Chris Cooper
@chriscooperwcu.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science & Public Affairs at Western Carolina University. American politics, state politics, North Carolina politics, southern politics, elections. Recent book: Anatomy of a Purple State (UNC Press 2024).
http://www.chriscooperwcu.com
http://www.chriscooperwcu.com
Trump pardons NC’s Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell in fake electorate scheme #ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
Trump pardons NC’s Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell in fake electorate scheme
President Donald Trump is set to pardon North Carolina’s Mark Meadows and Sidney Powell in a scheme to overturn the election of President Joe Biden.
www.newsobserver.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Charlotte Magazine announced it was closing its doors this week
3 of my favorite writers penned must-read obituaries for the magazine that was. All are nominally about the institution, but they're really about people, about creativity & about how the former gave space for the latter to thrive
(1/5)
3 of my favorite writers penned must-read obituaries for the magazine that was. All are nominally about the institution, but they're really about people, about creativity & about how the former gave space for the latter to thrive
(1/5)
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Charlotte Magazine announced it was closing its doors this week
3 of my favorite writers penned must-read obituaries for the magazine that was. All are nominally about the institution, but they're really about people, about creativity & about how the former gave space for the latter to thrive
(1/5)
3 of my favorite writers penned must-read obituaries for the magazine that was. All are nominally about the institution, but they're really about people, about creativity & about how the former gave space for the latter to thrive
(1/5)
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Updated the close elections graph to include last week's 2025 elections 👀 ⬇️.
Last Tuesday, 60 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes, including 4 council seats in Jefferson, Brookford, Calypso & Murfresboro that (before canvass) were tied.
(🧵 1/3)
Last Tuesday, 60 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes, including 4 council seats in Jefferson, Brookford, Calypso & Murfresboro that (before canvass) were tied.
(🧵 1/3)
November 9, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Updated the close elections graph to include last week's 2025 elections 👀 ⬇️.
Last Tuesday, 60 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes, including 4 council seats in Jefferson, Brookford, Calypso & Murfresboro that (before canvass) were tied.
(🧵 1/3)
Last Tuesday, 60 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes, including 4 council seats in Jefferson, Brookford, Calypso & Murfresboro that (before canvass) were tied.
(🧵 1/3)
Here ⬇️, the California Republican Party is arguing the merits of diversity and the threats of racial gerrymandering for democratic norms.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
November 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Here ⬇️, the California Republican Party is arguing the merits of diversity and the threats of racial gerrymandering for democratic norms.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Reposted by Chris Cooper
Kate Barr, a lifelong Democrat, changed her party registration to run in the GOP primary against North Carolina incumbent Rep. Tim Moore.
She says it’s the only way to compete for a gerrymandered seat whose boundaries were drawn to heavily favor Republicans.
She says it’s the only way to compete for a gerrymandered seat whose boundaries were drawn to heavily favor Republicans.
This North Carolina Democrat can’t win her district. So she’s running as a Republican.
In her crusade against gerrymandering, Kate Barr is challenging her Republican congressman in the GOP primary to make a point.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Interesting item from @raleighreporter.bsky.social's weekly newsletter* about a new PAC, "NC True Conservatives", that supports Senator Berger in his primary campaign against Sam Page.
mailchi.mp/06b0806cbb66...
#ncpol
*if you're not subscribed, there's an easy (& free) fix for that.
mailchi.mp/06b0806cbb66...
#ncpol
*if you're not subscribed, there's an easy (& free) fix for that.
November 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Interesting item from @raleighreporter.bsky.social's weekly newsletter* about a new PAC, "NC True Conservatives", that supports Senator Berger in his primary campaign against Sam Page.
mailchi.mp/06b0806cbb66...
#ncpol
*if you're not subscribed, there's an easy (& free) fix for that.
mailchi.mp/06b0806cbb66...
#ncpol
*if you're not subscribed, there's an easy (& free) fix for that.
Reposted by Chris Cooper
Reposted by Chris Cooper
This is hyper-local, but it looks like with half of the precincts reporting, Charlotte City Council District #6--a long time GOP-held district--finally flips to Democratic.
