Random thoughts…

Why write about a Democratic campaign event held Saturday in Roper?

Because I wanted our readers to know more about what these candidates stand for. We covered that Republican function in June, and so to provide equal time, I traveled to Roper.  

Despite all the rhetoric from both sides of the political/cultural divide that plays out on television and in the mainstream media – I think the local/regional candidates are good people who want what's best for their counties and communities – that’s what I saw at both the Republican and Democratic events.    

My thoughts – demonizing the opposition and their voters, and that’s easy to do these days, is never the best way to campaign or govern. Campaign strategists and media pundits will tell you it is the best strategy to win an election, but what happens if you win and you’ve marginalized and insulted reasonable people – you can’t really govern everyone, can you?

Those strategists and pundits have it easy because they don’t have to govern – all they do is offer opinions, and that’s not the same as leading and coalition-building geared toward getting results that help people. 

 That said, being a moderate is hard these days – I get it.  

Another takeaway from Saturday’s campaign rally – Wesley Stokes was critical of a legislative proposal from the 2026 session that places a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot to cap how much local governments can increase property tax revenues.

Long-story-short, if approved, the General Assembly would establish a "levy limit" or cap on annual increases for local property tax revenues, shifting some authority from local county officials to the state legislature. The amendment itself does not set the exact percentage or structure of the cap; that would require future legislation if voters approve the amendment.

Let’s face it – that proposed amendment, if approved, will squeeze local government, forcing cuts to services and shifting more local power to Raleigh.  

Stokes is a Democrat – he doesn’t like it, and I’ve heard local Republicans bash the amendment proposal too. 

 If the politicos and voters are unified in their opposition, maybe Raleigh should pay attention. 

Another takeaway — I shook hands with Congressman Don Davis at Saturday’s Democratic campaign rally. 

 And I see Davis’ challenger, Republican Laurie Buckhout, across the region too – she is campaigning hard. 

 I see both candidates at many events all across the region, particularly since I’m the only news reporter covering stories in places many consider news deserts.

 Saturday, Davis offered a balanced speech with a moderate tone when compared to the wingnut socialists the Democrats seem to be electing to Congress these days in other parts of the country.  

 According to Davis, his political polls show he’s up four points over Buckhout. 

 Cook Political Report says the race leans Republican – a reasonable assumption based on the redrawn lines that favor red counties in District 1.  

 If Davis is up four points in this district as he says he is, that’s going to be a close race, one the nation will be watching come Election Day.  

 Center of Politics, aka Larry Sabato’s crystal ball, has moved this race from leans Republican to toss-up. 

Though it's a long way to November, I think that’s an accurate assessment at the moment. 

I think it will be a tough, hard-fought rematch between these two candidates, just like last time in 2022. 

To make matters more interesting, long sigh, there’s a third candidate, Tom Bailey, a Libertarian, running again for this congressional seat. 

Last random thoughts — did you know that Abraham Lincoln served only one term in Congress, representing Illinois? 

And don’t you find it amazing that, in the span of about 15 years since WWII ended, John F. Kennedy went from serving in the US Navy to becoming president. Nixon went from US Navy service in WWII to Congress to vice president in about six years. 

I wonder if Lincoln could get elected today?