March 6, 2021
For Immediate Release 

Raleigh, NC - If you are covering Erica Smith's official campaign kickoff for the United States Senate today, please consider including the following statement from North Carolina Republican Party.

“Radical Liberal Erica Smith pushes radical policies far outside the mainstream. As she pushes the Democrat field to the far left with an AOC-inspired agenda, it will be easier for Republicans to attract more voters to our North Carolina First agenda," NCGOP Communications Director Tim Wigginton.

“Tonight, NC Senate Democrats let the kids and families of North Carolina down and showed profiles of cowardice in the face of pressure from Governor Cooper and teacher union bosses,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. "With their vote against SB 37, the Senate Democrats - including one members who previously voted in support of reopening schools - helped Governor Cooper keep schoolhouse doors across North Carolina locked. It is very disappointing that North Carolina Democrats are siding with Joe Biden and teachers unions to keep our schools closed - our kids deserve much better than this kind of naked special-interest politics.”

February 26, 2021
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC - Earlier this week the North Carolina Republican Party published exclusively leaked video of Governor Cooper’s plan to keep kids locked in failing virtual schools with his veto of SB 37. Surprisingly, Cooper agreed to a settlement with far left activists to release thousands of convicted criminals. It is appalling that while releasing thousands of criminals from prison; Cooper is locking North Carolina kids in failing virtual schools. 

“Governor Cooper vetoed SB 37 to keep as many kids as possible locked in failing virtual schools at the same time he’s actively settling with left wing activists to let thousands of convicted criminals out of prison,” said NCGOP Communications Director Tim Wigginton. “Cooper is letting criminals out of jail and locking our kids in failing virtual schools.” 

The Republicans in the General Assembly quickly took decisive action to reopen schools utilizing safety guidelines published by DHHS. The science has been clear since July and continues to be confirmed by study after study. This is why experts such as the Biden administration’s CDC director, Dr. Fauci and North Carolina’s Mandy Cohen have advocated for kids and teachers to return to school. In fact, Cooper has even said that it is safe for kids to return to school right now. 

The North Carolina Republican Party released the video to clearly illuminate the latest chapter in Cooper’s anti-education policy. SB 37 passed with enough bipartisan support to override Cooper’s veto. The question is whether or not these Democrats will support what is right for North Carolina kids or cave to Cooper’s craven partisan games?  

February 25, 2021
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC -  Karen Brinson Bell, Governor Roy Cooper’s handpicked Executive Director of the North Carolina Board of Elections, testified in front of the House Elections Committee and continued her pattern of deception regarding the NCSBE's legal settlement that overturned key provisions of the 2020 Bipartisan Elections Act. Though it is well-established and easy to see by the plain language of the statute and the settlement, Bell strongly declared at the end of her testimony that the collusive settlement “did not change the law."

For those needing a refresher: the General Assembly negotiated and passed the Bipartisan Election Act of 2020, which was signed by Democrat Governor Roy Cooper. Nevertheless, Cooper’s former campaign lawyer Marc Elias sued the state seeking to change rules. Then after hundreds of thousands of votes had been cast, the Democrat-controlled State Board of Elections entered into a collusive settlement that directly nullified the laws passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Cooper.

US District Judge William Osteen blasted this collusive settlement. In his opinion, Osteen blasted Bell for abusing his previous decision in an effort to rewrite state law and misrepresenting the facts to his court.  Yesterday, Bell failed to tell the truth again by falsely claiming the NCSBE collusive settlement did not change the law when the settlement directly contradicted state law by gutting the witness requirement, extending the absentee receipt deadline and allowing unsupervised drop boxes.  

"You’d think that being called out by a federal judge for your dishonesty would have caused a course correction. But instead, Bell followed it up by telling a whopper in front of her supervisory legislative committee,” said NCGOP Communications Director Tim Wigginton. “North Carolinians need to be confident in the integrity of those running our elections, but this is nearly impossible given the actions of Bell and the partisan Democrat majority at the NCSBE.”

