Watch this space for the latest 2020 general election results for Western North Carolina and commentary from the Mountain Xpress news team. The post will be updated regularly throughout the evening.
U.S. House race gets expensive
The money faucet is open in the race to represent Western North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. Republican candidate Madison Cawthorn has raised more than Democratic candidate Moe Davis, but Cawthorn’s campaign has also spent heavily to bring those dollars in. As of Sept. 30, Davis had more cash on hand than his opponent.
New Cooper order seeks to prevent COVID-19 evictions
Gov. Roy Cooper said the order would clear up legal confusion about whether an existing moratorium, issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, covered tenants who live outside of federally subsidized housing.
WNC officials, volunteers work toward fair election
As of Oct. 27, over 3.4 million votes had been cast across the state through mail-in and in-person early voting, according to the nonprofit Civitas Institute’s VoteTracker. Those watching the election say they haven’t yet seen anything out of the ordinary thus far — but they’re leaving as little as possible to chance.
Edwards discusses retaliation against Asheville for police funding shifts
Addressing the Council of Independent Business Owners, Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards argued that Asheville was “bowing to the radicals that are asking for police departments to be defunded.” To ensure law and order, Edwards continued, he is developing legislation that would strip state funds from cities that cut law enforcement.
After the end: WNC prepares for extended election process
The period between the closing of polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the official declaration of results on Friday, Nov. 13, has already become the subject of intense legal debate. But local elections officials stress they’re doing everything possible to ensure that all eligible votes will be counted accurately.
City Council candidates talk zoning, land use
Zoning may not deliver the same zing as other hot-button issues in a competitive election cycle, but it’s among the most crucial discussions Asheville leaders and residents face as the city grows. Each candidate has different ideas about what to do first.
2020 General Election Voter Guide
In preparation for the general election of Tuesday, Nov. 3, Xpress sent questions to all candidates in contested races representing Buncombe County voters. Responses from candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, N.C. General Assembly, Buncombe County-level races and Asheville City Council are all collected here.
2020 General Voter Guide: Buncombe County Board of Education
Candidates in the 2020 general election for the at-large and Owen District seats on the Buncombe County Board of Education give their answers for the Mountain Xpress voter guide.
2020 General Voter Guide: U.S. House of Representatives District 11
Candidates in the 2020 general election for North Carolina’s U.S. House of Representatives District 11 seat give their answers for the Mountain Xpress voter guide.
From NC Health News: How do you vote if you live in a nursing home? It can be complicated.
An octogenarian’s story shows the many obstacles to voting in long-term care facilities in 2020.
2020 General Voter Guide: Voting FAQs
Xpress answers common questions about voting in the 2020 general election, including where to find your sample ballot, how to vote by mail and if identification is required at the polls.
2020 General Voter Guide: N.C. Senate Districts 48-49
Candidates in the 2020 general election for N.C. Senate Districts 48 and 49 give their answers for the Mountain Xpress voter guide.
2020 General Voter Guide: Asheville City Council
Candidates in the 2020 general election for Asheville City Council give their answers for the Mountain Xpress voter guide.
2020 General Voter Guide: N.C. House of Representatives Districts 114-116
Candidates in the 2020 general election for N.C. House of Representatives Districts 114-116 give their answers for the Mountain Xpress voter guide.
2020 General Voter Guide: Buncombe County Board of Commissioners
Candidates in the 2020 general election for four seats on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners give their answers for the Mountain Xpress voter guide.
2020 General Voter Guide: Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors
Candidates in the 2020 general election for the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors give their answers for the Mountain Xpress voter guide.
Hemlock Restoration Initiative seeks long-term state support
A $300,000 recurring allocation for the HRI, a program of Asheville-based nonprofit WNC Communities, stalled in the N.C. General Assembly due to partisan gridlock over the state budget. A joint proclamation between the HRI and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services now aims to make the hemlock’s future more secure.
Enka barn raises questions about Buncombe special interest funding
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Oct. 6 to award $15,000 toward the construction of an agricultural education facility at Enka High School. But as Chair Brownie Newman noted, recommendations to support such projects are normally made by Buncombe’s School Capital Fund Commission or Board of Education and funded through the regular budget cycle.
Henderson GOP will likely pick Moffitt to replace McGrady Oct. 8
With Republican N.C. House District 117 primary winner Tim Moffitt now also the presumptive candidate to replace outgoing Rep. Chuck McGrady until the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election, how might his brief incumbency affect the outcome of the race and the new legislative session set to start in January?
Black Mountain candidates share visions for town
This year’s contest to fill three seats on the town’s nonpartisan Board of Aldermen initially drew nine candidates, a field that has since dwindled to six. Four of those candidates participated in a Sept. 21 candidate forum hosted through Zoom by Indivisible Black Mountain.