(The Center Square) – Judge Anita Earls, a founder of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, is to be the guest of a North Carolina Democratic congresswoman Tuesday night at the State of the Union featuring second-term Republican Donald Trump.
Earls, a Democrat, is up for reelection on a bench that is 5-2 Republican majority. She’s the guest of Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C.
Known guests early Tuesday morning include Steve Freeman, chief of the Bat Cave Fire Department accompanying Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C.; Nathanael Simmons, a 17-year-old senior at Mattamuskeet High accompanying Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C.; Matt Van Swol, former nuclear scientist for the U.S. Department of Energy accompanying Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C.; and Billy Walkowiak, CEO of Collision Safety Consultants accompanying Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C.
Van Swol more recently has taken to social media to share insight on recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., said Monday she will not attend. Her statement said in part, “I will not lend my presence to a speech that ignores the lived realities of millions.”
Earls on Jan. 6 publicly shared a breast cancer diagnosis, saying she would continue to seek the eight-year term of Seat 1. Her opponent on Nov. 3 is Republican state Rep. Sarah Stevens of Mount Airy.
Earls was elected in 2018. That’s the year North Carolina’s elections process under the watch of former Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration – now a U.S. Senate candidate – was hit by a ballot harvesting scandal for a U.S. House of Representatives seat and litigation tied to a party switch in Earls’ race.
Then, Democrat Elaine Marshall’s Office of Secretary of State oversaw elections with little to no high-profile involvement. Karen Brinson Bell was executive director of the State Board of Elections, and appointments to state and county boards was done by the governor making all 3-2 majority Democrats.
Today, Republican Dave Boliek’s Office of State Auditor oversees elections. Sam Hayes is executive director of the state board, and Republicans have 3-2 majorities at the state and county levels.
In the state Supreme Court race, Earls benefited when Chris Anglin changed registration from Democrat to Republican three weeks before Election Day to try to siphon votes from incumbent Republican Barbara Jackson.
The ballot-harvesting scandal in the southeastern part of the state led to a do-over of the 2019 election. Dan Bishop, then a state senator, won the House seat for the 9th Congressional District.
The state Supreme Court race between Earls and Stevens is pivotal to shape the 2028 ballot. Republicans are in five of seven seats, and the ballot in two years will have the chief justice seat and seats 2 and 4. Occupying those spots, respectively, are Republicans Paul Newby, Phil Berger Jr. and Tamara Barringer.
