GAC Update - March 6, 2026

March Women Attorneys GAC Call 

Primary 

• Eight incumbents were defeated, including 3 Democrats and 5 Republicans.

• Shelly Willingham (D),  Nasif Majeed (D), Carla D. Cunningham (D), Reece Pyrtle (R), Keith Kidwell (R), Kelly Hastings (R), Mark Pless (R), and Chris Measmer (R).

• Statewide turnout was 1,505,264 out of 7,664,465, or 19.64%. In the U.S. Senate primaries, there were 824,798 votes on the Democratic side and 625,667 on the Republican side.

• Highest Turnout Legislative Races:

  • Senate Primaries

    • SD-22 (R): Chitlik vs. Freeman — 34,524 votes

    • SD-26 (R): Berger vs. Page — 26,152 votes

    • SD-30 (R): Jarvis vs. Gallimore — 20,346 votes

• House Primaries

  • HD-23 (D): Wilkins vs. Harris — 8,652 votes

  • HD-81 (R): Potts vs. Zanni — 8,310 votes

  • HD-16 (R): Smith vs. Patti — 8,309 votes

• What happens next in the Berger/Page primary will determine what and how the short session proceeds.

  • As expected, Michael Whatley won the Republican primary handily, as did Governor Scott Roy Cooper in the Democratic primary. In Congressional District 1, Republican Laurie Buckhout edged out Asa Buck on her way to a rematch with Democrat Don Davis. In Congressional District 4, Valerie Foushee won her rematch against Nida Allam. In Congressional District 11, Jamie Ager won the Democratic primary convincingly and will take on Chuck Edwards in November.

Legislative/Budget News

• Gov. Josh Stein will unveil the first of three budget requests on Monday focused on critical needs that he says must be addressed during the short session. The budget proposal will include Medicaid rebase funding to fully fund the program.

• Stein also will announce an additional Hurricane Helene recovery budget for Western North Carolina and his full, comprehensive short session budget.

• There are interim meetings happening this coming week- HHS, Medicaid on Tuesday

• Government Efficiency and Administrative Procedure Wednesday

• Involuntary Commitment Committee, Property Tax Committee next Wednesday

Return for short session April 21st.