NC’s Top Court Suspends All Candidate Filings for 2022 Elections, Moves State’s Primary From March to May

North Carolina's 2022 primary election must be delayed — as gerrymandering lawsuits play out that could lead to redrawn districts — the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. It's a win for the liberal voters and groups that have challenged the new political maps for those races as being unconstitutionally gerrymandered, and a loss for the Republican lawmakers who drew the maps. All primaries, not just the ones using disputed maps for U.S. House and the state House and Senate, are being delayed to May 17 from March 8.  Wednesday’s order suspends all candidate filing in the state until the litigation is resolved. For candidates who have already filed, they “will be deemed to have filed for the same office” in the May 2022 primary, subject to their ability to withdraw in the new filing period (once that period is established), and subject to any court rulings that would impact that candidate’s eligibility. 

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Economic Boom for NC!

An aspiring Denver-based supersonic airplane manufacturer appears to be at the heart of a potential high-yield economic-development at Piedmont Triad International Airport. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Wednesday — quoting five unidentified business and state government officials — that Boom Supersonic is the manufacturer for what has been identified as “Project Thunderbird.” Those officials said a Boom decision could be made within 30 to 90 days. Two Triad elected or economic officials — who declined to be identified — said it was their understanding that Boom is the potential airplane manufacturer that could benefit from up to $106.5 million in infrastructure improvements at PTI. 

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North Carolina’s First Female Senate Majority Leader Announces Retirement

North Carolina Senate Majority Leader Kathy Harrington, the first woman to hold the job since it was created over 40 years ago, announced on Monday that she won’t seek reelection to her Senate seat next year. Harrington is a Gaston County Republican now in her sixth two-year Senate term. She was elected last year by current GOP senators to the position, which usually run caucus meetings in which colleagues discuss policy issues and votes.  She’s also a top leader of the Senate’s budget-writing committee.

Gavel Drop!

When the NC House and Senate adjourn Friday, December 10th, they stand adjourned to “a date certain and limiting the matters that may be considered upon reconvening.” This mandate is per House Joint Resolution 979 that passed unanimously in the House and Senate on November 29th. The “date certain” as to when the legislature will reconvene is also mandated in the HJR – Thursday, December 30th, at 12:00 noon. Matters approved for business by the legislature once back in session are limited to the following:

• Consideration of veto overrides
• Appointments/confirmations bills
• Gubernatorial appointments/nominations bills
• Bills concerning the districts for Congressional, State House, State Senate, judicial, municipal, county, and other elected officials and containing no other matters
• Bills responding to actions related to litigation challenging the legality of legislative enactments
• Bills returned on or before Friday, December 10, 2021, to the house in which the bill originated for concurrence
• Adoption of conference reports for bills for which conferees had been appointed by both houses on or before Friday, December 10, 2021
• Bills providing for impeachment pursuant to Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution or Chapter 123 of the General Statutes
• Simple resolutions addressing organizational matters of each respective house
• A joint resolution further adjourning the 2021 Regular Session or amending a joint resolution adjourning the 2021 Regular Session to a date certain