(The Center Square) – Capturing better than 7 in 10 net changes for the most recent seven days measured, the bloc of unaffiliated voters in North Carolina has soared past 3 million.
The state’s total registrations were up nearly 13,000 in the period ending Saturday, according to the State Board of Elections. Total registrations number 7,701,583. Gains for the week were 73.3% unaffiliated (9,373 registrations), 18% Republicans (2,299) and 8.4% Democrats (1,069).
By percentage, the unaffiliated bloc is up to 39%, Republicans are at 30.2% and Democrats 30.1%. For context, the last time a bloc was 39% or greater for an election was Nov. 8, 2016, when Democrats were at 39.5%, Republicans 30.2% and independents 29.9% of more than 6.9 million registrations.
Democrats in March 2022 were surpassed by the number choosing no party; Republicans were surpassed in September 2017. In the Jan. 3 update, Republicans for the first time surged past Democrats.
Total voter registrations eclipsed 7.8 million on Election Day 2024; routine maintenance throughout the year is a key contributing factor to the volume changes.
It was a mere 16 years ago when Democrats were in eight of 10 seats for the Council of State and commanded 30-20 and 68-52 majorities in the General Assembly. Then came the historic 2010 midterms, and both chambers being won by Republicans for the first time since Reconstruction 140 years earlier.
Today those figures are 5-5 in the executive offices, and Republicans hold advantages of 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House of Representatives.
For context on how Democrats once had a lock, from the every two years elections of 1930 to 1982 the party was below 43 of the 50 state Senate seats just twice (won 38 in 1969, won 35 in 1973) and didn’t have fewer than 30 until only getting 26 in the 1994 cycle. From 1930 to 1982 in the House, Democrats had fewer than 102 of the 120 just six times with 85 won in 1974 the worst.
Three decades ago at Election Day 1992, North Carolinians elected Democrats to all 10 Council of State positions and majorities of 39-11 in the state Senate and 78-42 in the House.