February 25, 2021
For Immediate Release 

Raleigh, NC - Despite his flashy campaign commercials, Governor Cooper’s COVID-19 response has been marked by incompetence. Governor Cooper entered into a settlement agreement with far-left activists to release at least 3500 convicted criminals. According the plaintiffs, the agreement marks one of the largest prisoner releases in the COVID-19 era, which is particularly concerning because the settlement lacks specific language to prohibit violent offenders and convicted sex offenders from getting an early release. 

“Governor Cooper’s incompetent management of the COVID-19 crisis risks turning a public health crisis into a public safety crisis,” said NCGOP Communications Director Tim Wigginton.

February 23, 2021
For Immediate Release

• The NCSBE proposed rules changes regarding poll watchers would make it nearly impossible for volunteers to continuously observe the voting process.
  
  
• The proposed change to add any flat surface over 3’x5’ to the definition of a billboard is overly broad and could have a chilling effect on free speech and lead to arbitrary enforcement. 

February 13, 2021
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC - The Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party Michael Whatley released the following statement following Senator Burr’s contradictory impeachment vote. 

"North Carolina Republicans sent Senator Burr to the United States Senate to uphold the Constitution and his vote today to convict in a trial that he declared unconstitutional is shocking and disappointing."

NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley

Raleigh, NC - Most of Cal Jr.’s (Jeff Jackson’s) first policy priorities are irrelevant for the United States Senate because redistricting is primarily a state issue, not a federal one; one key commitment came out his full-throated support of HR1 “For The People Act.” Much like Cal Jr.’s candidacy, HR 1 looks nice on the outside but rotten beneath the surface. The so-called "For The People Act" is a Democrat take-over disguised as a good government bill. HR 1 was opposed by the left-leaning ACLU because of its restrictions on America’s freedom of speech and funnels public money to political campaigns. 

“It’s not surprising that Cal Jr.’s (Jeff Jackson’s) first policy position would be a largely irrelevant issue that actually suppresses freedom of speech and funnels public money to political consultants,” said NCGOP Communications Director Tim Wigginton. “Cal Jr. once again proves that he’s a complete phony because while he claims to be ‘fighting’ corruption he’s actually enabling it.” 

December 12, 2020
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC- North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley released the following statement upon the news that Cheri Beasley called Chief Justice Elect Paul Newby to concede. 

“Congratulations to Paul Newby for being elected as the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Justice Newby ran a phenomenal campaign and will serve with honor and distinction as the Chief Justice on our highest court ” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “North Carolina Republicans made history by sweeping every statewide judicial race. These strategic victories are not an accident but the result of our hard-working volunteers, staff, and candidates across North Carolina, who worked tirelessly to elect conservative judges.”   

This election marks a historic victory for North Carolina Republicans. For the first time in history, Republicans swept all 8 statewide judicial races in North Carolina. The North Carolina Republican Party for the first time in our history had a dedicated Judicial victory fund and a designated staffer focused on winning our statewide judicial races. The conservative sweep was not an accident but rather the result of a dedicated campaign to elect conservative judges across North Carolina.

December 10, 2020
For Immediate Release 

Raleigh, NC - Chief Justice Elect Paul Newby gained eleven votes in the sample hand eye recount after 80 counties, including large Democrat majority counties Wake, Mecklenburg, Buncombe, Guilford, Durham, Cumberland and Forsyth, completed their sample hand to eye recount. Over 75 percent of the total number of precincts have been counted with a substantial shift in Newby’s direction. This latest recount confirms what the last recount confirmed, Paul Newby will be the next Chief Justice of North Carolina. 

“Over 80 counties have completed thier sample hand eye recount and the rest will probably finish tomorrow,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “The results of these recounts confirm once again that Paul Newby is our next Chief Justice."

Meanwhile, Beasley’s election protests continue to be rejected by county boards from Murphy to Manteo. As of today, more than 80 counties have rejected her protests, which have not yet yielded one additional vote in her favor. We have also seen Beasley’s legal team quietly withdraw the affidavit which they relied on when filing all of their protests due to widespread errors and bad data.  These proceedings are not without cost which is bourne by cash strapped counties trying to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Beasley’s protests have been dissmissed by 69 Democrat controlled County Boards across the state and the Beasley team has withdrawn their protests in 13 counties,” said NCGOP Press Secretary Tim Wigginton. “Beasley should save face and gracefully concede now that the sample hand eye recount continues to show no change and her protests continue to be demolished.” 

November 25, 2020
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC -  Nearly every county has completed the recount, and the historical trend has continued in that the election night vote leader gains more votes through the recount process. Chief Justice Elect Newby currently leads soon-to-be-former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley by 465 votes. At this point, it is clear that Beasley will not overtake Newby's lead through the recount process. 

Instead of allowing the recount to play out in an orderly fashion, Beasley’s widely panned effort to Cheri-pick additional Democrat votes continues to fall flat in front of the Democrat controlled county board of elections. County election board staff across the state are reporting that a large number of the votes she is seeking to add to her total have already been counted prior to her filing her protests. Thus, Beasley’s only hope seems to rest in double counting hundreds of Democrat votes. For example, in Brunswick County, county staff reported that at least 58 of the votes at issue had already been approved and accepted prior to the Beasley protest.

“Beasley is losing ground, not closing the gap during the recount,” said NCGOP Press Secretary Tim Wigginton. “We are confident that the recount will confirm Paul Newby won the majority of the votes. Additionally, Beasley should drop her frivolous protests that seek to double count Democrat ballots in an effort to overturn the election." 

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November 17, 2020
For Immediate Release 

Raleigh, NC - With the completion of the Robeson County canvas, it is clear that Paul Newby has secured a majority of the state's votes to become the next Chief Justice of North Carolina. Justice Newby ran a strong grassroots oriented campaign and overcame a 7 to 1 spending margin to complete the GOP sweep of the North Carolina statewide judicial elections.

“Congratulations to Paul Newby on a well deserved and hard fought victory,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “Justice Newby will serve with honor and distinction as our next Chief Justice and will faithfully uphold the rule of law. Justice Newby understands the role of the judge is to say what the law is - not what it should be. This election, the people of North Carolina made a decisive statement by electing eight conservative judges to the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court."

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VIDEO: Cal Cunningham Flees Questions About Potential Court Martial 

October 31, 2020
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC - While Jill Biden campaigned in Charlotte, Cal Cunningham continued his random stops across the state, taking selfies with unsuspecting citizens. Today, some North Carolinians caught up with US Senate Candidate Cal Cunningham in Charlotte. They asked him some basic questions about his unethical conduct and potential court martial following an investigation by the United States Army. Sadly, Cunningham immediately ran away. 

To watch the video, click here.

“North Carolinians deserve to know why Cunningham is running away from simple questions about whether or not he will be able to serve in the US Senate, since he is facing a potential court martial,” said NCGOP Press Secretary Tim Wigginton. “The recent revelations about Cunningham demonstrate that his campaign has been one big lie. He started his campaign running as a tough prosecutor; now, Cunningham is running away from questions about a potential court martial.” 

This incident shows that no matter how hard Cunningham tries to hide from hard questions, North Carolinians will still ask them.

Here are some of the questions asked of Cunningham that he ran away from:

Did you use campaign funds to facilitate your affairs?

Has the US Army reached out to you about your affair?

What are you going to do if elected and you get court martialed? 

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October 28, 2020
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC - The North Carolina Republican Party released the following statement following the recent Supreme Court ruling in Moore V. Circosta:

“We support Justice Gorsuch’s dissent, which explains how the unelected bureaucrats worked to change state election law during an election at the behest of their Democrat political bosses. If North Carolinians want to live in a state with free and fair elections, they should vote out Governor Roy Cooper, Attorney General Stein, and the radical liberals on the State Supreme Court. In America, the people are the ultimate judge, and this Tuesday, we have the chance to elect solid leadership.”

