CJ Looking Ahead to 2014 Election Coverage | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The authors of this post are the CJ Staff of the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

    Editors and staff plan to cover dozens of races, provide daily updates

    RALEIGH  -  Even though Election Day 2014 is nearly 11 months away, the editors and staff of Carolina Journal already have begun reporting and offering analysis of key races across North Carolina.

    Managing Editor Rick Henderson will resume "Daily Dispatches From the Campaign Trail" on the John Locke Foundation's statewide "Locker Room" blog Jan. 2. The blog entries, posted every weekday morning, provide links to news reports and information on candidates and campaigns across all areas of the state. This year will mark the third election cycle CJ has offered these daily updates, which began in 2010 with posts by former Associate Editor David Bass and were continued by Henderson in 2012.

    Associate Editor Dan Way again will captain CJ's coverage of congressional, legislative, judicial, and local races, including bond and tax measures. During the 2012 election cycle, CJ published profiles of the candidates in every congressional, Council of State, and state judicial race, more than four dozen legislative races, and a number of key local contests. Way, along with Associate Editor Barry Smith and a group of CJ contributors to cover key candidate events, primary battles, and the general election races.

    And, as always, John Locke Foundation President John Hood will offer regular commentary and analysis of the major stories related to the campaigns.

    The headline battle in 2014 will be for the U.S. Senate seat now held by first-term Democrat Kay Hagan, a race many national observers think may determine the partisan balance of power in the Senate in 2015.

    And while the Senate race will command attention in North Carolina and across the nations, the Tar Heel State's 13 congressional seats and 170 legislative seats will be contested as well. Republicans control nine congressional districts, and voters in at least two congressional districts  -  the 6th and the 12th  -  will be choosing a representative to serve a first term. GOP Rep. Howard Coble, who has represented the 6th District since 1985, is retiring. And 12th District Democrat Mel Watt, who won the seat in 1992, will step down Jan. 6 to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

    Moreover, four Republican freshmen will face their first electoral challenges: Reps. Richard Hudson (8th District), Robert Pittenger (9th District), Mark Meadows (11th District, and George Holding (13th District). Other high-profile races to watch will be in the 2nd District, where second-term Republican Renee Ellmers may face a Democratic challenge from former state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, and the 7th District, where nine-term Democrat Mike McIntyre will again face off against Republican former state Sen. David Rouzer.

    The General Assembly has been under Republican control since 2011, and the 50 senators and 120 House members must defend their seats. CJ will select a group of election races to follow and candidates to profile, highlighting contests for open seats, along with incumbents who may be vulnerable based on polling results from various sources and fundraising reports.

    On the judicial front, four of the seven Supreme Court justices and three judges on the 15-member Court of Appeals will be elected. Chief Justice Sarah Parker has reached retirement age and must step down. Associate Justice Mark Martin has announced he will run for Parker's seat, leaving his position on the court open. Associate justices Robin Hudson and Cheri Beasley also will seek re-election. On the Court of Appeals, judges Mark Davis and Donna Stroud will seek another term. Judge Robert C. Hunter is retiring.

    County commission races will be worth watching in 2014 as well. After the 2012 elections, for the first time since records have been kept by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners  -  and perhaps for the first time since the 19th century  -  Republicans controlled a majority of county boards and held a majority of seats on county commissions. Of nearly 600 county commission seats statewide, Republicans hold roughly 30 more positions than Democrats.

    "This will be the third consecutive election cycle that CJ will offer statewide coverage of key races," Henderson said. "We hope to continue our tradition of not only covering the high-profile contests in the state's major population centers, but also keeping an eye on races in some of the smaller and more remote areas of the state that often escape the attention of the major media outlets. It promises to be an exciting year."

    Carolina Journal Online is the Internet outlet of JLF's flagship publication Carolina Journal. The print edition of Carolina Journal is a monthly tabloid with a circulation of 35,000 statewide.
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