August 20, 2026/Content Package
Protection the Vote and Fighting Corruption
Here’s what we’re covering this week!👇
Governor Stein vetoes bill restricting election access
We are a strong party that has been under attack before, but we are not victims, we are advocates, we are organizers and there is power in numbers. Not to mention a powerful Governor who will do what’s right and best for all people across the Tar Heel state.
This week Governor Josh Stein took a bold stand for every North Carolinian by vetoing HB 958—a wildly irresponsible piece of legislation authored by elephant of the week and former disgraced representative Sarah Stevens that aims to dismantle our state’s early voting access and open the door for partisan interference in our results.
This veto is not just a single act of defense; it is a necessary roadblock in a long-term, calculated campaign by the North Carolina Republican Party to erode our democratic systems. From gerrymandered maps to the systematic takeover of our election boards, the NCGOP has shown they are willing to break the very foundations of our state to ensure they stay in power.
“North Carolina Republicans have done everything they can to stack the deck in their favor to ensure that voters don’t get a fair shot to make their displeasure heard this November. From re-drawing our already skewed maps to closing campus voting sites, eliminating Sunday voting hours, and trying to make it easier to throw out ballots – they’ve shown how far they’re willing to go to undermine the will of the voters. I’m proud to stand with our Governor today as he vetoes this dangerous bill that would eliminate early voting hours in primaries and open the door for more political ballot challenges. Governor Stein has shown that he will always defend the right to vote and make it easier for every eligible ballot to be securely cast in North Carolina,” said NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton during Monday’s press conference at the executive mansion.
A Timeline of NCGOP Attacks
The NCGOP’s strategy has been relentless. Below is a timeline of how they have worked to undermine the will of the voters:
1. Rigging the Maps (Gerrymandering)
- April 2023: The NC Supreme Court reversed precedent to permit partisan gerrymandering, stripping away protections for fair representation.
- October 2023: SB 757 turned an even congressional delegation into a lopsided 10:4 split.
- October 2025: Under pressure from Donald Trump, the NCGA re-rigged the map yet again to chase another Republican seat.
2. Hijacking the Board of Elections
- December 2024: Republicans used a hurricane relief bill (SB 382) to strip appointment powers from Governor-elect Stein and hand them to State Auditor Dave Boliek.
- May 2025: The new partisan majority fired non-partisan Director Karen Brinson Bell and installed Sam Hayes—a former GOP counsel—to oversee our elections.
- Mid-2025: Boliek installed former NCGOP executive director Dallas Woodhouse as a political liaison to county boards, directing them to restrict voting access.
3. Restricting Access to the Ballot
- January 2026: The state board denied early-voting sites at major institutions, including UNC-Greensboro, N.C. A&T, and Western Carolina.
- June 2026: Evidence surfaced of the Auditor’s office pressuring local boards to close sites and eliminate Sunday voting. In Jackson and Granville counties, local officials were warned they would be removed if they didn’t follow the Auditor’s partisan directives.
4. Making It Easier to Discard Your Vote
- July 2026: The board voted to allow county boards to reject photo-ID exceptions by simple partisan majority rather than bipartisan consensus.
- July 28, 2026: The passage of HB 958. This bill slashes early voting in primary and municipal elections, allows for post-election ballot challenges after races are called, and grants the Auditor unprecedented audit powers over our election administration.
What Comes Next?
The NCGOP is betting that if they make voting hard enough, you will stay home. They are betting that if they create enough chaos, the will of the people will be drowned out by partisan maneuvering.
We are going to prove them wrong.
Governor Stein’s veto is the first step, but we need you to stay informed and stay engaged. Share this timeline with your neighbors, talk to your friends about what is at stake, and prepare to make your voice heard at the ballot box.
Donald Trump made $2.2 billion last year
2025 was a good year—for Donald Trump. While the average American lost around $1625 to rising prices, Donald Trump made more than $2.2 billion dollars, more than tripling his income. And while families are paying more for groceries, utilities, and everyday things, the president is profiting off his memecoin, events at his property, and sketchy deals with foreign governments and corporations. Donald Trump got richer, but we got the bill.
That’s a wrap for this week’s messaging!
Now it’s your turn! Download the graphics below, copy our captions, and get the message out! Whether you’re lighting up the group chat or sharing it on your timeline, your voice is what actually moves the needle!
See y’all on the internet!
—NCDP Digital
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We’re almost at the two month mark, y’all. Get ready for the start of mail-in voting on September 4th and early voting on October 15th!
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While families are paying more for groceries, utilities, and everyday things, the president is profiting off his memecoin sketchy deals with foreign governments and corporations. Donald Trump got richer, but we got the bill.
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HB958 would limit early voting and make it easier to challenge ballots after votes have already been counted.
Republicans are scared of their own voters, but North Carolina Democrats will always stand up for your right to cast a ballot.
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Read more about how Justice Earls is putting conversations about justice into practice with community leaders across our state: https://www.wwaytv3.com/nc-supreme-court-justice-meets-with-wilmington-faith-leaders/
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Yard signs! Get your yard signs! 👉 store.ncdp.org
all three videos included in the package folder
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Stories To Boost:
Axios: NC voucher use triples across 3 school years
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A look at just how much money is being spent on “Opportunity Scholarship and private school vouchers. The increase in funds being diverted from public schools is alarming.
West Fest | August 29th 4-8PM
Join Chair Anderson Clayton in Fairview, North Carolina on August 29th for our annual West Fest!
How to knock doors and use miniVAN | Multiple Days
Learn why one-on-one conversations with voters are so important, review door knocking best practices, and see how to use our canvassing tool, miniVAN!
Become an Anytime Canvasser for Anita Earls: Field Team Justice | Multiple Days
Field Team Justice is NCDP’s network of grassroots volunteers dedicated to electing Justice Anita Earls and our Court of Appeals candidates next year.
We’re launching our Anytime/Anywhere Canvassing program—an easy, flexible way to help voters learn about our judicial candidates. We’re putting powerful tools in your hands so you can grow this movement right from your own neighborhood.
Party Organizing Hybrid Phone Bank at NCDP HQ | Wednesdays 6-8 PM
Building power starts with engaging our neighbors. Join the Wake County Young Democrats, NCDP Regional Organizer Daniel Franch, and friendly neighbors on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm at NCDP Headquarters in Raleigh or on Zoom to call friendly Democrats to talk about making a plan to vote in the 2026 midterm elections and invite them to upcoming events. No experience necessary. You’ll get all the training you need when we meet. If you join us in-person, we have pizza, snacks, and refreshing beverages. Join us to create a closer community and a bluer North Carolina!