The following post is copied from an email sent to FLIP NC’s email subscribers on Nov. 22, 2024. You can subscribe to FLIP NC’s email list here. We send about one email per month.
As we gathered with friends and fellow volunteers on election night, it started to feel like 2016 all over again. While there were some bright spots (Josh Stein for Governor! Mo Green for Superintendent of Public Instruction! Jeff Jackson for Attorney General! Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the NC House!), the results at the federal level were devastating, and our critical NC Supreme Court race looked pretty bleak. But over the past two weeks, as more absentee and provisional ballots were counted, an amazing thing happened – Justice Allison Riggs pulled ahead of her Republican opponent! On Monday, when all the votes were counted, the results were clear – Justice Riggs won her seat on the NC Supreme Court!
Justice Riggs ran a phenomenal campaign that took her across the state multiple times, as she made her case to voters and boldly led with the values she brings to the bench. Voters got to know this fierce civil rights advocate and the youngest woman ever to serve on the NC Supreme Court – and rewarded her with an 8-year term. She and Justice Anita Earls will continue to be strong voices that stand up for the people of North Carolina and the rule of law (and speak out against corporate bullying and religious extremism).
If we’ve learned anything from the past few election cycles, it’s that running a great campaign is essential, but it’s not enough. It takes an army of volunteers, surrogates, donors, and – most importantly – engaged voters – to elect judges who will uphold the law and protect our rights without fear or favor. Everything we (and many others!) did to win this race mattered. Every door knocked, every piece of lit dropped, every text sent and question answered – it all contributed to this critical win. And the effects will be felt for years.
The path to a progressive majority on the NC Supreme Court by 2031 (when voting maps will be redrawn following the census) is clear. We must help Justice Earls win re-election in 2026 and win at least 2 of the 3 seats (currently held by Republicans) that will be up for election in 2028.
This year proves that these fights are worth fighting – and they can lead to incredible things, like keeping a progressive jurist on the North Carolina Supreme Court in a red wave election cycle.
And while our fantastic Court of Appeals candidates couldn’t overcome the tough headwinds of this year’s political environment, they ran impressive campaigns and drew the blueprint for what it looks like to run as a Democratic team. They communicated their values while educating voters on how our state courts affect our lives.
In the coming weeks, we'll share more analysis of the impact of our voter outreach efforts. (Edit: We are still waiting for Election Day data that is not yet available.) What we can say for sure, with the winning margin this close (<1,000-vote margin out of 5.5 million cast!), is that your work made a difference, and we’re so grateful to every person who canvassed, dropped lit, talked to voters, donated, and sent text messages to help people cast their ballots.
Recount Underway
A recount is currently underway. This is normal in a race this close, and it is not expected to change the outcome. Justice Riggs is currently ahead by ~700 votes. (For context: In the 2020 NC Chief Justice recount, Beasley’s and Newby’s vote totals decreased by 20 and 35 votes, respectively.) What is not normal is that, in a shameless effort to subvert the will of the people, Riggs’ opponent has filed more than 300 documents of protests, challenging 60,000 votes statewide. If you’d like to help, you can donate to Justice Riggs to help fight these legal battles.
So, what’s next for FLIP NC?
First, we’re going to rest so we can come back strong in 2025. We know some dark days are ahead, but we can fight back and work toward a better future for all North Carolinians. Next year, we will continue our long-term strategy of flipping our state courts and turning out left-leaning voters to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot.
Thank you again – we have so much to be proud of.
- The FLIP NC Team
