Republicans have 52-47 edge in county commissions

Published December 20, 2014

by John Wynne, Politics North Carolina, December 19, 2014.

As a result of the November 2014 elections, Republicans now control 52 County Commissions. Democrats control 47. One county, Perquimans, is split. Prior to November, the numbers were R 53, D 45, with two being split.

Two counties switched from Democratic control to Republican control: Montgomery and Dare.

Three counties switched from Republican control to Democratic control: Wake, Lee, and Chatham. The loss of the Commission in Wake is the biggest blow to Republicans. The all-Democrat board will now proceed to raise taxes in order to fast-track light rail. Notably, Wake and Lee also saw two GOP incumbent House incumbents lose reelection. Interestingly, Thom Tillis won Lee by a comfortable margin.

One county, Jackson, switched from split control to Democratic control. Kay Hagan won in Jackson, a county Obama carried in 2008 but failed to carry in 2012.

Another county, Perquimans, went from Democratic control to being split. Tillis carried Perquimans with a 61-37 margin.

Individual commissioner numbers:

310 Republicans (+7 from before November)

270 Democrats (-1)

4 Unaffiliated (-2)

The most pro-Tillis county controlled by Democrats is Alleghany, which has a strong local Democratic tradition. The most pro-Hagan county controlled by Republicans is Guilford, also the largest county where they have control now that Wake is unanimously Democratic.

See anything wrong with this map? If there are any mistakes, be sure to chime in below.

http://www.politicsnc.com/republicans-have-52-47-edge-in-county-commissions/