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October 26-30, 2020 NC TRAVEL NEWS A weekly newsletter on North Carolina General Assembly news relevant to the North Carolina tourism industry NC Senate Races NCTIA is Watching on Tuesday NC House Races As the nation tunes into election results trickling in for the presidential, US NCTIA is Watching Senate, and gubernatorial campaigns on Tuesday night, NCTIA will watch a number of down ballot races in North Carolina that could determine the make-up of the General Assembly over the next two years. Currently, the General Assembly is controlled by Republicans with a comfortable 29-21 margin in the Senate. (See sidebar for House.) Both Republican and Democratic Republicans control the NC Senate leaders tell NCTIA lobbyists House by a 65-55 margin over that two Republican seats in Wake and Democrats with the battleground Mecklenburg Counties, currently held by Senators John Alexander and races in 2020 going straight Rob Bryan, will turn Democratic. through the suburbs. So with three more seats needed to win a Senate majority, Democrats are Democrats will need to yield six targeting two incumbent senators — Bob Steinburg (Outer Banks region) seats in order to flip the House, and Joyce Kraweic (Forsyth/Davie County) — and two open seats due to however Republicans are the retirements of Senators Rick Horner (Johnston County) and Rick Gunn mounting their own offense. (Alamance County). Winning three of these seats gives Democrats a 26-24 edge. Democrats have targeted Representatives Jon Hardister However, there is another scenario for Democrats to win the Senate. If (Guilford), Donny Lambeth Democrats pick up two of the four targeted seats and Yvonne Holley, the (Forsyth), Perrin Jones (Pitt), Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, beats Republican Mark Stephen Ross (Alamance), Robinson, Democrats win the Senate because she breaks a 25-25 tie. The Kristin Baker (Cabarrus) and GOP points out that Robinson is leading in the latest ECU poll. John Szoka (Cumberland). However, Republicans are not only playing defense, but are running strong Democrats are also targeting campaigns in Democratic held senate districts, most notably the seats held open seats by the retirement of by Senators Harper Peterson in New Hanover County and Jeff Jackson in Holly Grange (New Hanover) Mecklenburg County. and Debra Conrad (Forsyth). Editor’s Note: NCTIA is a non-partisan organization and takes no position Republicans are offensively on electoral politics at any level of government. targeting Reps. Ray Russell (Watagua) Joe Sam Queen While races for the General Assembly are unlikely to get (Haywood) and the four seats coverage from major news outlets, NCTIA members can they lost in Mecklenburg follow NCTIA lobbyist Brian Lewis’ Twitter feed on Tuesday County in the 2018 elections. night to get updates on down ballot races (without biased Two of the GOP House political commentary). Use the handle @NewFrameInc. candidates in Mecklenburg Brian will track all General Assembly races throughout the County are former incumbents — night including the battleground districts, with #ncga and John Bradford and Bill Brawley. #ncpol as hashtags. .