RALEIGH, N.C.—Republicans in North Carolina are among the most disciplined practitioners of the MAGA playbook. Over the past two years, they have used gerrymandering to entrench their power in the North Carolina General Assembly and to transform what had been a 7-to-7 split in the state’s congressional delegation into a 10-4 Republican advantage. They have done this in a purple state where registered Democrats and Republicans are roughly evenly divided.
These efforts have not gone unchallenged. A broad coalition of African Americans, Latinos, students, Democrats, progressives, Greens, Democratic Socialists, and members of North Carolina’s Communist Party USA clubs have fought ICE actions, helped shelter at-risk immigrants, and consistently raised the voice of opposition against the reactionary agenda of the state Republican Party.
In June, CPUSA members were among more than 400 protesters who turned out to challenge the latest MAGA-backed attack on voting rights. House Bill 958, innocuously titled “Election Law Changes,” was about to be heard by another committee on its way through the legislative process.
The bill increases voting restrictions, allows greater secrecy around campaign finance rules, bans ranked-choice voting, gives the state auditor expanded power to investigate alleged “fraud,” allows citizens to challenge one another’s right to vote, politicizes the State Board of Elections, and prevents election officials from encouraging people to vote. It also includes additional measures framed by its supporters as protecting election “integrity.”
The bill would allow the state auditor to oversee the Board of Elections and interfere with voting rights. Not surprisingly, the current state auditor is a vociferous MAGA supporter.
On June 16, the bill was heard in the House Committee on Election Laws. A large group of progressives packed the small committee room. Apparently sensing the mood of the crowd, Republican leaders allotted only 50 minutes for discussion of the bill, and the committee chair refused to allow public comment.
After the meeting, Rep. Allison Dahle, a Wake County Democrat and vice chair of the committee, criticized the process. “This bill does so much that limiting it to a 50-minute discussion is almost snubbing the people’s voice,” she said. “We need more time to ask questions and discuss this.”
When the committee adjourned, Sam Hayes, a top lawyer for legislative Republicans and now the state elections director, attempted to defend the bill. He was followed out of the committee room by people who had been inside but had been denied the right to speak. Joining other opponents of the bill, the group chanted “shame, shame,” as Hayes was interviewed by the press.
Marcus Bass, executive director of the North Carolina Black Alliance, said the bill would disproportionately harm younger, poorer, and minority voters.
“We are here to make sure that the individuals behind us don’t just operate in the cover of darkness or in the confines of this concrete building,” Bass said, “but that their actions are met by voters in the district, by individuals that they’re elected to serve, and by the citizens who deserve free and fair elections.”
The bill passed out of the Elections Committee along party lines. After the strong public response, Republican leaders sent the bill to the House Rules Committee rather than directly to the House floor. Late in the legislative session, the bill was taken out of committee and rushed onto the Senate floor. Democrats tried to amend the bill, and each amendment was tabled by the Republican MAGA majority.
Despite all the efforts by labor and its allies, the bill eventually passed the General Assembly in early August and was promptly vetoed by the Governor.
The passage of the bill did not, however, dampen enthusiasm. If anything, passage had the opposite effect.
Progressive forces, including the CPUSA, have been energized by the underhanded way the General Assembly rushed the bill through at the end of the session, stymying all attempts to block it. Republicans will try to override the governor’s veto when they return after the November elections. So the lesson is clear:
Showing up matters. MAGA opponents must remain vigilant and continue working in broad coalitions with other progressive forces to oppose reactionary efforts to weaken democracy in North Carolina.
The fight goes on.
No paywalls at People’s World
We hope you appreciated this article. At People’s World, we believe news and information should be free and accessible to all, but we need your help. Our journalism is free of corporate influence and paywalls because we are totally reader-supported. Only you, our readers and supporters, make this possible. If you enjoy reading People’s World and the stories we bring you, please support our work by donating or becoming a monthly sustainer today. Thank you!
CONTRIBUTOR
