Under the Dome: NC ballot excludes RFK Jr., Cornel West and Constitution Party, for now
Good morning! ☀️ If a decision Wednesday evening stands, you won’t see Cornel West or Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on the November presidential election ballot in North Carolina. The State Board of Elections denied certification to their parties. But it’s not over yet. Here’s what you need to know about North Carolina politics today, from our team and correspondent Stephanie Loder.
BOARD OF ELECTIONS DECISION ISN’T FINAL
Three political parties seeking placement of independent presidential candidates on the November ballot were denied certification Wednesday by the North Carolina State Board of Elections’ Democratic majority.
The decision means Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West won’t appear on the state ballot as presidential candidates with their new parties – known as “We The People” and “Justice For All.”
Alan Hirsch, the board chair, said the decision is not final.
Certification also was denied to the right-wing Constitution Party, which backs candidate Randall Terry, an anti-abortion activist, for president.
Get the full story from Kyle Ingram here.
NC LAWMAKERS VOTING TO OVERRIDE COOPER VETOES
State lawmakers moved Wednesday to override three of Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent vetoes.
The three vetoes include:
A bill to make changes to the state’s masking laws and charge protesters blocking traffic.
A bill to require teens facing some serious criminal charges to be tried initially as adults.
The Senate is expected to hold its own votes today, after the House voted Wednesday.
Get the full story from Avi Bajpai and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi here.
NC VAPING RESTRICTIONS APPROVED
New rules approved Wednesday by state lawmakers likely will ban hundreds of e-cigarette products in North Carolina stores.
The General Assembly sent legislation to Gov. Roy Cooper creating a vaping registry, which means only federally authorized vape products can be sold in the state.
Most vaping products would be illegal in the state since few have been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The bill has been criticized by the vaping industry, which argues the legislation is just a way to protect the tobacco industry.
Get the full story from T. Keung Hui here.
NC SENATE VOTES TO STRIP ARCHAEOLOGICAL LAW CHANGES
The North Carolina Senate voted Wednesday to remove an archaeological provision in House Bill 385, even after the provision had already been modified so it no longer would have allowed developers to “incidentally” disturb archaeological sites.
The bill in its original form drew outrage from Native American tribes and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The amendment to strike the revised language passed unanimously with all 47 senators who were present voting for it.
Sen. Norm Sanderson, a Pamlico County Republican, introduced the amendment and said, “We’re doing away with that. We need some more time to work with that, bring some more stakeholders online and make sure that’s an adequate bill and a very good bill going forward. We will do that in the long session.”
Get the full story from Adam Wagner here.
SHALOM ACT SENT TO COOPER’S DESK
A bipartisan bill that defines antisemitism under state law has been sent to Gov. Roy Cooper.
Sponsored by House Speaker Tim Moore, The SHALOM ACT moved forward Wednesday in the Senate and received a nearly unanimous vote, 45-2.
The House then gave its final sign-off with a 105-3 vote.
The bill uses the definition of antisemitism adopted in 2016 by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, but critics argue the IHRA definition is too broad.
Get the full story from Avi Bajpai here.
8 PROTESTERS ARRESTED AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Eight protesters, part of a group of child care providers, parents and clergy, were arrested Wednesday afternoon at the North Carolina Legislative Building after police said they refused to lower their voices while chanting their support for child care funding.
NC General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock said police made the arrests after receiving a noise complaint.
The protesters – who included members of the North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign, Repairers of the Breach and Forward Justice — were taking part in a day of action at the legislature to attract lawmakers’ attention to the “child care funding cliff.”
Day care facilities statewide received stabilization grants during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed them to pay employees, cover rent and susbsidize child care costs. The stabilization grant funding is set to expire Sunday, and 29% of the state’s child care programs expect they will have to close, a survey found.
Get the full story from Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi here.
NC GOP PUSHES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
A series of constitutional amendments advanced Wednesday to the floor of the North Carolina House. Republicans want to limit the governor’s appointment powers, further entrench laws allowing only citizens to vote, and uphold the state’s voter ID requirement.
There is no tangible impact on state law regarding the amendments dealing with elections.
However, the amendment regarding gubernatorial appointments would change the way vacancies in the elected positions of the Council of State are filled.
Get the full story from Kyle Ingram here.
INMATES SWELTER IN HEAT WAVE; WHAT IS THE STATE DOING?
While the temperature neared 100 degrees on Wednesday in much of North Carolina, thousands of inmates in the state’s prisons were waiting for air conditioning.
The N.C. Department of Adult Correction expects to have air conditioning in all state prison housing areas by 2026, according to a press release.
The status of work so far, according to the DAC website:
7,020 beds await air conditioning.
Work is underway to cool 6,034 beds.
1,102 bed spaces have received air conditioning since the project began in 2023.
The General Assembly appropriated $30 million for the project in 2021.
Get the full story from Vivienne Serret and Ames Alexander here.
That’s all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news.
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