3/6/2026 Weekly Roundup
WNC-relevant political and governmental news
Two notes this morning:
Coverage of this week’s primary election, below, is big on results, light on analysis. Look for a curated set of links to WNC-relevant analysis in next week’s Roundup.
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Scroll down for this week’s NC-related national and NC state governmental and political news. And scroll clear to the bottom for this week’s seasonal photo from our WNC homestead. If your email service cuts this post short, you can read it online here.
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Don’t-miss stories are marked 💥
Around WNC
Updates about HCA/Mission Hospital:
Immediate Jeopardy lifted at Mission Hospital but facility remains in “noncompliance” AVLWatchdog 3/4/26 “Hospital has until July 29 to correct deficiencies related to patient rights, nursing services, infection control.”
From Trailhead 3/5: “Dogwood Health Trust announced community meetings with the Independent Monitor that oversees Mission Health System, as required by the 2019 sale of Mission to HCA Healthcare. The two meetings are scheduled on March 9 in Brevard and March 10 in Asheville. Here is the registration and more information about the meetings.”
Measles cases in North Carolina rise to 24 since December: health officials WLOS 3/3/26
AdventHealth lifts visitor restrictions as flu cases decline across WNC WLOS 3/2/26
DEQ, environmental groups say illegal mine is still polluting the Nolichucky River, nearby creek WUNC/NC Newsroom 2/27/26. In Mitchell County.
NC-11 Congressman Chuck Edwards announces $3 million for Madison County Public Safety Complex Asheville C-T 3/2/26 “The proposed 80,000-square-foot facility is part of a larger judicial complex expected to cost around $95 million.” See also WLOS 3/1.
💥 Followup (from Trailhead 3/5) to previous Edwards WNC funding announcement: “On Friday, the Town of Franklin issued a clarification about a check presented to the town by Congressman Chuck Edwards on Feb. 7. The check came with news of an appropriation to be used for the Water Treatment Plant Clearwell and High Service Pump Station. Initial reports incorrectly stated the amount of the grant. After review, the town has been approved for $2 million rather than the previously reported $4.32 million. The town is working on the additional steps needed with the EPA regional office to receive the funds. There is a 20% match required for the grant. Construction on the project began in Jan. 2026. (Town of Franklin press release)”
Canton secures mill site future with land purchase Smoky Mountain News 3/5/26 “Canton’s governing board took a decisive step toward securing both its wastewater infrastructure and its economic future by approving a complex land purchase that will place key portions of the former paper mill site under municipal control.” See also Canton receives funding to buy part of former mill site for wastewater treatment plant WLOS 3/5/26 “A $16 million state-funded Helene relief package allocated in June 2025 enables Canton to buy 35 acres of the defunct Pactiv-Evergreen mill site.”
Asheville selected for national homelessness prevention program Asheville C-T 3/2/26 “... among 10 communities across the country selected to be part of a national homelessness prevention program. The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care will receive at least $5 million through the Right at Home initiative, serving over 1,000 households and implemented across three years. Funding will provide rapid, flexible financial assistance alongside case management to support families on the brink of losing their homes.” See also WLOS 2/28.
Asheville employs more municipal workers than similar-sized cities. Is it necessary for a busy tourist town or a sign of bloat? AVLWatchdog 3/5/26 “Staffing under consideration as Asheville faces $26 million budget gap. The long-term challenge: building the tax base.”
Cherokee tribal news:
EBCI seeking grant funding for three economic development projects One Feather 3/4/26 “... $50 million in grants for three economic development projects on the Qualla Boundary.”
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council votes to withdraw name change resolution WLOS 3/5/26 “The resolution ... would have changed the tribe’s name to the Eastern Cherokee Nation.”
NC-Related National Politics & Policy
Anti-War Protester Injured in Capitol Hill Struggle With US Senator Sheehy Reuters/US News 3/5/26 “A man protesting the U.S. and Israel’s strikes on Iran was injured in a struggle with U.S. Capitol Police and Republican Senator Tim Sheehy on Wednesday. The man, Brian McGinnis, a former Marine who is a Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, interrupted a Senate Armed Services hearing.” See also Carolina Journal 3/5.
