NCCapitol
Coverage of North Carolina state government and politics
Latest stories
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VinFast fights NC effort to boot it from Chatham megasite, blames delay on ‘the state’s own failure’
North Carolina lured electric-vehicle maker VinFast to build a factory in Chatham County. The state is now trying to force the company out so the site can be used for something else. VinFast says it still deserves more time.
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Convicted sex offender offered opening prayer at rally for GOP Senate nominee in North Carolina
A North Carolina pastor who led the opening prayer at a recent campaign stop for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley is a registered sex offender, twice sentenced to prison. Records show pastor Daimon L. King was convicted in 1998 and again in 2010 for offenses involving children. Democrats...
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President Trump to visit North Carolina next week to attend Whatley campaign rally
President Donald Trump will visit Gastonia next week to campaign with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley.
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Cooper defends record as Trump, Whatley hammer him on public safety, Helene
North Carolina “has become a crime-ridden state” under former Gov. Roy Cooper, President Donald Trump said Wednesday. Data shows crime has been dropping for years.
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Michael Whatley seeks to boost US Senate campaign with speech at RNC convention
Whatley is going all-in on his support for Republican President Donald Trump, as he trails Democratic candidate Roy Cooper in polls and fundraising.
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Mail-in voting has begun in NC. Here’s what to know for the 2026 midterms
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to vote by mail in North Carolina this year. Learn more about how to request a ballot, send it back in and track its progress to ensure it’s counted.
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Judge clears a lawsuit against Kyrsten Sinema under North Carolina's 'homewrecker' law
A judge has ruled that former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema can be sued under North Carolina's homewrecker law. Sinema has acknowledged a romantic relationship with Matthew Ammel, a member of her security detail. She argued she can't be sued in North Carolina due to lack of connection to the state. U....
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As new report shows NC crime rates down, Whatley keeps public safety a focus of US Senate race
U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley rallied with supporters in Fayetteville Thursday, warning about threats to public safety and promoting endorsements he has won from police groups.
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NC plans to start mailing 2026 ballots Friday. Could the rules still change before then?
The North Carolina State Board of Elections plan to consider new mail-in ballot rules hours before the start of mail-in voting. Meanwhile, federal lawsuits still loom.
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Federal hemp crackdown could be delayed by one month. What it means for NC's $1 billion industry
Congress voted to delay sweeping federal hemp restrictions by one month. For North Carolina's $1 billion industry, that could mean more time to prepare — and more uncertainty over what happens next.
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WakeMed loses two top executives as proposed merger with Atrium looms
Thomas Gough, WakeMed’s chief operating officer, has been named COO at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida. Seth Brody, WakeMed’s chief physician executive, has joined UNC Health.
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House censures Rep. Chuck Edwards for conduct toward former female staffers
The House has censured Rep. Chuck Edwards after an Ethics Committee investigation concluded he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers in his office. The 413-2 vote is the latest example of Congress grappling with revelations about lawmakers...
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Hunger a growing problem in NC, as Stein and food bank leaders call for help
In central North Carolina alone, more than 630,000 people don’t know where their next meal is coming from — a number that has ballooned recently due to inflation, plus federal cuts to food stamps and similar aid programs.
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US House candidate banned from prediction market for insider bets
Kalshi announced the disciplinary action Monday against Republican Laurie Buckhout, part of a national investigation that found multiple politicians were betting on races they were involved in, including former Congressman George Santos.
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Cooper, Whatley on immigration: A fight over how to focus enforcement
North Carolina U.S. Senate candidates Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley agree on deporting immigrants accused of violent crimes but disagree on much else, including how to enforce immigration laws and whether President Donald Trump’s approach has gone far enough, or too far.
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‘Business as usual,’ for now: NC plans to send mail-in ballots next week following new court ruling
North Carolina was among the states suing to stop the U.S. Postal Service from being allowed to decide who should be allowed to receive or turn in mail-in ballots. The ongoing case has raised questions about whether the state would be able to send out mail-in ballots by Sept. 4.
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Proposed NC election rules head to legislative review. Will they be in place before the election?
A legal fight is delaying implementation of new mail-in ballot and voter ID rules, threatening GOP hopes that they’ll be in place for the 2026 midterms.
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Too high to drive? NC examines marijuana DWI tests
There’s no marijuana equivalent to the blood-alcohol benchmark police use to prosecute drunk drivers. North Carolina officials are examining how toxicology can help them determine if motorists are driving high.
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NC appeals court re-examines enforcement of Covid-era ‘social distancing’ orders
Arguments in the state Court of Appeals Wednesday were the latest chapter in a six-year legal saga over whether government officials mistreated people protesting pandemic-era emergency orders.
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Stein wants commission to delay proposed ballot rules as NC absentee voting nears
Rules proposed by the GOP-majority state elections board could make absentee voting more burdensome and increase the chances of ballots being rejected, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein says. The Democrat wants a state commission to delay final approval so that the legislature can review the rules.
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Meta settles lawsuit, promising NC up to $645M and changes to Instagram and Facebook apps, AG says
The tech giant agreed to a $17 billion settlement to resolve allegations that its social media platforms are addictive to young people. The company, which previously denied the allegations, promised to pay North Carolina up to $645 million and make changes to its apps.
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What Trump’s mail-in voting win at the Supreme Court means for NC voters
Monday’s win for President Donald Trump at the U.S. Supreme Court won’t immediately block mail-in voting in North Carolina or in any other state. But it does leave the door open for such a result in the coming weeks.
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Henderson man gets nearly 27 years for fentanyl trafficking as NC laws give prosecutors new options
A Henderson man who prosecutors say led a major fentanyl and heroin operation was sentenced to nearly 27 years in federal prison. Prosecutors say North Carolina’s tougher fentanyl penalties are giving them more options to pursue serious cases in state court.
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Coastal Republican resigns from North Carolina Senate
State Sen. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck, is stepping down and is retiring from the General Assembly. Hanig, a former Currituck County commissioner, first joined the legislature in 2019. He lost in a GOP congressional primary this year.
