NY Times: “An anti-establishment restlessness appears to be coursing through voters of all political stripes, and what happens in the swing state of North Carolina — one of three states to hold primaries Tuesday, the first of the 2026 midterms — could be a bellwether….
A Democratic House member representing liberal Durham, Valerie Foushee, is locked in a tough and expensive rematch with Nida Allam, a county commissioner running to her left.
And the Democratic minority in the North Carolina Statehouse could get a significant jolt in a state where moderation, even conservatism, has long been the party’s trademark. Amid the anger on the left generated by President Trump and his policies, veteran Democrats in safe seats are suddenly being viewed as unreliable votes at a historic juncture for the country and its democracy.
The challenges are “about aligning lawmaker accountability to their district,” said Blair Reeves, executive director of Carolina Forward, a left-leaning policy organization. “This is a bunch of lawmakers who have never really feared losing their seat at all because no one is pushing them.””