North Carolina’s opaque national forests are about to get even more secretive AVLWatchdog 3/1/26 “Federal deregulation and a “blank check” for Helene recovery threaten to wall off public input.... Since Donald Trump retook office in early 2025, his administration has sought to gut public lands regulations, prioritizing timber industry interests and limiting the amount of information the public receives about Forest Service projects.... Several more factors may soon further complicate the picture.”
North Carolina has a shortage of nurses. It’s expected to get a lot worse Cardinal & Pine 3/4/26 “Medicaid cuts could worsen an existing nursing shortage that is already exhausting nurses and putting patients in danger.”
As NC fire deaths rise, $500K FEMA delay stalls resources to help education, training WRAL 2/27/26 “North Carolina recorded 159 civilian fire deaths in 2025, reversing a downward trend. State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor says prevention efforts have been pinched by a delay in federal funding.”
The hellbender was slated for federal protection. It’s still in limbo BPR 3/2/26 “As climate change remakes the mountains, the fight to save the beloved salamander is a fight for regional identity.”
On Thom Tillis:
Sen. Tillis says Kristi Noem is violating federal law by delaying FEMA funding to NC BPR 3/3/26. See also Video: Thom Tillis calls Kristi Noem’s leadership a ‘disaster’ Cardinal & Pine 3/5/26. UPDATE: Noem out, Trump picks [Sen. Markwayne] Mullin as DHS secretary Politico 3/5/26
💥 FEMA Approves Millions in Aid for North Carolina After Tillis’ Rant Assembly 3/5/26 “Rep. Deborah Ross said the funds were “magically” released Wednesday morning.”
Thom Tillis’ legacy is a cautionary tale for the Trumpian age MS NOW 3/3/26 “He wasn’t MAGA enough for many of today’s Republicans, and liberals saw the senator repeatedly cave to Trump.”
See also State Attorney General, below.
2026 Elections: Primary Results
Since many of these news articles cover more than one race, I’ve noted which race and/or what topics are covered:
Overview: NC increasingly votes early, and other primary election data points WUNC 3/5/26 “North Carolina saw a record high total voters for a midterm primary election, but it wasn’t the highest turnout by percentage terms.”
See map of which party’s ballots were most heavily voted, county by county: The Morning After NC’s Primary Election, and the Story is: 2 Votes Center for NC Politics 3/4/26
💥 Vote protection: Rucho resigns from State Board of Elections, Hawkins sworn in Carolina Journal 3/5/26 “Bob Rucho, a member of the State Board of Elections appointed by State Auditor Dave Boliek, has resigned, according to announcement released by the state auditor’s office on Thursday. Wake County elections chair Angela Hawkins was sworn in as his replacement on Thursday afternoon.... On Dec. 30, 2025, Rucho posted on social media expressing support for Berger. Those close to the situation say that in looking into the post, it was discovered that Rucho also made campaign contributions in 2026, albeit not to Berger. State law prohibits members of the State Board of Elections from making political donations while serving on the board. Once the potential statutory violation was identified, Boliek asked Rucho to step down. Rucho resigned shortly afterward.” See also Anderson Alerts 3/5, NCNewsline 3/5, WRAL 3/5.
💥 Vote protection: Rockingham County elections board reopens after unusual post-primary closure Anderson Alerts 3/4/26 “County offices are supposed to be open so voters can resolve issues with their ballots. [The deadline for doing that is Friday.] The State Board of Elections stepped in after learning of the issue.... When a voting rights advocate approached the Rockingham County Board of Elections office on Wednesday morning, she was surprised to see an unusual and misspelled sign in all caps outside the front door. “Board of Elections is closed today,” the sign read. “Election is being reconcilled. Please do not disturb.””
Overview of various races in WNC:
5 takeaways in WNC from primary election results: Turnout, incumbent’s safety, and more NC Local 3/4/26
Ten million down and two votes shy PoliticsNC 3/4/26 “A look at primary results across North Carolina.”
NC political titan Phil Berger trails by 2 votes, several Dem incumbents fall Cardinal & Pine 3/4/26 “Phil Berger, the most powerful Republican in North Carolina, trails his Republican opponent by two votes and three conservative Democrats got shown the door on Tuesday.”
