A Rough Night for Republicans: What Cumberland County's Results Really Mean

Peter: Good evening. 2,425. That is how many votes separate Congressman David Rouser from Dr. Kimberly Hardy in the seventh district out of more than Three hundred twenty thousand cast. Less than one percent apart. Tomorrow the provisional ballots will be counted. Thursday is the deadline for military and overseas ballots. Friday, the counties will certify, and until then nothing you saw on Tuesday night is official, not that race and not any other. Tonight, what a margin like that actually means, what happened to Republicans up and down this county's ballot, and why the city and the county are fighting the same data center fight on two different clocks. Laura Musler is out tonight. She'll be back with me on Monday. I'm Peter Pappas. This is the Carolina Capitol. Everybody, welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet. I'm your host, Peter Pappas as solo tonight. Ms. Laura Musler is out enjoying the stars and guitars. So let's not sugarcoat it. Tuesday was a rough night for Republicans in Cumberland County from top to bottom. the sheriff's race went Democratic by 34 points. Both at large county commission seats went Democrat. A state house seat was held, or that we did hold. Diane Wheatley's flipped by about 1,200 votes. Both were contested judgeships by 20 points or more. So we didn't lose by a small margin. Here's the part I want us to sit with. This wasn't a low turnout fluke. Early voting in this country was up one third over the last midterm. People showed up. They knew what they were doing. So look, the honest question is look, it's not who stayed home. It's why did the people who came out to vote vote the way they did? A lot of the people on that list sat in this chair this year, Mr. McDuffie, Wyndham, Wheatley, Ms. Accles, Congressman elect Ojada, Tom Hatch, and Broxy Pone. I am very grateful to every one of them. And let's talk about what this means. So this is a national tide. The Democrats lost. I'm sorry, the Republicans lost because of pressures from, in my opinion, the Iran war and the economy. it's the it's the kitchen table, stupid. I mean, saying that this was our fault because of turnout doesn't explain a 34 point drop or a 34 point gap in the sheriff's race. the GOP held Tom McGuinness, but I will have to say I was surprised that the margin was not larger in that race. our amendments that I was against, of course I was against amendment two and three, but the photo ID I was all for. All three of those passed. Now, I want to talk about those amendments. photo ID, it it basically expanded photo ID for the provisional ballots. So that was now codified into our constitution because we previously had photo ID in our constitution. So it was just expanding where else we need photo ID from. Now the amendment regarding the income tax being lowered is now passed, and so are the Amendment regarding property tax limits for the municipalities. Now, what I was surprised with was the overwhelming how they passed, despite a lot of messaging on the left to say, don't want, don't vote for this, don't vote for that, because this is against our interests. So that's really what surprised me last Tuesday. Now, as a party, I think Republicans have two years to build where it lacks. we need to Work on getting people registered to vote. We need early vote operations and candidates who show up in Fayetteville. we have a lot of work to do. And I think part of it up and down the ballot is Republicans need to put forth quality candidates. Just because you're registered Republican doesn't mean you're a quality candidate. If you're a candidate that kind tries to phone it in, doesn't want to work hard for your campaign, you expect the party or other people to do work for you. Instead of with you, I think you just need to sit down and don't put your name on a ballot. There is no merit to putting your name on a ballot if you're not going to do the work that's required to earn people's votes. This is unfortunately modern politics has become a marketing game. How good can you get your message out? How well? And what message are you putting out? What value do you bring? I'm the citizen. I need to know why I should vote for you? And I need more than a fancy pamphlet. So let's turn to North Carolina Congressional Senate, I'm sorry, North Carolina District 7 for U.S. Congress. here's where the 7th district stands tonight. Congressman David Rouser leads Dr. Kimberly Hardy by 2,425 votes, about three-quarters of 1%. Now, those are unofficial. nothing is official until the counties complete their canvases on Friday. Now, there's two things that get straight. North Carolina doesn't have an automatic recount. Under 1%, the trailing candidate can demand one, but only after the canvas. And the deadline is new next Tuesday. Second, the provisional ballots being counted tomorrow, they're not they're ballots cast, but they're not votes counted. Each one gets checked for eligibility. So it's not like we're sitting on a pile of provisional ballots that are gonna go to either side. We have to approve those votes and those ballots first. So, in full disclosure, both of these candidates have been our guests. Dr. Hardy in September of this year and Congressman Rouser way back in twenty twenty one. And I'll say this to my own side. We spent this whole cycle telling people the system works as far as our voting process. And the test of whether we still say it it when our guy is only one, let's see, is the one twenty four hundred votes ahead. Are we gonna still say that our elections are sound? Now We have not heard from Dr. Hardy. I think their intention would be, and I think that any good campaign would owe it to their donors and supporters to request a recount, especially if it is under one percent. I know that goes against the winner who who is a GOP member, Mr. Rouser, but I think even if Mr. Rouser, he's not a stranger to a very tight race. I mean, back in twenty twelve he asked for a recount. in one of his own races. So I don't think it's bad for the other side, so to speak, to request a recount. I think that any good candidate owes that to the voters who put their faith and trust in them because they ran a good campaign. now regarding Rouser, back in twenty twelve he was down six hundred and fifty five and he conceded a week later and nobody called him sour grapes. So I want to remember that for the other side if we do get a recount. Photo ID is now in the constitution. We asked for confidence in the system. And this right here is what we meant. So let's see. Next up, we have this is going to be a quick live tonight, ladies and gentlemen. I appreciate you all tuning in and joining me. Laura left me, didn't leave me. She told me she wasn't gonna be here tonight. But she leaves me alone and solo in the in the studio. And sometimes that's probably not a good thing. But please say hello. Say hello. I've got the chat in front of me. So if anybody's here just watching, just give me a shout out and also talk to me. Let me know what you'd want to talk about. Now, next up, those damn data centers again. Now we have two governments, two calendars. The simplest way I can put this, the county and the city are trying to answer the same question. Where and under what conditions do data centers get built here? And they're doing it in a little bit of a different order. The county has written a draft, they've sent it through the planning board, tightened the sex backs after people commented, and scheduled a public hearing for next Monday before it votes. The city of Fayetteville has adopted its rules first, then made them wait on a moratorium hearing it still hasn't set. Tonight it's talking about that moratorium and the county's own pause runs out December fifteenth. If you live in this county and you care about water, power Power bills, noise, jobs, you've got two meetings to watch and two different sets of rules depending on which side of the city you're on. Now, I think all elected boards are trying to find a happy medium. And you've got a lot of energy out there that's like no data center, hell no, we won't go. That's unfortunately not how we move our community forward. being a brick wall and being unwilling to negotiate or work it out, That is quintessentially what makes us a good community. And I think we will find that middle ground. However, I don't want to see my utility bills go up, and I'm sure you don't. And I'm sure that you don't want to see our scarce water resources squandered by these data centers. And I want to see some real skin in the game from these guys coming in. Now, a couple of things. From a conservative side of view, you know, we love property rights, property rights all day long. But now, property owners and employers, they need rules that are clear and final. We now have two half finished processes and their own risks associated with either one. data centers do bring tax base, whether you like it or not. The question is conditions of what they do, not whether they bring tax base. PWC has already publicly commented that a moratorium was not needed. So honestly, the county's 800, 1200, and 2000-foot setbacks are close to a de facto ban on many sites, which In my opinion, and we voiced it on the cabinet before, and along with former repres representative Diane Wheatley, these things can go in industrial parks. That's what they're meant for. But the restrictions put on by the county of the 800, 1200, 2,000 foot setbacks, that could preclude a lot of a lot of sites. Those have to be really big sites. So Thayaville has a data center rules. They just haven't met a data center yet. So it's time to I guess if they have a data center in mind, it's time to reveal and move on. So let's talk about Raleigh. the three things happen at once on Tuesday. They don't all point in the same direction. Mr. Roy Cooper won the Senate seat by nearly 20 points. Democrats took the state house, about 71 seats on unofficial returns. That's that's a pretty big swift change. And the same voters passed all three amendments. With about 60%, including a cap on the income tax and photo ID for mail ballots, as I said earlier. Honestly, I've said the income tax ceiling belonged in statute, not the constitution. That means in statute means the legislature can change it if they need it. Good evening, Mario. Good to see you, sir. I don't think it should be in the Constitution because that makes it more difficult to change if we need it. And I don't want more taxes. However, I don't also. want areas West North Carolina to suffer if we can't raise the money to fix them and get them on. hi Angie, thanks for joining. yes, I I do my best to keep everybody informed. That's very nice of you to say. The state keeps some room to move after a Helen sized disaster. And that's really what I'm worried about. Think about this. In West North Carolina, we got our butts handed to us and we devastated a lot of people. But now if the income tax is too low and we don't have enough revenue available, enough savings accounts, whatever for the state, it's gonna make recovery in those areas that much longer. And do you by making by prolonging it, think about this it's fewer and less taxes collected in the west of North Carolina to help their recovery. So they depend on tourism. So the quicker we get them cleaned up, back up and running, the better it is for the entire state. But if we start we and we have now restricted the income tax. So there is no going back on that. now voters did disagree with me, and that's their call, but notice what they did. They voted for conservative policy and democratic late legislatures on the ballot. So again, I was very surprised that all three amendments passed. I thought I thought for sure the photo ID would go, but I wasn't sure about the other two. So good evening, Royals. Nice to see you. let's see. Cautiously optimistic. That's that's a good way to put the data center question mark. I'm glad that you feel that we can be pro-development while still properly and honestly advocating for the district. Not everybody's gonna be happy all the time. And that's the United States government one one. we need to do the best we can for the most people at one time. So Thanks for joining us this evening, or joining me since I'm left alone in the studio and up to my own devices. So Vice President Vance over the weekend. I'm gonna give him credit for one thing. He didn't blame the turnout, he didn't blame the candidates. He said voters who were with us two years ago left and he named why. You don't have