NCGOP Statement on SCOTUS Congressional Map Ruling

March 7, 2022
For Immediate Release

NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley released the following statement in response to today’s order by the U.S. Supreme Court on the NC congressional map: 

“We are disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal filed by the NC Legislature citing electoral time constraints.  As four of the Justices point out: the NC Courts have taken it upon themselves to draw Congressional maps in violation of the Constitution which raises very serious issues we hope will be addressed by the Supreme Court in the future.” 

The NCGOP will continue to fight for a redistricting process conducted by the Legislature as required by the Constitution. We look forward to the November elections to elect Republicans up and down the ballot, especially conservative judges.

NCGOP Statement on Federal Court Rejecting Partisan Candidate Challenge of Congressman Madison Cawthorn

March 4, 2022

For Immediate Release

The N.C. Republican Party applauds the federal court for rejecting the State Board's attempt to subvert the rule of law to allow a purely partisan challenge to a candidate. The N.C. State Board of Elections does not have the authority to disqualify congressional candidates in this manner.

"This case and the actions of the State Board of Elections were never anything more than a frivolous partisan attack on Congressman Cawthorn," said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. "As much as the Democrat activists on the State Board want to disqualify Republicans from running for office, this ruling confirms it is the People who decide their representatives - and they will make their voices heard loud and clear at the ballot box."

RNC, NRCC, and NCGOP File Briefs in North Carolina Redistricting Court Case

March 3, 2022

For Immediate Release

The RNC, NRCC, and North Carolina GOP filed an amicus brief Wednesday in the US Supreme Court to support North Carolina Republicans’ right to draw and uphold their congressional maps. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer, and NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley released the following statements.

“The RNC is glad to join with the NRCC and NCGOP to ensure that North Carolina’s redistricting process proceeds in a constitutional manner. North Carolina’s courts are engaged in judicial activism and attempting to undermine the North Carolina legislature’s constitutional authority to draw congressional maps. This is yet another example of the RNC’s extensive commitment to fighting key legal battles to protect every aspect of the election process.” – RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

“The NRCC is proud to join the effort to ensure that North Carolina’s redistricting process follows the standards set forth in the United States Constitution. Liberal judges should not be unlawfully exceeding their authority to tilt the scales in favor of their preferred party.” - NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer

“The North Carolina General Assembly has the constitutional right to determine our congressional maps here in the Tar Heel State. Political activism from the bench on this issue is inexcusable and unfairly cuts elected members of the legislature out of the process. We’re proud to join with the RNC and NRCC to fight this crucial issue in the Supreme Court on behalf of North Carolinians.” – NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley

BACKGROUND:

• The Republican National Committee, NRCC, and North Carolina Republican Party filed an amicus brief today in the United States Supreme Court in support of North Carolina Republican lawmakers' ongoing legal battle to uphold the congressional maps enacted by the General Assembly. The case is Moore, et al v. Harper, et al, No. 21A455 (U.S., Feb. 25, 2022).
  • After North Carolina courts blocked the congressional maps enacted by the General Assembly and implemented their own maps drawn by Special Masters, the Republican lawmakers filed an Emergency Application in the United States Supreme Court.
  • The North Carolina lawmakers and the Republican groups argue that the North Carolina courts exceeded their authority by implementing their own maps when the power to draw congressional districts is vested with the state legislature by the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
  • The Republican group's amicus also explains the logical fallacies and flawed assumptions the Special Masters used to create the court-implemented map.
  • Click here to read the full brief. 

NCGOP Statement Ahead of President Biden's SOTU Address

March 1, 2022

For Immediate Release

When Joe Biden gave his inaugural address over a year ago he promised unity, a return to normalcy, and a sound economy.

However, what President Biden has delivered is a series of self-inflicted failures: record high inflation, a broken supply chain, historic crime waves, a border crisis, a grave debacle in Afghanistan, chaos on the world stage, a war on domestic energy production, and more division than we've had in generations.

"Tonight, Biden will paint a rosy picture of the state of our union one year into his term, but the reality is he has only delivered crises, failures, and broken promises," said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. "North Carolinians know the state of the union is not strong and they deserve better."

