1st Round: The Ultimate N.C. Politics Showdown
Cast your vote for peak NCPOL in this March Madness-style bracket. The first round is open now.
We’ve built the ultimate bracket to determine what most embodies North Carolina politics — and you get to decide the winner. From legendary power players to iconic traditions, first-round matchups are live now.
Cast your votes below.
The Power Players Region
North Carolina’s political landscape has been shaped by dominant figures, kingmakers, and institutions that have defined power in the state for decades. Some built their legacies through electoral victories. Others influenced policy and campaigns from behind the scenes. But who best represents North Carolina politics? You decide.
(1) Jim Hunt vs. (16) The Goodmon Family and WRAL
Jim Hunt is the dominant figure in N.C. Democratic politics, serving four terms as governor and shaping the modern party. WRAL and the Goodmon family, meanwhile, have been the dominant media force in the state for decades — often operating as a political player in their own right. Can the ultimate NC politician fend off the ultimate NC media empire?
(2) Jesse Helms vs. (15) Mark Robinson
Jesse Helms wrote the conservative playbook in North Carolina, using populist messaging, sharp attack ads, and a national fundraising network to keep the U.S. Senate seat red for decades. Mark Robinson tried to follow that playbook — but can the loud, modern-day firebrand hold his own against the original master?
(3) Phil Berger vs. (14) Rufus Edmisten
Phil Berger has been the most powerful person in N.C. politics for more than a decade, turning the General Assembly into a conservative powerhouse. Rufus Edmisten, a former state attorney general and Watergate prosecutor, is an icon of N.C. politics. Does the power of today beat the legacy of yesterday?
(4) Marc Basnight vs. (13) Jeff Jackson
Marc Basnight, the last great Democratic Senate leader, dominated state politics for 18 years. AG Jeff Jackson, the millennial social media politician, is a rising star in the Democratic Party. One built power the old-fashioned way, one built it online. Which strategy wins out?
(5) John Edwards vs. (12) Terry Sanford
John Edwards had it all — charisma, a Senate seat, a VP nomination — until it all collapsed in scandal. Terry Sanford in the same vein policy-wise, but without the baggage. Flash and scandal vs. substance and legacy. Who wins?
(6) Kerr Scott and the Branchhead Boys vs. (11) The John Locke Foundation
Kerr Scott was a rural populist hero, rallying the working class to push through big infrastructure projects. The John Locke Foundation is the intellectual engine of modern N.C. conservatism. Which brand of influence — grassroots populism or think tank policy — should win?
(7) Art Pope vs. (10) Gov. Jim Martin
Art Pope was the financial muscle behind conservative politics for decades. Jim Martin, on the other hand, was the most successful GOP governor in state history, proving Republicans could win statewide. Money vs. elected power — who wields more influence?
(8) O. Max Gardner and the Shelby Dynasty vs. (9) Morgan Jackson and Nexus Strategies
O. Max Gardner built a political empire in the early 20th century, shaping politics for generations. Morgan Jackson is the modern Democratic strategist-in-chief, advising Roy Cooper and Josh Stein. It’s old-school machine politics vs. modern campaign warfare — who plays the game better?
The Moments Region
North Carolina politics is never boring. Some of these moments changed policy forever, while others exposed the raw power struggles that define N.C. politics. But which one left the biggest mark? It’s up to you.
(1) The 2010 Republican Revolution vs. (16) Tricia Cotham’s Party Switch
The 2010 GOP takeover was a once-in-a-century shift, flipping the General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction and unleashing a decade of conservative policy wins. But in 2023, one legislator — Tricia Cotham — changed parties, instantly handing Republicans a supermajority.
(2) The IHOP Bathroom Bribe vs. (15) Moral Mondays
In 2003, former House Speaker Jim Black allegedly passed off $50,000 cash in a Salisbury IHOP bathroom to convince a Republican to switch parties and keep him in power. Meanwhile, Moral Mondays brought thousands to the streets in a coordinated progressive uprising against Republican leadership. Which is more memorable?
(3) The Leandro Decision vs. (14) COVID Lockdowns
The Leandro ruling established that NC’s public school system must provide a "sound basic education"—a decision still shaping budget battles today. But nothing tested state power like Roy Cooper’s COVID lockdowns, which shut down businesses, sparked lawsuits, and fueled GOP backlash.
(4) William Woods Holden’s Impeachment vs. (13) Meg Scott Phipps Goes to Prison
Governor Holden became the first governor in U.S. history to be impeached (1871) for cracking down on the Klan. Over a century later, Meg Scott Phipps — part of a political dynasty — became the first N.C. agriculture commissioner to go to prison in a campaign finance scandal. A power struggle from the 1800s vs. a modern corruption tale: Which is more defining?
(5) House Bill 2 vs. (12) The Lottery Vote
HB2, “the Bathroom Bill,” made NC the center of a national transgender rights battle, costing the state sports events and business deals. Meanwhile, the Education Lottery was pushed through in 2005 after years of failed attempts, with a key vote flipped at the last second. A culture war showdown vs. a shady legislative maneuver — who wins?
(6) 2013 Tax Reform vs. (11) NC Votes for Barack Obama
The 2013 tax cuts made NC a national model for conservative fiscal policy, slashing income taxes and changing how the state funds government. But in 2008, North Carolina stunned the nation by voting for Barack Obama, flipping blue for the first time since 1976. Which was the more shocking shift?
(7) Mike Easley’s Indictment vs. (10) The Mecklenburg Declaration (MeckDec)
Governor Mike Easley, once a rising Democratic star, became NC’s first governor convicted of a felony in 2010, destroying his legacy. But the MeckDec is the legendary claim that Charlotte-area leaders declared independence from Britain — before the U.S. did. One is a real scandal, the other may be a myth — what’s more significant?
