The Championship: What most embodies North Carolina politics?

Esse Quam Videri faces The John Locke Foundation in the final round of the Ultimate N.C. Politics Showdown

It all comes down to this.

After thousands of votes and some genuinely difficult choices, we’ve reached the final round in the Ultimate N.C. Politics Showdown bracket.

What started as a playful look at the personalities, moments, traditions, and phrases that shape North Carolina politics has evolved into something more: a thoughtful reflection on what truly defines this state’s political identity.

And now, just two contenders remain. Both are grounded in principle. Both value substance over flash. And both have made it clear that North Carolina politics, at its core, still takes ideas seriously.

The final matchup: (1) Esse Quam Videri vs. (11) The John Locke Foundation

One is a product of the last few decades, while the other hearkens back to ancient Rome. And yet, they share more than you might expect.

The John Locke Foundation has emerged as this bracket’s most remarkable story. Entering as an 11-seed, it knocked off towering political figures like Phil Berger and Jim Hunt, then edged ou…