is easier to define somebody who's a blank slate in
the public side than it is.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
You know, people think, oh.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I remember Cooper, I might have for I remember during COVID,
I remember doing this or that. They have an idea
of him, and it is much harder to shift that
idea than if somebody hasn't been defined, like Michael Wattley.
He's known, he's a non name, especially if you're somebody
who pays attention to politics.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
But you know, there's a lot more room there for defining.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
So that I think in this race that is an
advantage that the Democrats will have. And as you said,
it's going to be an expensive an expensive one. So
we heard from an insider with the Watley team that
was telling us that they thought it would be about
seven hundred and fifty million was the estimate that they
were seeing, which you know, that's not just the most
(10:42):
expensive US Senate campaign.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Ever, that blows all the other ones.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
So four hundred and four million was the previous record
that was the state of Ohio in the in the
last election, So this is you know, not quite double that,
but getting close to double the previous records.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Part of that is there's.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Not a lot of other races that are at a
national level are gonna be attracting money. There's I think
the other two maybe big ones will be Maine with
Senator Collins up there that she looks a little bit weaker,
she's been there a long time, but some Democrats actually
like her up there. That's why she's been able to
hang out in a more left leaning state because she
(11:24):
doesn't really always vote with the Republicans anyways, so maybe
Democrats don't even see her as as much of a
threat as they do.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
A sort of maga.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Michael White Wattley North Carolina US senator would be a
bigger threat anyways. And then maybe the third one that'll
get some funding, big funding will be the Georgia one
because Senator Osoff is a Democrat and he won in
kind of an odd time when Trump was feuding with
the Georgia Republicans, and so he's also fairly weak. So
(11:52):
I'd say that one will get a bunch of funding.
But you know, that's that's gonna be an expensive race
and a general election, and I think, as you're saying,
Republicans are already spending money against Cooper, which is a
sign I think the general election has basically started. You
were saying that these two announcements with Waltley and Cooper
are sort of field clearing announcements. I think for all
(12:14):
intents and purposes, the people with the checkbooks are looking
at it as if the general election has started. There's
no other person to really see as a threat in
the primaries for either side.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
If somebody does pop up, they're going to get a.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Lot of phone calls, a lot of threats about their
future future political career. So I don't know that anybody's
going to have the guts to jump in, and if
they did, I don't know if they'd have the money
to put up any kind of a fight. So, for
all intents and purposes, the general election has begun, really and.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
It's going to be a long and likely nasty battle
unfolding here in North Carolina. Will keep you up to
date with the latest details right here on the Carolina
Journal News Hour and of course on our website Carolina
Journal dot com. We appreciate the update. This morning, David
Larson joins us on the Carolina Journal News Hour. It's
(13:04):
twenty three minutes Past the Hour. Welcome back to the
Carolina Journal News Hour, Newstock eleven, ten ninety nine to
three WBT. I'm Nick Craig, A good morning to you.
The United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights
is launching an investigation into Duke University and the Duke
Law Journal for allegedly violating a Title nine of the
(13:26):
Civil Rights Act of nineteen sixty four. In July the
earlier this month, I should say the Duke Law Journal
sparked controversy after reports emerged that confidential memos were sent
to minority applicants offering personalized advice on improving their personal statements,
potentially giving them an advantage over other students. In a
(13:48):
letter to the Duke University President, DHHS Secretary Robert Kennedy
and Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the importance of meritted missions,
particularly in the field of medicine. The letter reads, in part,
racial preferences in hiring, student, admissions, governance, patient care, and
(14:11):
other operations betray the mission and endanger human lives. There
is arguably no other area of our education system where
the rejection of merit based is more dangerous than medicine.
Where the competence of doctors mean the difference between life
and death for patients, and where scientific discovery is the
(14:32):
difference between life saving creers and the ravages of diseases.
The letter accuses Duke University School of Medicine and Duke
Health of engaging in illegal racial preferences and discriminatory practices.