NCGOP Files Amicus Brief in Fight Against Unconstitutional Candidate Challenges

February 28, 2022

For Immediate Release

The N.C. Republican Party filed an amicus brief and motion in federal court seeking to uphold the Constitution and the Rule of Law pertaining to challenges of Congressman Madison Cawthorn’s candidate filing. Read the brief and related filings here.

The State Board of Elections has once again exceeded its Constitutional authority by usurping the authority of Congress to make such determinations. This brief and motion is filed in defense of this Constitutional process.

“The Constitution specifically grants Congress the power to determine who is qualified for congressional office, not the state board of elections,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “As much as the Democrat activists on the State Board want to smear Representative Cawthorn, the fact remains there is absolutely no basis for them to claim this authority.”

NCGOP Statement on Republican Legislature's Emergency SCOTUS Appeal

February 25, 2022

For Immediate Release

Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party Michael Whatley releases the following statement on the Emergency Appeal filed with the Supreme Court by NC House Speaker Tim Moore and NC Senate Leader Phil Berger.

"We applaud the Republican legislative leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly for filing this appeal to the US Supreme Court," stated Chairman Whatley. "The Constitution is clear - the authority to draw political maps lies with the Legislature, not the courts."

NCGOP Statement on Hijacked Congressional Maps

February 23, 2022

For Immediate Release

Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party Michael Whatley releases the following statement on the trial court's decision to reject the General Assembly's remedial Congressional Map and impose their own:

"On behalf of Republican voters all across North Carolina I am extremely disappointed that the courts have hijacked our elections and substituted their version of a Congressional Map for the Map drawn by the Legislature.

The North Carolina Constitution, affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States, clearly gives the authority to draw election maps solely to the Legislature. This decision by the three-judge panel lies completely outside of their authority and should be overturned."

NCGOP Statement on Illegal Communications by Special Master Assistants 

February 21, 2022

For Immediate Release

The NC Republican Party is alarmed at the revelations concerning illegal communications between the Special Master Team appointed to potentially draw legislative and Congressional maps and plaintiffs’ experts in the ongoing redistricting case.

Such ex parte communications should immediately disqualify the members of the Special Master Team involved and ensure that their work product be barred from these proceedings. Further, their corrupted work should be destroyed and they should immediately disclose any other illegal communications which they may have engaged in.

One of the assistants in question has a history of anti-GOP activism specifically targeting North Carolina Republicans. This violation is yet another glaring example of how partisan activism has plagued these court proceedings from the outset.

“These communications clearly violate the rules set forth by the Court and call into question the neutrality of the special master teams,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “The People of North Carolina deserve a judicial process free of bias and partisan schemes. Such clear examples of improper behavior damage confidence that these proceedings are fair and should be dealt with appropriately.”

NCGOP Statement on the Enactment of Remedial Maps 

February 18, 2022

For Immediate Release

The N.C. Republican Party applauds the leadership in the General Assembly for their diligent work to approve remedial maps under the extraordinarily tight deadline given by the N.C. Supreme Court. These maps fully comply with the guidelines listed in the Court’s order as well as address their brand new doctrine of ‘partisan fairness.’

“We look forward to judicial approval of these maps and an overdue sense of certainty for voters across the state,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “If the court does not approve the Remedial Maps drawn in full compliance with their Order, they will be sending the clearest signal yet that they are more interested in partisan activism than upholding the Constitution.”

NCGOP Statement regarding State Board's Lack of Authority on Congressional Candidate Challenge

February 14, 2022

For Immediate Release

The hyperpartisan N.C. State Board of Elections— hand-picked by Gov. Cooper — is yet again attempting to exceed their legal authority. This time, by invading a function squarely entrusted to Congress. At a time of dismal voter confidence, this Board’s partisan actions continue to undermine trust.  

Under Article 1 § 5 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is uniquely vested with the power to determine the qualifications of its members. However, now, Cooper’s State Board has gone so far as to say, they have the “authority to police” whether a candidate should be disqualified under the Constitution. This is a blatant attempt to usurp the power of Congress to determine the qualifications of its members. 