Voters push for change in closely watched NC primary contests Carolina Public Press 3/4/26
2 Votes?!? Early, Tentative, Tired Reflections on The 2026 Primary Election in North Carolina Anatomy of a Purple State 3/4/26
Notes on turnout: Primarily local. Hot battles for sheriff, school board, county commission boost early voting across NC Carolina Public Press 3/2/26 “Early voting was up in this year’s NC primary election cycle compared to recent midterms.... [I]n Mitchell County, more than a quarter of registered voters turned out for early voting, the highest proportion of all counties. Mitchell County Elections Director Roycene Jones credited the local races for sheriff and county commissioner for the interest.”
US Senate and Berger’s NC Senate race: The primary showed a weak NCGOP establishment New Branchhead 3/5/26 “Both Berger and Whatley were lackluster.”
US Senate (see above for articles that cover this AND other races):
Roy Cooper, Michael Whatley secure US Senate nominations, setting up fierce November election NCNewsline 3/3/26
Rival US Senate campaigns waste no time after NC primary victories Carolina Public Press 3/5/26 “Whatley campaign, with less name recognition and cash, frames Cooper as soft-on-crime. Cooper emphasizes economic woes.”
Former NC Gov Roy Cooper kicks off US Senate campaign with pledge to ‘make stuff cost less’ NCNewsline 3/4/26
Michael Whatley vows to ‘put dangerous criminals behind bars’ as U.S. Senate race gets underway NCNewsline 3/4/26 “Whatley calls former NC Gov. Roy Cooper, his Democratic opponent, soft on crime.”
Cooper-Whatley U.S. Senate race ‘a true test of where the state is’ WRAL 3/3/26
Senate candidates spar in NC as Trump calls for banning Congressional stock trading WRAL 2/27/26 “Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley are both millionaires, financial disclosures show. Where do they stand on congressional stock trading?”
US House, NC-11 (see above for articles that cover this AND other races):
Democrat Ager wins in NC-11, will face Rep. Edwards Smoky Mountain News 3/3/26
Despite Helene failures, Republicans stick with Edwards in NC-11 Smoky Mountain News 3/3/26
Democrats choose Ager in NC-11 primary race; Edwards wins GOP nod BPR 3/3/26. See also WLOS 3/4 (interview snippets)
Democratic, Republican candidates for NC-11 react to Trump’s strike on Iran WLOS 3/2/26 “Rep. Chuck Edwards ... said he supports President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran.... Jamie Ager’s campaign said Ager wasn’t available [to comment] Monday.”
State legislature (see above for articles that cover this AND other races):
💥 NC Democrats oust 3 party lawmakers who crossed Gov. Josh Stein on veto overrides WRAL 3/4/26 “Republicans and Democrats alike voted out multiple incumbent state lawmakers Tuesday, a sign of dissatisfaction with the status-quo in Raleigh.”
💥 Rogers topples incumbent Pless in 118th House District Smoky Mountain News 3/3/26
Clampitt secures dominant win in 119th House District Smoky Mountain News 3/3/26
Incumbents Jennifer Balkcom [NC House 117], Jake Johnson [NC House 113] win Republican primaries for NC House seats Asheville C-T 3/4/26
Berger vs Page, NC Senate (see above for articles that cover this AND other races):
💥 Rockingham Sheriff Page leads longtime NC Senate leader Berger by two votes in unofficial results NCNewsline 3/3/26. At end of Election Day, with all precincts counted, but not yet provisional and absentee ballots.
189 provisional ballots remain in narrow Berger–Page race Carolina Journal 3/5/26. These ballots are scheduled to be counted today.
Berger challenger Sam Page asks state elections overseer to recuse himself as ballot count goes on NCNewsline 3/4/26 “State Auditor Dave Boliek, who oversees the state Board of Elections, campaigned for Senate Leader Phil Berger last week.” See also WRAL 3/5.
State appeals court: Wake District Court Judge Christine Walczyk wins Dem primary in NC Court of Appeals contest NCNewsline 3/3/26
Noteworthy WNC local races:
Martin Moore makes history as Buncombe County’s next District Attorney Asheville C-T 3/4/26 “Moore, a County Commissioner and attorney, will serve as the first Black man elected as the county’s top prosecutor.” No Republican filed to run against him in November.
