Advocates say The Cost We Carry Storybook is meant to force lawmakers to confront the human cost of their inaction. As Johnson put it, “This report is about making sure our state lawmakers hear directly from hard-working North Carolinians — and start serving people, not greedy corporations.”
“When people in crisis do not get help in time, the consequences can be tragic,” Gov. Stein stated during the order’s announcement. The order points to a number of high-profile cases where lives were lost at the hands of individuals with complicated mental health histories.
Regardless of Whatley’s acceptance or denial of the “recovery czar” label, Trump handed him power over the recovery efforts, and in August, Smoky Mountain News reported that residents of Western North Carolina said Whatley had “rarely, if ever” visited the area.
As the race moves toward the March primary, the contrast is becoming clear. Cooper is calling for answers and reforms after deadly federal enforcement actions, while Whatley has stayed silent as families and communities demand accountability.
Willingham has voted with Republicans 83% of the time– the second highest rate of all Democrats in the General Assembly. With the help of Willingham, state Republicans were able to pass bills that officials and advocates warned would have detrimental effects to the residents of North Carolina, from higher electric bills to looser gun laws.
The Republican-led North Carolina Board of Elections has recently eliminated voting sites from several university campuses, including NC A&T State University, Western Carolina University, UNC Greensboro, and Elon University.
As the delay continues, schools are left deciding which services, programs, and staff members they can afford to keep. Across the state, teachers and other state employees are also dealing with rising bills and ever-increasing health insurance plans, with some seeing their monthly premiums nearly triple. With no budget to deliver much-needed raises, this amounts to a pay cut for many.
In 2025, Rep. Majeed ultimately voted with Republicans 70% of the time– despite just 13% of his district voting for the conservative NC House candidate in 2024.
North Carolina’s primary elections are quickly approaching. There are a few important dates you should know, as well as some rules about early voting and voting by mail. Since the last election, there have also been changes to some early voting sites and days, and two voting districts have even had their boundaries redrawn.
In 2025, Cunningham sided with Republicans more than any other Democrat, voting with the GOP 84% of the time on key issues such as immigration, the environment, government transparency, and the separation of powers.