If this hold, the nationalization of Charlotte politics has finally reached this district.
#ncpol #cltpol
If this hold, the nationalization of Charlotte politics has finally reached this district.
#ncpol #cltpol
November 5, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Both of the Georgia Public Service Commissioner Special Election seats called for Dems.
This won't get the attention of VA/NJ/CA/NYC but for students of southern politics is incredibly imp--a rare ex. of Dems holding statewide elected offices in the South outside of NC & VA.
This won't get the attention of VA/NJ/CA/NYC but for students of southern politics is incredibly imp--a rare ex. of Dems holding statewide elected offices in the South outside of NC & VA.
November 5, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Both of the Georgia Public Service Commissioner Special Election seats called for Dems.
This won't get the attention of VA/NJ/CA/NYC but for students of southern politics is incredibly imp--a rare ex. of Dems holding statewide elected offices in the South outside of NC & VA.
This won't get the attention of VA/NJ/CA/NYC but for students of southern politics is incredibly imp--a rare ex. of Dems holding statewide elected offices in the South outside of NC & VA.
Sylva election day is in, too.
These are officially non-partisan elections, but the more progressive candidates won all of the open seats.
These are officially non-partisan elections, but the more progressive candidates won all of the open seats.
November 5, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Sylva election day is in, too.
These are officially non-partisan elections, but the more progressive candidates won all of the open seats.
These are officially non-partisan elections, but the more progressive candidates won all of the open seats.
Curious why there are no results populating yet in #ncpol?
A policy change that @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social & I wrote about in February, 2024
www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/arti...
A policy change that @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social & I wrote about in February, 2024
www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/arti...
You’re going to wait longer for March 5 election results, North Carolina | Opinion
The wait for primary election results in NC will be longer this year | Opinion
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Curious why there are no results populating yet in #ncpol?
A policy change that @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social & I wrote about in February, 2024
www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/arti...
A policy change that @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social & I wrote about in February, 2024
www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/arti...
Crazy early, but with votes reported thus far, Jones (D running for AG in VA) is running around 5 percentage points behind Spanberger (D running for Governor).
Will be interesting to see if this gap grows, shrinks or remains constant.
Will be interesting to see if this gap grows, shrinks or remains constant.
November 5, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Crazy early, but with votes reported thus far, Jones (D running for AG in VA) is running around 5 percentage points behind Spanberger (D running for Governor).
Will be interesting to see if this gap grows, shrinks or remains constant.
Will be interesting to see if this gap grows, shrinks or remains constant.
Here's a fun one while we wait for polls to close.
Cuomo lost in the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor & he's running again in the General as an independent.
Why doesn't this happen more often?
1/4 🧵
Cuomo lost in the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor & he's running again in the General as an independent.
Why doesn't this happen more often?
1/4 🧵
November 5, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Here's a fun one while we wait for polls to close.
Cuomo lost in the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor & he's running again in the General as an independent.
Why doesn't this happen more often?
1/4 🧵
Cuomo lost in the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor & he's running again in the General as an independent.
Why doesn't this happen more often?
1/4 🧵
For #ncpol newbies: in about an hour people are about to start posting local election results.
They do not have a special contact or a secret portal. They're just navigating their browser to er.ncsbe.gov clicking on a county & mashing refresh as fast as they can.
That's it.
They do not have a special contact or a secret portal. They're just navigating their browser to er.ncsbe.gov clicking on a county & mashing refresh as fast as they can.
That's it.
a rainbow and a star with the words " i know you know "
ALT: a rainbow and a star with the words " i know you know "
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:36 PM
For #ncpol newbies: in about an hour people are about to start posting local election results.
They do not have a special contact or a secret portal. They're just navigating their browser to er.ncsbe.gov clicking on a county & mashing refresh as fast as they can.
That's it.
They do not have a special contact or a secret portal. They're just navigating their browser to er.ncsbe.gov clicking on a county & mashing refresh as fast as they can.
That's it.
Killing time before the #ncpol polls close?