It goes on to read, Duke University School of Medicine
and other components of Duke Health are engaged in practices that,
(14:54):
if true, would violate the Civil Rights Act and Section
fifteen fifty seve of the Affordable Care Act and render
Duke Health unfit for any further financial relationship with the
federal government. Our departments have historically recognized Duke's commitment to
medical excellence and would prefer to partner with Duke to
(15:17):
uncover and repair these problems rather than terminate this relationship.
That said, the concern is pressing and dire for the
sake of not only the law, but patient health. Both
secretaries urge the university to review all policies for unlawful
race based preferences, perform reform for any that violate the law,
(15:41):
and provide clear assurances, including a leading or a leadership
or staffing changes that future compliance will be upheld. The university,
according to the letter, has six months to implement these changes.
DHHS Secretariat Robert Kennedy said, HHS is making it clear
federal funding must support excellence, not race, in medical education,
(16:06):
research and training. Today, Secretary McMahon and I are calling
on Duke to address these serious allegations of racial discrimination
by forming a merit and civil rights committee to work
with the federal government to uphold civil rights and merit
based standards at Duke Health. This is not exactly the
(16:27):
same but similar letters and trends that have been sent
out to other institutions throughout the country over the last
couple of months. As the Trump administration and the President
himself is following through on one of his campaign promises
of removing diversity, equity, and inclusion from a higher education,
it's going to be interesting to watch how this process
(16:50):
unfolds over at Duke, specifically Duke Law School and the
Duke of Medical Program. Will continue to keep an eye
on the details right here on the Carolina Journal News
Hour in some other statewide news This morning, homeowners, renters
and businesses affected by tropical storm Chantal can now apply
(17:11):
for low interest disaster loans through the US Small Business Administration,
or the SBA. The SBA approved in administrative disaster declaration
for impacted counties following the tropical storm earlier this year.
Those counties include Alimance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Granville, Orange, Pearson,
(17:33):
and Wake Counties, and a press release from Democrat Governor
Josh Stein, He says, quote this declaration will help families
and business owners across central North Carolina who are still
reeling from the severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Chantal.
I want to thank the Small Business Administration for swift
(17:53):
approval of this request. North Carolinians are resilient and we
will get through this together. Eligible homeowners and renters may
borrow up to five hundred thousand dollars for repairs or
reconstruction costs for their primary residence. Loans of up to
one hundred thousand dollars are available to cover expenses related
(18:14):
to damaged or destroyed personal property, including clothing, furniture, cars,
and appliances. Eligible businesses and nonprofits have the ability to
borrow up to two million dollars to repair or replace property,
including real estate. Inventory and equipment. The governor did declare
a state of emergency back on July the sixteenth, as
(18:37):
that storm unloaded more than ten inches of rain in
a variety of counties across the central half of the state,
many that are in this SBA disaster declaration. In the
Piedmont rivers swelled to record or near record levels, with
the Hall River cresting at thirty two and a half
feet and the Eno River setting a new record at
twenty five point six feet. The storm asked the one
(19:00):
hundred year flood levels in places like Saxophab where watermarks
surpassed those from storms in both nineteen forty five in
nineteen ninety six. Additionally, nc DOOT officially officials reported over
one hundred and twenty road closures at the time, including
major arteries such as I forty and I eighty five
(19:22):
in Alamance Counties. At least five deaths were confirmed with
the storm, with over eighty rescues being completed in both
Chapel Hill and Durham. Applications for SBA disaster loans can
be submitted online. The address for that is lending at
dot SBA dot gov. That's lending dot SBA at dot gov.
(19:44):
We've also got the link in our story this morning
over at Carolina Journal dot com. This as the North
Carolina Emergency Management Entity continues to work with local officials
to assess the scope of the damage. As full damage
assessments are completely are completed, jointly with federal partners, the
assessment analysts will determine eligibility for additional recovery resources any
(20:09):
resident that is again looking for some of that relief
lending dot SBA dot gov. The link in our story
this morning over on our website, Carolina Journal dot com.