(8) The Completion of I-40 vs. (9) Robeson County Ballot Harvesting
The final link of I-40 opened in 1990, connecting Wilmington to the rest of the country and cementing NC’s economic growth. But in 2018, illegal ballot harvesting in Robeson County forced the state to redo an entire Congressional election — a stunning case of election fraud. Which moment had a bigger impact?
The Traditions Region
Some things just make North Carolina politics unique. From deep-seated rivalries to quirky customs, these traditions have stood the test of time. But which tradition best embodies N.C. politics? Your call.
(1) The East vs. West BBQ Debate vs. (16) The Bowtie Caucus
The age old debate of vinegar-based or tomato-based faces off against politicians who understand that a bowtie makes them look statesmanlike.
(2) 100-County Tours vs. (15) The Possum Drop
Grassroots candidate love to claim they’ve “visited all 100 counties,” but does it actually change votes? Meanwhile, a western North Carolina favorite involved lowering a live possum in a ball on New Year’s Eve.
(3) The Milk Chugging Contest vs. (14) Seersucker Suits
The main event of Legislative Dairy Day pits the House and Senate against each other in a milk chugging contest. It’s as messy as it sounds. Meanwhile, seersucker suits remain a staple of the “I’m folksy but serious” Southern political wardrobe.
(4) Legislators Camping at the Fairgrounds vs. (13) The Sine Diner
Lawmakers who live far from Raleigh have come to sleep in RVs at the State Fairgrounds. The Sine Diner, on the other hand, is where legislators go to fuel up during a break in the madness.
(5) Surprise Veto Override Votes vs. (12) The NCGA FUBAR Meter
Every now and then, legislative leaders wait until just the right moment—when the opposition is distracted—to pull off a surprise veto override vote. It’s one of the many reasons the capitol press corps’ “FUBAR Meter” exists to measure just how chaotic things have become.
(6) Driving a Tractor Around Raleigh vs. (11) Illegal Ballot Selfies
North Carolina agriculture commissioners have been known to drive tractors around downtown Raleigh to make a point. Meanwhile, taking a selfie in the voting booth is still technically illegal in North Carolina, and people keep arguing about it.
(7) The State Fair vs. (10) College Basketball Rivalries
Both are deeply ingrained in North Carolina culture. One features politicians awkwardly mingling with voters; the other forces them to pick sides between UNC, Duke, and N.C. State.
(8) Laws to Strip Power from the Other Party vs. (9) The White House Christmas Tree
One of NC’s most time-honored traditions: when a party loses power, they immediately rewrite the rules to weaken the next guy. Meanwhile, North Carolina farmers regularly send their trees to the White House for Christmas.
The Rhetoric Region
Political messaging can make or break a campaign, and North Carolina has seen its share of unforgettable slogans, attack ads, and narratives. Some inspired movements, others destroyed opponents, and a few have never left the public consciousness. But which one truly defines N.C. politics? Your vote will decide.
(1) Esse Quam Videri vs. (16) The Carolina Comeback
North Carolina’s official state motto — “To be, rather than to seem” — has quietly loomed over every political debate in state history. But Pat McCrory’s “Carolina Comeback” was one of the most catchy political slogans of the last decade.
(2) "Don't Put Your Stupid Hat On" vs. (15) Mark Robinson's Greensboro City Council Speech
Pat McCrory became the source of many memes during his governorship, but the most lasting has to be this line from an emergency declaration presser. Meanwhile, Mark Robinson’s viral 2018 Greensboro gun rights speech launched him from unknown private citizen to LG.
(3) The Elevator Queen vs. (14) “Hands” Ad
Cheri Berry and her ubiquitous elevator photos spurred a lasting political powerhouse. On a much different note, Jesse Helms’ infamous 1990 “Hands” ad—arguably the most controversial in NC history—helped him defeat Harvey Gantt.
(4) "Where Do You Stand, Jim?" vs. (13) Isaac Hunter’s Tavern
Jesse Helms’ brutal attack ad on Jim Hunt defined the 1984 Senate race. Isaac Hunter’s Tavern, the site where 18th-century leaders decided on the location of the new state capitol, is still used as shorthand for madness in Raleigh.
(5) The Education Governor vs. (12) "Couldn't We Just Build a Fence Around Chapel Hill?"
For decades, N.C. governors have run on education reform. But one of NC’s most famous quips about the N.C. Zoo suggests we should just quarantine the state’s most liberal city instead. Which message has more staying power?
(6) The "Purple State" Debate vs. (11) "Run Forest Run" Signs
North Carolina is constantly labeled a “purple state,” but are we really? Meanwhile, Burma Shave-style signs and a catchy tagline may have propelled Dan Forest to becoming the first two-term Republican lieutenant governor.
(7) The Great State of Mecklenburg vs. (10) Elizabeth Dole's "Godless" Ad
Charlotte has long been accused of thinking it’s separate from the rest of North Carolina. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Dole’s last-ditch “Godless” attack ad against Kay Hagan backfired spectacularly.
(8) The "Walter Dalton" Ad vs. (9) Vale of Humility between Two Mountains of Conceit
Walter Dalton’s infamous ad that repeated his name ad nauseum is still stuck in my head. But North Carolina’s identity as a “vale of humility” between Virginia and South Carolina has shaped our self-image for centuries. Which message still resonates today?
Round two will begin on Monday. Subscribe to be notified.
Download the full bracket below.
Great lists. Still, this is just evil. Wicked. How do I make about half of these choices? Aye, Yi, Yi!