Democrats' split personality

(Pictured: Judge Allison Riggs.)

There are two wildly divergent states of mind – and emotional states – among North Carolina Democrats today.

I saw one at last Saturday night’s Unity Dinner in Raleigh. I see and hear the other among Democrats in politics and government in Raleigh.

At the dinner, 400-plus eager, energized and enthusiastic Democrats jammed the reception, ballroom, halls and open areas at N.C. State’s Talley Center.

They were of all ages, races, genders, orientations, backgrounds and hometowns. Many were young, which always makes a party better. It was a good-looking, sharp-dressed crowd.

They hooted, hollered and repeatedly jumped to their feet during Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes’ fierce, funny and aggressive keynote speech.

I left pumped up.

But I get a very different vibe from Democratic legislators, staffers and lobbyists in Raleigh.

As one legislator said, “We’re beat down.”

I hear weariness and frustration in their voices.

I get it. It’s no fun to go to work every day and get your brains beaten in every 20 minutes.

Maybe the dynamism of new party chair Anderson Clayton and the Democrats at dinner can lift up the insiders.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm,” Ralph Waldo Emerson said.

There’s plenty out there.

(Editor's note: The following content was added days after the original posting)

Less than 24 hours after I blogged that Democrats in the legislature seemed “beat down,” I got corrected.

One of the House Democratic leaders called Saturday morning to tell me that caucus members are fired up, energized and getting organized for 2024, 2026, 2028 – and for taking the majority by the end of the decade.

They said, “we’ve looked at the very worst districts Republicans can draw, and we can break the super-majority in 2024 no matter how bad the districts are” – and comfortably sustain a governor’s veto of extremist Republican bills.

To do this, they said, “We have to raise money, and we just finished a strong fundraising period. We are working to have strong candidates in every district and to get organized with statewide voter engagement programs THIS year. And we have to drive up Democratic turnout across the state.”

(Note: I say “they” because even us partisan bloggers protect our sources.)

“The Speaker is helping us,” they said – unintentionally, of course. “People are sick of the disgrace” of Tim Moore’s many scandals (see Axios story below) and unending national scandals: Trump, George Santos and corruption on the U.S. Supreme Court, to name a few.

Unlike in 2020 and 2022, North Carolina will be a target state for Democrats nationally.

“President Biden is already investing here, and that will help us,” they said.

“We’re playing a long game.” Demographics are slowly moving Democrats’ way. Urban counties are increasingly blue, and exurban counties like Franklin, Johnston and Cabarrus are trending purple.

The caucus is working with party chair Anderson Clayton, county parties and other partners to recruit candidates even in what they call “champion” districts, some of which are 70% Republican.

Even if they lose, good candidates there can get information to voters, drive up Democratic turnout in statewide races and force Republicans to defend the whole chessboard.

So, I stand corrected. I was glad, even early Saturday morning, to hear fight, energy and determination from a top Democrat.

“NC House Speaker Tim Moore’s growing list of scandals:” https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/06/29/nc-house-speaker-tim-moore-lawsuit-affair-scandal.