It's five thirty seven. Welcome back to the Carolina Journal
News Hour. Good Tuesday morning to you New Stock eleven
(20:30):
ninety nine to three WBT. While the calendar is set,
a busy morning and then day expected in Raleigh as
members of the North Carolina General Assembly will reconvene starting
at eight thirty this morning in the Senate nine am
in the House as they look to override fourteen vetos
from Democrat Governor Josh Stein. Each chamber will review seven
(20:55):
of those of vetos, sending them across to the other
chamber if overridden. And from our sources inside the North
Carolina General Assembly, As soon as a veto is overridden
in one chamber, it will immediately head on over to
the opposite chamber and will be voted on on the
same day. So we are expecting a busy day morning
(21:15):
and probably into the afternoon. In Raleigh, Senate Majority Leader
Phil Berger released a statement back last week saying, by
vetoing these common sense bills, Governor Stein confirms that he
is out of touch with the people of North Carolina.
He tolerates criminal illegal aliens roaming our streets, divisive DEI
concepts in our school and government infringements on our Second
(21:39):
Amendment rights. I look forward to leading Senate Republicans and
overriding these harmful vetos and putting North Carolina families first.
With Republicans holding a supermajority in the North Carolina Senate
and being just one vote short in the House, overriding
Stein's vetos will require full attendance from Republican lawmakers and
(22:01):
at least in the House, support from at least one Democrat.
We'll start with those House vetos and the bills this morning,
and did they have any bipartisan support. We'll start with
House Built one ninety three. That's the Firearm Law Revision Act.
This bill passed both chambers, with the House concurring with
changes made by the Senate. The final House vote in
(22:23):
this legislation was sixty one to forty six, with one
Democrat voting in favor. So if that same Democrat supports
the legislation in the override, well, then it would in
fact go through the House. House Bill ninety six expedited
Removal of Unauthorized Persons Persons. Governor Stein vetoed this bill,
stating that while he generally supported its core provisions, he
(22:47):
was opposed to several amendments that were added to the bill. However,
it did receive strong bipartisan support, with seventeen House Democrats
joining Republicans to pass the measure. House Bill eight oh
five is called Preventing a Sexual Exploitation of Women and Miners,
and it defines sex in state law based on biological
(23:09):
attributes and bars K through twelve schools from placing male
and female students in the same sleeping quarters. It also
prohibits state funds for gender transition procedures in correctional facilities,
as well as increasing the statute of limitation on lawsuits
for transition surgeries. To up to ten years. Similar stories
(23:32):
are some of the other pieces of legislation. One House
Democrat voting in favor when it originally passed earlier this year.
Continuing in the House, HB one seventy one Equality in
State Agencies Prohibition on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that bans
DEI initiatives in state government agencies. No House Democrats voted
(23:54):
to support that bill. House Bill five forty nine Clarifying
Power of the State Auditor, would give State Auditor Dave Bullock,
who is a Republican, access to state agency databases, digital records, facilities,
and property. One Democrat voted in favor of that bill,
originally Houspill four H two. This is originally called the
(24:17):
Rains Act. We talked about this a lot earlier this year.
This legislation would require greater legislative scrutiny and oversights for
burdensome rules and regulations that impose high financial costs on
state businesses and residents. The Rains Act and the Rains
movement has been something that has been cascading throughout the
(24:37):
United States. It's not just a push here In North Carolina.
Three House Democrats voted in favor of that bill when
it passed earlier this year, and finally in the House,
House Bill three eighteen, the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act
TITANS the timeline on the law that mandating that law
enforcement alerts ICE before an illegal alien criminal su suspect
(25:00):
is scheduled to be released. This is one of two
bills that the House Republican Caucus is focusing on and
targeting politically vulnerable Democrats ahead of the twenty twenty six midterms.
