Opinion: North Carolina, A Right-Wing Policy Pioneer
The Contested North Carolina Supreme Court Election
A spate of frantic messages I received from friends not only resolved my contemplations of an article topic but also signaled an alarming trend on the political landscape. In North Carolina, where I reside, panic ensued over the validity of votes cast in the last election due to an ongoing lawsuit. Jefferson Griffin, the candidate who suffered defeat by a mere 734 votes out of 5.5 million in the recent state Supreme Court election, has ignited a controversy by challenging his defeat in the legal realm. Despite two recounts painfully reminding him of his defeat, Griffin is now tenaciously contesting approximately 65,000 votes in court, a frightening illustration of the desperate lengths one might go to overturn the outcome of a democratic election.
The Disproportionate Impact on Young Voters
Griffin's challenge is not without strategy. Young voters are over three times more likely to have their votes contested than those aged 65 years and above. In Durham, this proportion sharply rises to seven times the older demographic. As a result, the failed candidate's lawsuit has named 750 students from our campus alone. Having worked with Duke Votes, I have witnessed the meticulous care each student put into filling out their registration forms – to imagine they have cast invalid ballots is disturbing.
A Blow to Democratic Engagement
This potential disenfranchisement is a heavy blow to political engagement at Duke. Our campus culture prides itself on catalyzing political involvement among the student body, many of whom aspire to enter the political arena post-graduation. Eleven Duke community members ran for national or local offices this year. Yet, Griffin's lawsuit could deter future political aspiration, particularly for students of color who were more likely to have their votes challenged.
The North Carolina Far Right Policy Experiment
The subversion of democratic values evidenced in Griffin's lawsuit is not a new occurrence. Rather, it is the latest chapter in a series of conservative attempts, both nationally and statewide, to overturn the pluralistic foundation of the democratic system. North Carolina, in particular, has become an active testing ground for radical right-wing policies. The current strategy involves introducing an unpopular and extreme policy, endure the inevitable backlash, and then, once the storm subsides, promote the policy on a national scale.
The Case Study: HB2 and Its Aftermath
An indicative case of this strategy was the controversial ‘bathroom bill’ – HB2 in 2016. Despite costing North Carolina an estimated $3.76 billion, the bill initiated a national push to restrict the rights of transgender Americans. Despite the intense backlash it elicited, variants of the bill now operate in eleven states.
The Gubernatorial Powers and the Impending Chain Reaction
Similar occurrences are on the horizon. Despite the Democratic incumbent in the North Carolina governor’s office, Republicans have unequivocally dominated the state legislature in recent years. Consequently, before the Democrats assumed office, the Republicans pushed through severe restrictions on the governor's powers. Combatting this underhanded maneuvering, the governor's and attorney general's offices are currently suing to block the legislature’s latest curtailment of executive powers.
Conclusion: Strategies to Preserve Democratic Process
In this dispiriting political climate, vigilance and active participation can serve as robust countermeasures. Firstly, if you voted early or by absentee in North Carolina, verify that your vote isn't compromised in Griffin's lawsuit. Secondly, the reduction of executive powers in North Carolina should be a focus for national attention. Additionally, amazingly resilient grassroots movements have emerged to challenge these oppressive policies. The storm, though currently over North Carolina, may soon pour over the entirety of the country. Thus, ensuring involvement and vigilance may help prevent a deluge and preserve democratic integrity.
Originally Post From https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2025/02/north-carolina-ground-zero-right-wing-policy
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