NCGOP Press Secretary Tim Wigginton 

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October 26, 2020
For Immediate Release

RALEIGH, NC-- The Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party released the following statement congratulating Justice Amy Coney Barrett on her successful confirmation. 


“Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination is another example of how President Trump continues to keep his promises to the American people. Justice Barrett is a highly qualified jurist who will serve her nation with honor and distinction. We are proud to stand with Senator Tillis and the other Republican Senators who confirmed her tonight.”

NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley 

September 16, 2020
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC - Democrats across the nation started the call to defund the police 100 days ago. Governor Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein have remained eerily quiet on these radical demands. Democrats across the country have followed through on their pledge to defund the police by slashing public safety budgets in New York, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. Unsurprisingly, after defunding the police crime spiked in New York, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. 

North Carolina has not been exempt from the radical left’s demands to defund the police. Several riots have broken out in several North Carolina cities, causing millions of dollars worth of damage and shuttering small businesses. Further, Democrat politicians right here in North Carolina have taken steps to defund the police. Instead of standing up and defending the police, Cooper and Stein have remained hidden in their basements while the safety of North Carolinians is compromised. 

“Roy Cooper and Josh Stein are missing in action when North Carolinians need them to stand up to their liberal allies and defend the police,” said NCGOP Press Secretary Tim Wigginton. “Instead of vocally defending the hard working law enforcement who keep us safe, Cooper and Stein have remained complicity silent as rioters destroy small businesses right here in North Carolina.” 

Other North Carolina Democrats have shown contempt for our brave police officers that protect our communities. Cal Cunningham laughed at the ambush of two police officers in his first televised senatorial debate. North Carolina House Democrats are publically aligned and backed a group that wants to defund the police. The contrast this election is clear, Republicans stand with law enforcement, and Democrats march with the mob. 

October 16, 2020
For Immediate Release 

Raleigh, NC – Wednesday night, Federal Judge William Osteen blasted the attempts by Attorney General Josh Stein and Governor Roy Cooper’s handpicked executive director to overturn state election law. In his Democracy North Carolina Order, Osteen rebukes  Stein and the Cooper's Board of Elections for its "gross mischaracterization” of his original court order and "a flagrant misuse of this court’s injunctive relief." Additionally, Judge Osteen called out Cooper’s handpicked NCSBE Executive Director Karen Brisson Bell by name for her inaccurate, contradictory testimony.

Osteen's lengthy order makes it abundantly clear that Cooper's State Board of Elections made a brazen attempt to rewrite election law while the election was already underway, violating the due process rights of North Carolina voters. 

"Judge Osteen's ruling highlights the egregious wrongs perpetrated by the NCSBE, AG Stein and the North Carolina DOJ attorneys upon the voting rights of North Carolinians," said NCGOP Press Secretary Tim Wigginton. “ Don’t let Stein’s attempt to obfuscate this ruling fool you. This is a clear rebuke of Stein and Cooper’s attempts to rewrite the law in the middle of the game.  Judge Osteen strongly upheld the state’s absentee witness requirement that Stein and the NCSBE attempted to undo. It is a crying shame that Roy Cooper and Cal Cunningham's campaign consultant picked an executive director for the state board of elections that would give contradictory testimony before a federal court in an attempt to undo election protections."

To read the full Democracy North Carolina Order order issued October 14, 2020 click here.

Here are some key excerpts from Judge Osteen’s order that highlight the unlawful and unethical practices by the State Board in these matters: 

"This court finds that the North Carolinas State Board of Elections improperly used this court's Memorandum Opinion and Order of August 4, 2020, in setting out its revised Numbered Memo 2020-19, thereby frustrating and circumventing the already-issued preliminary injunction order, (doc.124), over which this court has continuing jurisdiction." 

"After careful review of the pleading and attachments filed following the issuance of that order, it appears to this court that language was either misunderstood or has been misconstrued. The language has been cited in support of unreasonable demands, inaction, and acts that appear to ignore the rule of law." 