And like some of the other pieces of legislation, one
House Democrat voted in favor of that legislation. So as
we look at the math, you've got a couple of
(25:21):
bills that one Democrat originally voted in favor of. Will
they stand up with the veto override Well, we'll find
that out a little bit later on this morning. Now
over in the Senate, all Republicans being in the chamber
would give them enough votes within their own party to
override any of the governor's vetos. Will start with Senate
Bill fifty. That's the Freedom to Carry n See Act.
(25:44):
It allows permitless concealed carry of handguns for adults aged
eighteen and over. It passed the Senate in a twenty
six to eighteen vote. The House later followed suit, passing
it one oh seven to fifty nine with no House
Democrats vote in favor. Senate Bill one fifty three, the
North Carolina Border Protection Act, mandates cooperation with federal immigration
(26:09):
enforcement and empowers residents to sue local governments that adopt
what are described as sanctuary city policies. That passed the
Senate twenty six to seventeen and the House one oh
six to forty six, with no House Democrats voting in
favor of it. Senate Bill two twenty seven Eliminating DEI
in Public Education. That legislation would prohibit DEI offices and
(26:34):
diversity training in public schools by targeting what are described
as divisive concepts like race based meritocracy. As you can imagine,
no House Democrats voted to pass that. A similar piece
of legislation, Senate Bill five point fifty eight, called Eliminating
DEI in a Public Higher Education, does a similar thing.
(26:54):
It prohibits DEI offices and statements in the UNC system
campus as well as the community college system. It passed
the Senate on a party line votes. Of party line vote,
opponents argue that it quote chills free speech, while supporters
say at combat's divisive campus practices. No House Democrat voted
(27:15):
for it to pass. Senate Bill two fifty four that's
Charter School Changes. This legislation expands charter school authority by
empowering the Charter School Review Board. The Board of Education
criticized the measure as unconstitutional. That that bill did pass
both chambers, with eight House Democrats voting in favor of it,
(27:38):
so that'll be an interesting one to watch today. Senate
Bill two sixty six, the Power Bill Reduction Act, repeals
North Carolina's interim twenty thirty carbon reduction mandate, projected to
save consumers across North Carolina some fifteen billion dollars by
eliminating costly compliance measures. The Senate in a twenty nine
(28:01):
to eleven vote. The House also approved the legislation, with
three House Democrats supporting the measure. And finally, Senate Bill
four sixteen that's the Personal Privacy Protection Act. It bars
state agencies from collecting or disclosing nonprofit donor data, imposing
penalties on officials who disclose that information. The Senate passed it,
(28:26):
but Stein Democrat Governor Josh Stein vetoed it citing unrelated amendments.
GOP lawmakers argue it protects free speech. Three House Democrats
voted in favor of that bill as well. So as
lawmakers make their trek up to Raleigh this morning, we
will see the relationship between Democrat Governor Josh Stein and
(28:48):
the General Assembly has a fractured and frayed over the
last couple of weeks, with him vetoing now fourteen bills
coming out of the state Republican led to legislature. We
will have eyes and ears in the General Assembly throughout
the day today, full of coverage over on our website,
Carolina Journal dot com, and of course we'll bring you
(29:08):
the latest details coming up tomorrow morning right here on
the Carolina Journal News Hour. Good morning again, it's five
point fifty two. Welcome back to the Carolina Journal News Hour,
Newstock eleven, ten ninety nine three wb T recapping our
big political news a Yesterday, former Democrat Governor Roy Cooper
(29:31):
made it official after rumors late last week that he
is jumping in the race for the United States Senate
coming up here in November of next year.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
It wasn't always this hard, because being in the middle
class meant something you could afford a home, your kids
went to good schools, your job paid enough to cover
the basics, and most summers you could get away for
a few days. For the most part, life was pretty good.