"This massive overreach by this State Board of Elections cannot stand. Congressman Cawthorn has not been charged, much less convicted of anything. There is no basis for the State Board’s claimed ‘authority to police’ candidates in this manner,” stated NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. "Unfortunately, Democrat activists are creating a smear campaign to leverage an overtly partisan Board in a brazen attempt to secure political gains they cannot win through honest elections."

NCGOP Files Brief Seeking to Restore Statewide Poll Observers

February 8, 2022

For Immediate Release

This week the N.C. Republican Party, by and through counsel (Philip Thomas - NCGOP Chief Counsel and Kevin Cline - Kevin Cline Law, PLLC), filed an amicus motion and brief with the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Read the full motion and brief here. 

In late 2021, a Democrat-majority 3-judge superior court panel struck down Senate Bill 824, which included provisions implementing voter ID as well as the addition of 100 statewide poll observers to be appointed by each State Party Chairman. The Democrat groups who filed the suit had not asked the court to strike down the statewide observers, but the liberal-activist judges did that which they always do—they substituted their will for that of our duly-elected legislature. 

The case is currently on appeal to the N.C. Court of Appeals. While the General Assembly is laser-focused on election integrity and is providing a full-throated defense against Democrats’ frivolous claims regarding voter ID, the issue of statewide poll observers had not come to the forefront until these partisan judges inserted themselves into the matter.

The NCGOP successfully appointed and deployed 100 statewide poll observers in the 2020 Election. Those observers played a critical role in ensuring the fairness and integrity of our elections in this state. 

Even though Republicans were successful in North Carolina’s 2020 elections, (Republicans won 16 of 20 statewide elections), we know there is more to be done to restore voter confidence. That’s why the NCGOP fought (and won) when the State Board of Elections tried to cut our ability to appoint observers, formed an Election Integrity Committee, and has been providing ballot protection workshops and related trainings.

“What we need in our elections is more transparency–not less,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “Having people in the room is the number one deterrent for voter fraud. This judicial attempt to shut out our observers is truly troubling and that’s why I asked our attorneys to get involved.” 

NCGOP Statement on NC Supreme Court's Partisan Opinion

February 4, 2022

For Immediate Release

While the N.C. Republican Party is disappointed in the N.C. Supreme Court's partisan decision to throw out maps duly crafted and enacted by the legislature, we are not surprised.

From the outset Democrats made clear their intentions of leveraging an activist judiciary to seize political gain despite the Republican-led legislature's open, transparent, constitutional process. The NCGOP looks forward to another open, constitutional process for the legislature to redraw these maps and sincerely hope the constitutional order is not upended yet again by Democrats writing policy from the bench.

"We are extremely disappointed that the four Democrats on the N.C. Supreme Court have chosen political expediency over reason in order to invalidate the maps drawn by the N.C. General Assembly," said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. "This blatantly partisan decision flies in the face of centuries of judicial and legislative precedent and directly contradicts any plain reading of the North Carolina Constitution."

NCGOP Statement on Redistricting Case and Democrats' Hypocrisy

January 3, 2022

For Immediate Release

The N.C. Republican Party looks forward to this week’s trial and subsequent ruling from the superior court as it concerns North Carolina’s new legislative and congressional maps. We’re confident the court will affirm the maps in question were drawn legally, according to the Constitution, and in full view of the public.

This lawsuit is yet another brazen 'Sue til Blue' attempt by Democrat activists to get the court to give them what they cannot win at the ballot box. The plaintiffs in this case are partisan Democrats who have repeatedly failed to enact their radical agenda through winning elections, so now they hope the judiciary will give them what they could not get honestly via the electoral process. 

More concerning, in an utter display of hypocrisy Democrat activists and unknown ‘consultants’ have drawn maps in total secrecy – maps that even Democrat experts admit are blatant gerrymanders that favor Democrats – and have asked the court to force those secret gerrymander maps onto the citizens of North Carolina by court order.

“In 2021, the Republican-led General Assembly conducted the fairest, most transparent redistricting process in our State’s history,” stated NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “We’re hopeful this court will reinforce those facts and reject Democrats’ wildly hypocritical demand to impose secret, gerrymandered maps on the People of North Carolina.”