Here's some light reading that might help contextualize what we are about to see:
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Here's some light reading that might help contextualize what we are about to see:
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
It's (Municipal) Election Day in NC.
Here's What's Happening & Why You Should Care
chriscooperwcu.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Killing time before the #ncpol polls close?
Here's some light reading that might help contextualize what we are about to see:
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Here's some light reading that might help contextualize what we are about to see:
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Reposted by Chris Cooper
It's (Municipal) Election Day in NC, by @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...
#ncpol
open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...
#ncpol
It's (Municipal) Election Day in NC.
Here's What's Happening & Why You Should Care
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:07 PM
It's (Municipal) Election Day in NC, by @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...
#ncpol
open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...
#ncpol
Reposted by Chris Cooper
Happy Municipal Elections 2025 Day Eve in #ncpol!
Dr. Michael Bitzer (aka @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social) takes a quick (and hyper-local) look at the Queen City's contests tomorrow:
substack.com/@ncpoliticsc...
Dr. Michael Bitzer (aka @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social) takes a quick (and hyper-local) look at the Queen City's contests tomorrow:
substack.com/@ncpoliticsc...
Center for NC Politics (@ncpoliticscenter)
Happy Municipal Election Eve!
substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Happy Municipal Elections 2025 Day Eve in #ncpol!
Dr. Michael Bitzer (aka @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social) takes a quick (and hyper-local) look at the Queen City's contests tomorrow:
substack.com/@ncpoliticsc...
Dr. Michael Bitzer (aka @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social) takes a quick (and hyper-local) look at the Queen City's contests tomorrow:
substack.com/@ncpoliticsc...
Why you should vote in municipal elections?
In 2019, 88 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes--67 in 2021 and 57 in 2023!
(1/3)
In 2019, 88 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes--67 in 2021 and 57 in 2023!
(1/3)
November 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Why you should vote in municipal elections?
In 2019, 88 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes--67 in 2021 and 57 in 2023!
(1/3)
In 2019, 88 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes--67 in 2021 and 57 in 2023!
(1/3)
No one: "Chris, will you please post an early voting data update so hyper-local that only 12 people (tops) will be interested?"
Me: "Absolutely."
Me: "Absolutely."
November 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
No one: "Chris, will you please post an early voting data update so hyper-local that only 12 people (tops) will be interested?"
Me: "Absolutely."
Me: "Absolutely."
Teaching college students is fun.
October 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Teaching college students is fun.
"Maybe don’t hate the players. Or the game. Hate the calendar"
Another must read from @ncrabbithole.com.
I wrote about why we should stop the madness of odd-year elections in Anatomy of a Purple State, but, as you could have predicted, Jeremy's take ⬇️ is smarter & more entertaining.
Another must read from @ncrabbithole.com.
I wrote about why we should stop the madness of odd-year elections in Anatomy of a Purple State, but, as you could have predicted, Jeremy's take ⬇️ is smarter & more entertaining.
If it's more likely that voters will turn out in years when big name races are on the ballot, why are so many cities, towns, and villages in North Carolina holding their biggest elections during off-years?
Here's your answer: www.ncrabbithole.com/p/why-north-...
Here's your answer: www.ncrabbithole.com/p/why-north-...
Hardly anybody votes in off-year elections. Why does North Carolina have them?
Generations ago, leaders thought local elections should be protected from state and national issues. We're still dealing with the effects of that thinking today.
www.ncrabbithole.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:03 PM
"Maybe don’t hate the players. Or the game. Hate the calendar"
Another must read from @ncrabbithole.com.
I wrote about why we should stop the madness of odd-year elections in Anatomy of a Purple State, but, as you could have predicted, Jeremy's take ⬇️ is smarter & more entertaining.
Another must read from @ncrabbithole.com.
I wrote about why we should stop the madness of odd-year elections in Anatomy of a Purple State, but, as you could have predicted, Jeremy's take ⬇️ is smarter & more entertaining.
Popped up to Cataloochee to catch a gander at the new lift and saw a late October snow flurry.
October 30, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Popped up to Cataloochee to catch a gander at the new lift and saw a late October snow flurry.