2020/03/election

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2020 Democratic Primary

Comments originally from Mel.

  • Sample Ballot - Democratic Party Primary / Durham County, North Carolina / March 3, 2020 (note: only applies if you're registered as a Democrat)
  • https://www.vote411.org/ has a lot of new information for our candidates. I'm still going through it now, focusing on the few races I haven't decided on yet (Lt. Gov., BOE, BOC) but it looks promising. One particularly nice thing about Vote 411 is how it clearly summarizes what each office does. It's especially useful for the large field of BOC. Everyone has lengthy answers except for Foster, and Hill and Mays didn't respond.

President

Just a note that in NC and VA, the primary seems to be a race between Biden and Sanders -- so I think I'll choose Sanders instead of Warren (for me, it's kind of a toss-up between those two) mainly because I don't want Biden winning. Woozle (talk) 01:37, 29 February 2020 (UTC)

US Senate

While there are other candidates running, it looks pretty clear from the Ballotpedia entry that Smith and Cunningham are the only two viable candidates at this point.

The Indy Week questionnaires are very extensive and useful in exploring candidates issues. These two are obviously going to be longer reads but worth reading (it helps that they're also well laid out pages). For smaller offices, questionnaire availability will be hit and miss depending on the candidates themselves but if they're there, they should be pretty informative.

These questionnaires are not the same as Indy Week endorsements (but they can easily be found if wanted).

Pretty much still a gimme with David Price, but here's info on his challenger Daniel Ulysses Lockwood (if nothing else, a great name!):

https://ballotpedia.org/Daniel_Ulysses_Lockwood

(He's a Magic: The Gathering fan...)

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like he's answered the Indy Week questionnaire as of yet.

Governor

Likewise, Cooper continues to do a lot of good, but here's info on his challenger, Ernest Reeves:

https://ballotpedia.org/Ernest_Reeves

He doesn't have a current questionnaire but here's his questionnaire from 2014 when he ran against Kay Hagan for Senate:

https://indyweek.com/news/elections/ernest-t.-reeves/

...and I just noticed it's full of super short answers. Weak sauce.

Lieutenant Governor

https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2020

Unfortunately, it looks like only the Republican candidates have responded to BP's questionnaire. Beasley and Thomas have older questionnaires available on their profile pages for different offices. Beasley, Van Duyn, and Holley are current members of the NCGA, so their legislative records are available on their profile pages.

...and none of them have answered the Indy Week questionnaire either.

Most of them have links to their campaign pages, social media, and other important sites directly connected with them. Toole has nothing.

For the NCGA members, you can go to the official website (linked in the external links section) and view what bills they introduced and sponsored, along with committees served.

Summary: Beasley, Van Duyn, and Holley (the three NCGA members) are the only ones that really stand out, largely because of their experience. All three look like great candidates and it comes down to their issues. The best way, it seems, to get to know them better is going through their campaign pages. Beasley has a strong pro-teacher platform, Van Duyn's son is autistic and her GA committee work appears to build on that, and Holley has a comprehensive living initiative laid out on her campaign page.

Auditor

Beth Wood is who we've been voting for in the past.

https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_Auditor_election,_2020

Luis Toledo's BP questionnaire: https://ballotpedia.org/Luis_Toledo

Neither have answered Indy Week's questionnaire.

NC Agriculture Commissioner

https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_Agriculture_Commissioner_election,_2020

None of them have Indy Week questionnaires.

Wadsworth has an two old ones from when she ran for Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District 2010 and 2018 (winning both times):

Smith has run and lost to the incumbent in 2012 and 2016 and here are his old questionnaires:

Nothing for Watson.

Superintendent

https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_Superintendent_of_Public_Instruction_election,_2020

All but Sutton have BP questionnaires on their individual profile pages (Sutton has lots of other information on his).

None of them have Indy Week questionnaires answered.

Treasurer

https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_Treasurer_election,_2020

Chatterji has a BP questionnaire, but the other do not. Ajmera has one from the previous year when she ran and won for Charlotte City Council and has extensive other information on her page. None of them have Indy Week questionnaires.

NC State Senate, District 20

https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_State_Senate_elections,_2020

Murdock currently serves as Durham Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, Freelon previously ran and lost for Durham Mayor. Neither have BP questionnaires (but Freelon has info from his mayoral run on his profile page). Ellis has a BP questionnaire on his profile page.

Indy Week profile on Ellis (a transgender man): https://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/hb2-gray-ellis-transgender-general-assembly/

Murdock's Indy questionnaire for Durham Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor in 2019: https://indyweek.com/news/elections/natalie-murdock/

Indy Week profile on Freelon: https://indyweek.com/news/elections/pierce-freelon-announces-candidacy-for-state-senate/

Indy Week profile on Freelon when he ran for mayor: https://indyweek.com/news/elections/pierce-freelon/

All three have further information on their campaign websites.

Board of Commissioners

And now for the "big" one (because there are so many people)...

Two points:

  • You pick any five
  • these seats are decided in the primary and not the general

Candidate links:

Board of Education (At-Large & Consolidated District B)

And now we get into the weeds...

Unruhe and Cason are the respective incumbents.

Also of note: No Republican is running for NC Senate.

If needed to help break the gridlock on some, here are some endorsements from worthy organizations:

wiki file: https://hypertwins.org/mw/index.php?title=2020/03/election&oldid=20909