I'm Roy Cooper, and I know that today for too
many of the Mo Americans, the middle class feels like
(30:02):
a distant dream. Meanwhile, the biggest corporations and the richest
Americans have grabbed unimaginable wealth at your expense. It's time
for that to change.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
The governor former governor, releasing that video yesterday on his
social media platforms talking about his record as a two
term governor here in North Carolina, he officially launching his
bid to flip the Republican held Senate seat and setting
the stage for what is expected to be one of
the most competitive races of the twenty twenty sixth election cycle.
(30:36):
Insiders believing that this race could top more than seven
hundred and fifty million dollars in spending, which would make
it the most expensive Senate race in United States history.
A little backstory. Cooper, a Democrat who served two terms
as governor from twenty seventeen to twenty twenty five, is
aiming to succeed Republican Senator Tom Tillis, who of course,
(30:58):
made a national headline a late last month announcing that
he would not run for reelection. In his launch video,
Cooper emphasized his record on education, healthcare, and economic development.
Democrats believe that Cooper is best positioned to reverse a
historic struggle that they've had to win Senate seats in
(31:19):
North Carolina over the past few decades. Democrats have only
carried two races since nineteen ninety. Going back to nineteen
ninety eight, Democrat John Edwards defeated Republican incumbent Launched Faircloth,
becoming the first Democrat to win a North Carolina Senate
race since nineteen eighty six. A decade later, in two
(31:40):
thousand and eight, Democrat kay Hagen unseated Republican Senator Elizabeth
Dole in a high profile contest that coincided with Barack
Obama's strong showing in the state of North Carolina. Since
Hagen's single term, however, Democrats have failed to reclaim a
Senate seat. Hagen lost her twenty fourteen reelection bid, and
(32:02):
Republicans have held both of the United States Senate seats
through various victories. In twenty sixteen, twenty twenty, and in
twenty twenty two. Cooper's early entry into the race gives
him a head start in fundraising and organizing, but he
is expected to face a formidable Republican opponent in Michael Wattley,
(32:22):
the former North Carolina GOP chair and current co chair
of the Republican National Committee. Wally has been endorsed by
former President Donald Trump, who praised him as a strong
America First candidate, and while Wattley has not formally launched
his campaign, Carolina Journal confirmed last week that an announcement
is expected within the next couple of days. Richard Hudson,
(32:46):
who is a congressman he's also the chairman of the
National Republican Congressional Committee, said quote, Roy Cooper spent decades
dragging North Carolina left, and now he wants to do
the same to a mayor. Roy Cooper supports men playing
in girls' sports and raising taxes on working families. Roy
(33:07):
Cooper marched with protesters and let them burn Raleigh, and
Roy Cooper assured that all of America that Joe Biden
was perfectly capable of being the president for four more years.
Roy Cooper doesn't want to make America great again. He
just wants to take America left. Cooper was widely criticized
(33:27):
for extensive shutdowns across the state of North Carolina during
the COVID nineteen pandemic and his decision to march with
Black Lives Matter protesters during a time when the state
government under his direction, was refusing to let people gather
for worship, schools to be in session, and other public activities.
(33:48):
The protests spread and led to riots, destruction, and curfews
in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Fayetteville. Republican aligned groups have
already started targeting Cooper, branding him as radical roy and
accusing him of pushing a left wing agenda during his
time in office. The Senate Leadership Fund, which is a
(34:08):
GOP super pac closely tied to Senate Republican Leadership, blasted
Cooper's record, pointing to his vetoed pieces of legislation including
gender policies, parental rights, and immigration enforcement. This is set
to be a major political battle here in the state
of North Carolina, and it seemingly kicked off yesterday. Will
(34:32):
continue to track its details right here on The Carolina
Journal News Hour, and of course, on our website Carolina
Journal dot com. That's going to do it for a
Tuesday edition at WBT News is next, followed by Good
morning BT. We're back with you tomorrow morning, five to
six right here on News Talk eleven, ten, and ninety
nine three WBT
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