by Judith Herman
Biden lost North Carolina in 2020 by 1.34 percentage points (just 75,000 votes). This has spurred Democrats to target the state in the 2024 presidential election — with special attention to Mecklenburg County. There is no path to the White House without North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes.
“There can be little doubt that winning North Carolina is one of the Democratic Party’s highest priorities in 2024.”
Democratic analyst Simon Rosenberg
Democrats also hope to keep the governor’s mansion, break a Republican supermajority in the legislature, win a state Supreme Court race, and prepare to flip the Republicans’ most vulnerable US Senate seat in 2026.
North Carolina has approximately 1.4 million eligible unregistered voters, a majority of them people of color. Just 71% of Blacks are registered, versus 88% of whites. Registration levels are particularly poor in Mecklenburg County (which includes the city of Charlotte), where there are approximately 80,000 unregistered voters who are young or Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
In 2023, Anderson Clayton, at 25, became the youngest leader of a state Democratic party in the country. She plans to focus on young voters, BIPOC, and rural voters. Other organizations are stepping up to knock on 3.8 million doors in the state — three times the number for 2022 and on a par with efforts in Georgia for the twin Senate wins of 2020.
The more resources we can generate for voter registration, the better chance we have that they will turn out for Democrats. In 2020 incumbent Chief Justice Cheri Beasley lost by only 401 votes — roughly two votes per precinct in Mecklenburg County.
Why Mecklenburg County?
Mecklenburg County has 20% of unregistered BIPOC and young residents in North Carolina. While white voting in NC has trended up in the last six years, Black and Latinx voting has gone down. Turning out these lower-voting groups is necessary to restore representative government.
First step: Engage Democratic volunteers
Because North Carolina does not have automatic voter registration, it takes more time and money to find unregistered voters and convince them to fill out a form. You can help by calling registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters in Mecklenburg County and inviting them to get them involved.
These are easy and rewarding calls. If you have never joined a phone bank, they are a perfect way to get started. You’ll be inviting folks to gather for social get-togethers at local eateries. Those receiving calls are grateful for the invite and enjoy attending the events. Sound like fun? Here’s a list of upcoming phone bank opportunities:
- Sundays, starting May 19, 6–8pm (except Mother’s Day)
- Alternate Wednesdays, starting May 8, 6–8pm
- Sunday, May 19, 4–6pm, in person in Cambridge
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