to agree with every word to recognize that's the start of an honest conversation. Now, here's mine. The party that promised lower costs and no new wars got a war and higher gas prices. Voters noticed the question for conservatives isn't who to blame. It's whether we're willing to say what we got wrong before 2028. Now, owning the loss to me is how we're gonna win in the future. And I'm saying we as a Republican tonight, I am gonna be a little partisan more than usual. I believe because I said it, and I think those of you watching I consider myself to be a Republican but a conservative first. And also I guess you would consider us grassroots here because we are the local people doing local things. But you had the establishment Throwing down our throats, Mr. Michael Watley, who was the biggest wet sponge, waste of space candidate ever met in this country. Now, we primaried out Mr. Don Brown. I don't know if Mr. Brown could have overcome the former governor's just gravitas and his presence. the man was a legislature, I believe in the Senate and the House, and then he was state, you know, he was attorney general, then governor. The man's been in politics for a long time. So I don't know if Mr. Brown could have beat him, but I damn sure know that Mr. Brown would have given him a run for his money. And Mr. Cooper would have debated Mr. Brown. Mr. Brown would not have shied away from that challenge. And I think we as North Carolinians were robbed of that experience because of the traditionalists in our party, the people that are pulling those levers, they decided to put up a do nothing candidate. He didn't do anything when he was the state. NC G OP guy. He supposedly helped Mr. Trump win the presidency in twenty four. But again, he just wasn't a good candidate and we allowed it. We didn't put up a better candidate. So anything going on with you guys you want to discuss tonight? I'm happy to go back and forth with you because I'm right here on the rapid fire portion of our show. Hope Mills, the price of a town manager. Mr. McLaughlin leaves November 20th for Anger, North Carolina. So congratulations to him for getting a new job. the board voted three to two in June not to renew him. the interim target is November 16th. don't have the November 2nd finalist outcome. So we don't, I don't think we have an interim named yet, as far as my knowledge is. Let's see where you at. Hey David. Good evening, sir. Let's see. Stop arm cameras. that's I don't want to talk about that. Let's see. Yeah. Veterans Day is Wednesday, y'all. hopefully there's a blue star ceremony, 11 a.m. Wednesday at the North Carolina Veterans Park. the speaker will be Edna Cummings. the downtown parade was already this past Saturday. So, yep. Look at me. I didn't even attend. I really suck, and I live on Fort Bragg Road too. So This county is built around Fort Bragg, y'all. So it isn't a day off. It's a day to show up and remember. So last but not least, let's see, this week's election calendar, we have tomorrow the provisionals are counted. Thursday at five, the last military ballots are due. And Friday at eleven a.m. the county canvases in public and you can watch. But after 11 a.m. Friday, the numbers are official. So a lot of people don't realize that the night of The night of election is actually unofficial results until they double count. Mario, let's see. Honestly. yeah, Mario, I look, that's so Mario contends that he doesn't believe that our government just don't understand what is best for the community. And although they are members of the community, I think sometimes it it's it goes back and forth. It's either you can't do everything all at once, but you should be able to do multiple things all at once. And I think from each one of our perspectives as citizens, we sit and we want what we're interested in. Now, Mario, I know darn well you are going to talk to me about homeless population and huh health and human services issues. And God love you for because you are a subject matter expert. but that's your lens you're looking at. I'm looking at like I serve on the Crown Center board, so I'm looking at quality of life issues for everybody. Or I've had to pull trespass agreements for the Half a dozen properties in the last three weeks because of vandalism for higher crime. So I think our local government is not doing a good job of perhaps listening and prioritizing. And I don't always think it's the elected officials' fault either. I think you have, for instance, the cancellation of the downtown Crown Event Center. I have reviewed the attorney's report that Scott Flowers did on behalf of the county. And guess what? Eleven hundred and seventy nine pages total. Fifty pages, I'm sorry, twenty-five pages was the actual investigation by attorney Flowers. He summed up what happened in 25 pages. 1150 pages was the evidence from county management and how badly they screwed up that deal. The recommendation from Mr. Flowers was continue to build it, pay the bill, move on. The bill they were supposed to pay was $579,000 to the architects. They ended up taking us to court and we paid out $659,000. It was another $80,000 on top. So we could have just paid it and saved $80,000, but instead we made them take us to court at interest and we still paid them. but I was surprised to learn that the recommendation for Mr. Flowers was not to cancel the event center. So everybody, Mario is very nice to see you again tonight, sir. we should catch up sometime soon. So listen, that's the live block for tonight, and that's the show. I don't have a guest this evening. one thing I hope you take out of tonight: a close election is not a broken election, and it's the system doing exactly what it said it would do. And we should say so out loud, especially when our guy is the one ahead or the one behind. We got to be fair. Next Monday, the canvas will be done, so we'll talk about that. The recount deadline lands the next morning. And the county holds its data center hearing that same night next Monday. So that's where Cumberland County's next two years start getting decided. Listen, it's free. It takes four seconds. Please like the page. Follow us on Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube. Newsletters at the website. I'm Peter Pappas. Cabinet's closed. Have a good evening.