Round 2: The Ultimate N.C. Politics Showdown
After some huge upsets, we have incredible new matchups. Cast your vote now.
The first round is in the books, and we’ve already seen some major upsets. I am frankly shocked that the milk chugging contest went down in such a landslide. And while Pat McCrory’s infamous “stupid hat” comment was a sentimental favorite, it just couldn’t hold on.
Now, we’re left with some incredible second-round matchups. Who moves on? You decide.
Power Players Region
(1) Jim Hunt vs. (9) Morgan Jackson
A generational showdown. Hunt built the modern N.C. Democratic Party from the top down. Jackson built its recent dominance from the backrooms. Can an unelected strategist take down the most successful governor in state history?
(4) Marc Basnight vs. (12) Terry Sanford
This might be my favorite matchup in this round, with two legendary Democrats facing off. Sanford’s legacy is one of progressive vision and big ideas. Basnight was a legislative machine, bending the Senate to his will for nearly two decades. Which brand of leadership wins out?
(3) Phil Berger vs. (11) The John Locke Foundation
A battle between conservative thought and conservative action. The John Locke Foundation laid the groundwork for policy shifts in North Carolina, but Berger made them law. Which matters more — ideas or execution?
(2) Jesse Helms vs. (7) Art Pope
Pope funded the modern conservative movement in North Carolina, but Helms practically invented it. Money vs. raw political instinct — can the architect of a movement defeat the man who built it?
Moments Region
(1) The 2010 Republican Revolution vs. (8) Completion of I-40
A once-in-a-century political shift vs. a decades-in-the-making infrastructure project. One reshaped N.C. government, the other reshaped how people moved through the state. Which had the bigger impact?
(5) House Bill 2 vs. (13) Meg Scott Phipps Goes to Prison
A cultural firestorm vs. an old-fashioned corruption scandal. HB2 made North Carolina a national lightning rod, while Phipps’ downfall reinforced every bad stereotype about Southern political dynasties. What’s more defining?
(11) The 2008 Election vs. (14) COVID Lockdowns
One was a moment of political optimism (at least for one side), with Democrats flipping N.C. blue for the first time in decades. The other was a moment of crisis, testing government authority like never before. Which moment had a greater lasting effect?
(2) The IHOP Bathroom Bribe vs. (10) The Mecklenburg Declaration
Legend vs. scandal. One is an unverified but beloved piece of N.C. history. The other is an absurd but very real political corruption moment. What’s more N.C.?
Traditions Region
(1) East vs. West BBQ Debate vs. (8) Laws to Strip Power from the Other Party
The ultimate cultural war vs. the ultimate political maneuver. Barbecue loyalty runs deep in North Carolina, but so does the instinct to rewrite the rules when power changes hands. Which is the more sacred tradition?
(4) Legislators Camping at the Fairgrounds vs. (5) Surprise Veto Override Votes
A battle of N.C. General Assembly oddities. Sneaky veto overrides are a hallmark of legislative strategy, but the fact that lawmakers literally camp out in RVs to do their jobs is classic North Carolina. Which quirk deserves to advance?
(11) Illegal Ballot Selfies vs. (14) Seersucker Suits
Modern vs. classic. Which tradition deserves to advance?
(2) 100-County Tours vs. (10) College Basketball Rivalries
Little defines North Carolina more than basketball and politics. But which is the bigger campaign necessity — wearing the right shade of blue or shaking hands in all 100 counties?
Rhetoric Region
(1) Esse Quam Videri vs. (9) Vale of Humility
Another amazing matchup pits against each other two competing ways N.C. defines itself. Do we strive to “be rather than to seem,” or are we just a “vale of humility” stuck between two arrogant neighbors?
(4) "Where Do You Stand, Jim?" vs. (12) "Couldn't We Just Build a Fence Around Chapel Hill?"
It’s fitting that two Jesse Helms quotes face each other. Does humor or hard-hitting messaging win?
(3) The Elevator Queen vs. (6) The "Purple State" Debate
A favorite political meme takes on a classic debate — Cherie Berry’s ever-present elevator photo made her an unlikely icon, while North Carolina’s “purple state” status is endlessly argued every election cycle. Which one defines N.C. politics more?
(7) The Great State of Mecklenburg vs. (15) Mark Robinson's Greensboro City Council Speech
Charlotte’s outsized self-image vs. a viral moment that launched a political career. Which one better represents N.C.?
Vote now!
The second round is set — which moments, figures, traditions, and slogans define N.C. politics the most? Cast your votes.