Primary election results are in — see who won Asheville City Council and other local races Mountain Xpress 3/3/26
Haywood commission incumbent ousted Smoky Mountain News 3/3/26 “After nearly four years of drama, inclumbent Haywood County Comissioner Terry Ramey won’t be a commissioner much longer.”
Incumbent ousted in Jackson Republican chair race Smoky Mountain News 3/3/26 “Mark Letson, the incumbent Jackson County Commission Chair who was the only commissioner to vote against leaving the Fontana Regional Library system, will not be returning to that role come November.”
Shearl emerges from three-candidate Primary field Smoky Mountain News 3/3/26 “Incumbent John Shearl has won the Republican Primary Election ... [for Macon] county commission.”
Poll of NC GOP primary voters, wide range of questions asked. Whatley holds 30-point lead, 50% unsure in GOP Senate primary Carolina Journal 2/26/26 “President Donald Trump registered 81% job approval among Republican primary voters, with 62% of them registering strong approval. Some 17% of likely GOP primary voters indicated disapproval of the Republican president, with 13% indicating strong disapproval.”
Helene Recovery
💥 Funding, and missing funds:
[Democratic] Senators say Noem ‘hampered’ disaster response, as delayed FEMA money comes to WNC BPR 3/5/26. See also NC-Related… (Thom Tillis), above.
Delayed Helene recovery money comes to North Carolina, FEMA funds run low BPR 2/27/26 “The funding that FEMA announced Friday was not all designated for Helene recovery. It had been waiting for final approval from Kristi Noem.”
City of Asheville announces nearly $7 million in additional Helene recovery funds from FEMA and state City of Asheville press release 3/2/26
NC to receive nearly $70M in FEMA funds, Madsion County manager says $14M hasn’t arrived WLOS 3/5/26
FEMA frustration boils over as Waynesville faces $3.8 million gap Smoky Mountain News 3/4/26. See also Unpaid FEMA claims force Waynesville into budget reckoning Smoky Mountain News 3/4/26
What Emergency Managers Say They Need More Than Ever ProPublica 3/2/26 “We heard from more than 40 current and former emergency managers in 11 states [including NC post-Helene] about what they need to prepare for the next disaster — and what they aren’t getting.”
Around NC
NC teacher turnover stable in 2025, while number of teaching positions drops WRAL 3/4/26 “The new state data shows continued problems for schools to recruit and retain teachers, though the situation has recently stabilized as schools increasingly fill gaps with international teachers and people switching careers into the teaching profession.” See also NCNewsline 3/4.
Report finds widening gap in local school funding between NC’s richest and poorest counties NCNewsline 2/27/26 “... even as low-wealth counties tax themselves more heavily.”
NC State Government
Executive Branch
State Attorney General
💥 Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues to Stop Illegal Tariffs NC DOJ press release 3/5/26 “Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing to block the federal government’s latest unlawful tariffs on American consumers and businesses without congressional approval. The tariffs could cost each North Carolina household an estimated $800 to $1,300 this year.” See also CNBC 3/5 for context; 23 states are joining in this lawsuit.
Other State Executive Branch News
NCDHHS reverses course on assistance cuts for rural homeless people WUNC/WHQR 3/5/26 “The Back @ Home Program relied on Covid-ERA funds to house people in need. When those ran out, tenants faced a fiscal cliff with just a month’s notice.”
State Legislature
North Carolina still doesn’t have a budget. Here’s how that affects everyday life NC Local 3/4/26
State officials warn NC budget impasse nearing crisis point Carolina Journal 3/4.
Buncombe NC House Rep. Lindsey Prather knows what it’s like to be a teacher. That’s why she fights for them Cardinal & Pine 3/5/26
NC lawmakers consider options to force psychiatric treatment for people with severe mental illness NC Health News 3/2/26 “A legislative committee has spent months examining the failures of North Carolina’s mental health system and is considering strengthening the state’s little-used outpatient commitment law, which would allow courts to compel some people with severe mental illness to follow a treatment plan in the community.” See also NC Local 3/4.
Some lawmakers push to restore funding for program aimed at improving infant, maternal health NC Health News 3/3/26 “The Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina lost its funding last year after getting caught in a budget dispute between the Republican-led General Assembly and Democratic Gov. Josh Stein over Medicaid funding.”
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First daffodils, on a cloudy Monday:
