RALEIGH — If Food and Drug Administration regulators adopt new regulations that would place premium, hand-made cigars under the jurisdiction of a law originally passed to regulate cigarettes, sellers of the premium cigars say the changes could put them out of business. The federal agency is considering adding premium cigars to the Family Tobacco Prevention and Control Act of 2009.
ELON – Nationally known political analyst Charlie Cook said at Elon University today that the North Carolina contest for U.S. Senate, in a year in which the political balance in the nation’s capital is at stake, could be the closest race in the country.
RALEIGH — In a state primary race with national implications, House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, defeated seven other candidates and won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by freshman Democrat Kay Hagan. Supreme Court Justice Robin Hudson, a Democrat, was able to survive a challenge from Republicans Eric Levinson and Jeanette Doran and will face Levinson in the general election.
RALEIGH — The candidates are David Rouzer, who lost a close race to retiring Rep. Mike McIntyre two years ago, Woody White, and Chris Andrade. The race has grown heated in recent weeks, as White has charged Rouzer with being too close to the Washington GOP establishment and Rouzer countering that his experience in Washington would allow him to be a more effective legislator sooner should he win in November.
RALEIGH — New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield considers jobs and economic development the top issues in the campaign. He wants to expand economic incentive offerings for businesses in the area. For private investigator and retired Smithfield police officer Walter Martin, the top issue is ending the bickering in Washington.
RALEIGH — North Carolina is little more than a month away from the primary elections that will set the stage for another round of high-profile electoral battles in November. As voters prepare to head to the polls, the N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation is watching the state’s most important electoral contests. Executive director Joe Stewart recently discussed the 2014 elections with Mitch Kokai for Carolina Journal Radio.
RALEIGH — The power of incumbency, gerrymandered election districts, and a growing national distaste for politics in general might be the causes of having voter ballots for the May 6 primary election showing more blanks than the responses to a pop quiz. More than 50 state legislators effectively won seats in the 2015-16 General Assembly when filing ended at noon Friday.
RALEIGH — The races for only 7 percent of state legislative seats — and no congressional districts — are likely to be competitive this year, say two organizations tracking North Carolina voting trends.
RALEIGH — Media reports of President Obama’s Wednesday visit to the Triangle highlighted the absence of Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan, whose support of the Affordable Care Act has led political analysts to conclude she’s at risk in her first re-election campaign. But the other two Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation who will face voters in November were no-shows as well.
RALEIGH — Carolina Journal will cover not only the high-profile races for U.S. Senate and U.S. House, but also key legislative and judicial contests, along with races for county commissions. This will mark the third election cycle CJ will profile candidates and campaigns in dozens of races across the state.
RALEIGH — Most of North Carolina’s congressional staffers — the men and women who work for the state’s two U.S. senators and 13 members of the U.S. House of Representatives — will be entering the District of Columbia’s health care exchange once the Affordable Care Act takes effect in January.
