by Judith Herman
As a Concord Indivisible steering committee member who also serves on the steering committee of All In for NC — an all-volunteer and mostly out-of-state organization working to defeat MAGA — I can say with confidence that North Carolina is a true swing state, poised to play a critical role in the 2026 midterms.
Popular North Carolina Former Governor Roy Cooper’s race for the US Senate has potential impact on the balance of power in the US Senate. Republicans recognize that this is a critical race in a swing state and are massively supporting their candidate.
Although Trump narrowly won North Carolina in the last election and Republicans control the state legislature, we have reason for optimism in 2026. Dems hold the governorship, lieutenant governorship, attorney general, secretary of state, and superintendent of public instruction. We also won a critical state Supreme Court seat — by just 734 votes of 5,540,090 votes cast — despite GOP attempts over six months to throw out thousands of ballots.
North Carolina is the third-fastest-growing state in the country. Three hundred people a day move to North Carolina. That fuels rapid growth by Asian-Americans and Latines, by younger white people into suburbs, and by retirees, all of whom need to register and vote for the candidates who are likely to address their concerns. Registering those new North Carolinians and also the many who have yet to be reached by any outreach method to date is critical for the well-being of the state and its residents and quite likely for turning the tide of the nation, starting with the US Senate.
That’s why Concord Indivisible is currently offering a postcard project to register North Carolina residents who are likely to vote Democratic once they are registered. In the months ahead, we’ll rely on the recommendations of All in for NC for additional ways to increase midterm voting by Dems. AINC works closely with many North Carolina grassroots community and civic organizations, the state and county Democratic Parties, and key Democratic elected officials and candidates. These North Carolinians know the terrain, have boots on the ground, and help direct our efforts. Our work includes fundraising, phonebanking, postcard writing, and canvassing.
Though I now live in Concord, Mass., North Carolina was my home for twenty-one years. I raised my three daughters there, and attended the University of North Carolina School of Public Health. I remember North Carolina fondly as a rational place to live at the time, before it began to trend radically conservative. I look forward to being part of the effort to turn the tide, elect Roy Cooper, and set the Tarheel state on the path to a more positive progressive future.
Judith Herman is a member of the Concord Indivisible Steering Committee and can be reached at [email protected]
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