Supreme Court Injects Chaos into NC Elections

Judicial Activism Strikes NC Elections Once Again

December 6, 2021
For Immediate Release

NCGOP Calls on Cooper to Restore Voter Confidence by Signing the Election Day Integrity Act

November 18, 2021
For Immediate Release

Election integrity is a top issue for North Carolina voters. In fact, according to this poll from March 2021, the issue is only second in importance to ‘jobs and the economy,’ and election integrity surpasses other top issues such as education, healthcare, and immigration.

That's why signing the Election Day Integrity Act the N.C. General Assembly just sent to his desk should be a top priority for Governor Roy Cooper, as well.

In the weeks prior to the 2020 elections, a flurry of reckless last minute rule changes by Democrats weakened ballot protections, injected even more uncertainty during uncertain times, and undermined confidence in the integrity of our election processes and the Rule of Law. The dubious extension of absentee ballot acceptance deadlines led to election contests dragging on for days, or weeks as eligibility standards were thrown into disarray.

The Election Day Integrity Act eliminates this damaging and protracted uncertainty with the reasonable solution of aligning absentee ballot acceptance deadlines with the close of polls on election day.

It's no mystery why so many North Carolina voters place election integrity and common-sense ballot protections at the top of their list of concerns - Democrats played games with election rules, undermining the Rule of Law and losing the People's trust.

"Gov. Cooper owes it to the People of North Carolina to sign the Election Day Integrity Act," said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. "We're lucky to have fared better than other states, but we must restore the lost trust in our elections and that starts with reestablishing common-sense rules like those in this bill."

NCGOP Urges Gov. Cooper to Sign NC Legislature's Tax-Cutting Budget

November 18, 2021
For Immediate Release

The Republicans of the N.C. General Assembly have once again delivered a budget that cuts taxes for all, leaving even more of North Carolinians hard-earned money in their own pockets; puts more toward teacher pay and education; invests more capital for our state's critical infrastructure needs; and, saves a record amount for a rainy-day. 

This is responsible budgeting in action.

After years of blocking tax cuts and teacher raises, Governor Roy Cooper should waste no time and immediately follow through on signing this bipartisan budget for the people of North Carolina.

Most importantly, this budget respects the hardworking men and women of this state by cutting taxes for EVERYONE, leaving more of their hard-earned money in their own pockets. Through this budget:

• The zero-tax bracket is raised to $25,500, cutting tax bills for all North Carolina families regardless of income

• Child tax deductions are increased by $500

• Personal income tax rates are cut from 5.25% to 3.99% by 2027, starting with 4.99% in 2022

• State income tax on all military pensions is eliminated, because our veterans have sacrificed enough already

This budget includes a 5% pay raise for most state employees and an average 5% pay raise for teachers over the biennium, in addition to a $2,800 bonus to most NC teachers using federal funds; it commits $100 million in recurring funds for a new state-funded teacher salary supplement focused on low-wealth counties to help them compete with big, wealthy counties when recruiting teachers; and, it directs federal funds to provide up to $1500 bonuses for all state employees. After years of Governor Cooper and the Democrats blocking pay raises for teachers, this is critical to making up lost ground.

The budget proposal invests in education to the tune of an extra $2.5 billion in recurring funds over the biennium, and, over the course of the next 7 years, a projected $2.6 billion will be spent on school capital projects. It also helps make education more affordable by adding Fayetteville State University to the N.C. Promise program, which guarantees a maximum $500 in-state tuition per semester at participating schools.

With over $1 billion for broadband expansion and billions more for critical capital and infrastructure projects, this budget makes the necessary investments to keep NC competitive and our people connected. While the nation struggles with supply-chain bottlenecks and unfortunate, but predictable consequences of central planning, this budget provides $283 million to support deepening and expanding the Wilmington Port Harbor, and invests over $16 billion over the next 10 years to meet our State's growing infrastructure needs.

All of this is accomplished while increasing the amount of savings held in the Rainy Day Fund to $4.25 billion by the end of the biennium, and establishing critical safeguards to protect the citizens' rights from government overreach. As North Carolina citizens face rapidly rising prices and an uncertain economy, now is not the time for political posturing. We look forward to Governor Cooper's signature providing the certainty North Carolinians deserve.