"Using the court's Due Process language to effectively override the legislative witness requirement, after this court upheld it- in the supposed name of Due Process_ is an unacceptable misuse of the remedy created by this court's order. The State Board's mischaracterization of this court's injunction in order to obtain contradictory relief in another court frustrates and circumvents this court's August Order.” 

"This court finds the SBE’s representations to the North Carolina Superior Court explaining the contents and effect of the August Order, (id.), are at best inaccurate…"

"As if these misrepresentations were not enough, in its brief to the state court, the SBE directly stated that his court's order held the opposite of what it really held."

"This representation was patently not true: this court found that Due Process measures were needed, but the North Carolina witness requirement was, in fact, constitutional.” 

"This change explicitly eliminated the contemporaneous witness requirement duly enacted by the legislature and found constitutional by this court’s order."

"The cure affidavit proposed by the Revised Memo and the Consent Judgment contains a nearly meaningless certification by the voter that completely eliminates the witness requirement."

"The SBE’s Revised Memo is not only misleading to this court; it also creates different classes of voters based upon the voting requirements – all under the guise of Due Process.”

"According to Ms. Karen Brison Bell, Executive Director of the SBE, the Revised Memo allowed 'an envelope with a missing witness signature [to] be cured by the voter attesting that he or she voted their ballot is the voter.' (Declaration of Karen Brinson Bell ('Bell Del.') (Doc. 151-3) Ms. Bell's declaration contradicts her testimony before this court, in which she stated unequivocally that a ballot with a missing witness signature could not be cured but instead had to be spoiled." 

"Using a Due Process cure procedure to allow voters to ignore the witness requirement, or have their votes counted without witness signatures, all under a claim of complying with court's order is a flagrant misuse of this court's injunctive relief." 

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October 20, 2020
For Immediate Release 

RALEIGH, NC-- Cal Cunningham today was caught continuing to advertise his military background to North Carolinians, undermining the argument he’s attempted to make that his, “campaign is about things that are much bigger and more important than just me.” As a new report reveals, Cal Cunningham is still campaigning on his time in the military as he’s being investigated by the U.S. Army. 

“Cal Cunningham doesn’t get to have it both ways,” said NCGOP Press Secretary Tim Wigginton. “He can’t say his background and ongoing investigation by the U.S. Army Reserve doesn’t matter and then feature his time in the military front and center in campaign advertisements. This latest development just further demonstrates that Cal Cunningham is a shameless hypocrite running one big lie of a campaign.” 

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Democrat Cal Cunningham Touts Anti-Corruption Credentials Despite Being Investigated by Army

Sean Moran

Breitbart

North Carolina Senate Democrat Cal Cunningham has continued to campaign on his anti-corruption credentials despite being investigated by the U.S. Army for potentially violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Cunningham sent out a mailer recently touting how he reportedly “took on corrupt military contractors in Iraq.”

...

However, despite his anti-corruption ad, the U.S. Army Reserve is investigating Cunningham for having an extramarital affair with another veteran’s wife, which is in potential violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Cunningham’s affair scandal led former Marine military lawyer Col. (Ret.) Charles Jones to urge North Carolina voters to hold Cunningham accountable for his affair. Jones called Cunningham’s actions “inexcusable” and a “public disgrace of the uniform.”

Four U.S. Army veterans condemned Cunningham for having an affair with a disabled combat veteran’s wife in a recently released ad from the Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) campaign.

...

The Tillis campaign has continued to slam Cunningham for refusing to address allegations that the North Carolina Democrat had a second affair with Anne Gregory Teicher.

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October 7, 2020
For Immediate Release 

Raleigh, NC - North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley released the following statement about Vice President Mike Pence winning the Vice Presidential Debate. 

“Vice President Mike Pence won tonight's debate by strongly defending President Trump’s leadership and results. The Trump Administration has delivered record-setting job growth, rebuilt the American Military and remade the federal judiciary. Including the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. His performance stands in direct contrast with Senator Harris, who repeatedly lied about the Trump Administration’s response to The outbreak of COVID19 and Joe Biden’s plans to raise taxes on every American, institute a $2 trillion Green New Deal and coddle China.” 

NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley