Two of North Carolina’s swing districts — one on the coast, the other in the mountains — are shaping up to be nail-biters heading into the final day of the midterm election campaign.
The districts are a prime example of why Democrats fear 2010 could be the first year since the 19th century that they lose both chambers of the General Assembly. Republicans need a net gain of nine seats in the state House and six in the state Senate to gain control.
In the first race — the 6th House District, comprising parts of Beaufort and Pitt counties on the coast — four-term Democratic incumbent Arthur Williams faces Republican Bill Cook, former manager of an electric company.
The district leans Democratic, and Williams has won there handily his last two outings. He went unopposed in 2008 and won by a 63-percentage point margin in 2006. But polling and fundraising numbers have given Republicans hope.
A Civitas poll from July showed Cook with a 43-40 percent lead over Williams. Sixteen percent of voters were undecided. Campaign finance records show that Williams raised over $100,000 in the third quarter of 2010. Cook was keeping pace with $85,608.55 raised during the same period.
In a hard-fought campaign on the other side of the state, freshman Democratic incumbent Jane Whilden is locked in a battle with businessman and political newcomer Tim Moffitt. The campaign in the 116th House District, comprising southwest Asheville, is a rematch from 2008, when Whilden barely staved off Moffitt’s challenge.
Republicans aim to finish the job in the more GOP-friendly election climate this year. A Civitas poll from June gave Moffitt a 45-38 percent edge over Whilden. In fundraising, Whilden raised a commanding $128,950 during the third quarter, but Moffitt took in a similar amount, $118,759.
The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.
David N. Bass is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.