Gov. Stein disagrees with his party’s denial of help to swing-voting lawmakers
The phrase “inside baseball” means that just a small group of people know about the inner workings of something.
Sometimes — a lot of the time — politics is inside baseball.
Good morning and welcome to our Under the Dome newsletter that focuses on Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. I’m Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan. I started off talking about that phrase because the governor used it this week talking about North Carolina Democratic Party politics.
The Assembly reported in January that the state Democratic Party’s executive council was keeping voter contact software away from a few swing vote Democrats who have voted with Republicans, including to override Stein’s vetoes.
Stein disagrees with his party’s move.
“It’s definitely inside baseball and party stuff, but I thought it was the wrong decision. But, it’s inside baseball,” Stein told reporters after a Council of State meeting. He added that “they’re Democrats, and should be able to access it.”
Now that this Under the Dome newsletter is fully inside baseball, let’s also talk about the upcoming primary on March 3, and how the word primary is also a verb.
The political dynamics of primarying
To be “primaried” describes when an incumbent lawmaker faces a primary challenger from their own party. There are perennial candidates who just like running for office, and aren’t doing it with a lot of backing. They lose every cycle, but they run anyway. But then there are candidates running against an incumbent with the blessing of powerful party figures .
Stein may think withholding voter software was the wrong decision, but he is part of primarying incumbent Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham, one of the swing-voting House Democrats, by endorsing one of her opponents. Stein said he did that because of Cunningham’s speech ahead of an immigration vote, I reported in January.
Stein also endorsed in another primary — but that’s for a sitting lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Rodney Pierce, who is being challenged by former Rep. Michael Wray, who was a swing vote when he was in office. Endorsing an incumbent isn’t unusual, but endorsing the opponent of one is — something Roy Cooper did when he was governor, against Kirk deViere, a former state senator. Endorsements sometimes come with fundraising money, so they can help a candidate win.
All this inside baseball talk makes me long for springtime. Opening day at home for the Durham Bulls is March 31.
One more thing: we sent candidate questionnaires out to everyone running in the 49 General Assembly primaries, and will begin publishing them in the coming days. Yes, 49 races. That includes the Pierce vs. Wray Democratic primary rematch and another primary to watch: for incumbent Senate leader Phil Berger, who is being challenged by Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page in a Republican contest.
Be sure to listen to our Under the Dome podcast, with new episodes posting Tuesdays.
Stories you won’t want to miss
- Stein signs executive order following NC killings tied to mental illness
- Federal judge agrees to hear NC lawmakers on Charlotte light rail stabbing files
- Board wants NC to halt private school voucher expansion. Will lawmakers listen?
Thanks for reading.
Reach me at dvaughan@newsobserver.com or the entire politics team at dome@newsobserver.com.
This story was originally published February 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Gov. Stein disagrees with his party’s denial of help to swing-voting lawmakers."
