(The Center Square) – Should the next six months go as the last six have, Republicans could soon for the first time outnumber registrations of Democrats in North Carolina.
They will not, however, be the largest voting bloc. No affiliation remains the largest with Saturday’s update from the State Board of Elections, and it continues to gain a greater share quicker than either of the major parties.
North Carolina has more than 7.5 million registrations, with 38.4% unaffiliated, 30.6% Democrats and 30.3% Republicans.
The difference is 16,335 of more Democrats than Republicans. Six months ago, the difference was 32,862. In the last two weeks, it has closed by 1,142. Context to consider includes the timing of voter roll maintenance; meaning, the changes do not reflect outright change of registrations or new registrations happening though that can be part of the equation.
Unaffiliated registrations number 596,305 more than Democrats, 612,690 more than Republicans.
North Carolina is considered a legitimate battleground state on the national level, purple in hue rather than blue for Democrats or red for Republicans. Long the place where Democrats have done well, as recently as the 2008 midterms the state’s 10 executive offices known as the Council of State had eight of 10 seats blue, and Democrats had majorities of 30-20 in the state Senate and 68-52 in the House of Representatives.
Three decades ago at Electon 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.
Today, the Council of State is 5-5, and Republican majorities are 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House.
