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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT
00000177-efb4-dee4-afff-efbec5b90000Click here for voting information on polling places, voter registration, and more. To meet the people who want to represent you, click on the “live” links below for feature pieces on contested races. New features are posted weekly and all reporting will be posted by March 1st. HQR News 91.3 FM...For complete Election 2020 News and Coverage. Results Primary 2020 Results: Ted Davis, Jr. Wins In District 20 House ContestPrimary 2020 Results: Race For New Hanover County Commissioners Down To Three From Each PartyPrimary 2020 Results: The Race For NC House District 19Two Incumbents Out, One Remains in 2020 Brunswick County PrimariesChristopher Ward Wins 7th Congressional District Democratic Primary, Will Challenge Rouzer Coverage from CoastLine: CoastLine: Primary 2020 Results Bring November into FocusCoastLine: Primary 2020 Preview - Races, Issues, Candidates with PCDWHQR Talks With Port City Daily's Ben Schachtman on Local Issues and Upcoming Primaries*Any inquries about 2020 Primary Election Coverage can be addressed to Rachel Keith at rkeith@whqr.org. Reporter Coverage: US House District 7 - DRobert Colon Mark JudsonChristopher M. Ward NC House District 19 - R Charlie MillerDavid A. Perry NC House District 19 - D James Dawkins, Jr. Marcia MorganNC House District 20 - R Ted Davis, Jr. Justin LaNasaNHC Commissioner - D Jonathan Barfield, Jr. Don Betz Leslie CohenKyle HortonSteve Miller Travis Robinson NHC Commissioner - R Deb Hays Joe IrreraHarry KnightJohn Lyon Frank Christopher MearesRicky Meeks Matt Rhodes Bill Rivenbark Skip Watkins NHC Board of Education - RJanice CavenaughFrederick Fisher Stephanie KraybillPete Wildeboer BC Commissioner District 3 -R Pat Sykes Jeff WinecoffBC Board of Education District 2 - R Catherine D. Cooke David M. Robinson BC Board of Education District 4 - RShirley C. Babson Steven Barger Ellen G. Milligan

Camaraderie Among Democrats And Republicans At Primary Polling Places

Tuesday is Primary Day in North Carolina, and electioneers -- people stumping for their candidates at polling locations – say they’re seeing a steady flow of voters.  And despite their partisan passions, they are surprisingly devoid of vitriol.  At least on this day…

In Halyburton Park in New Hanover County, I find Democrats and Republicans sharing space – and Krispy Kreme donuts. 

Republican Hunter Ford talks with voters about his candidate for the state House.  And when voter traffic slows, he chats with members of the local Democratic party. 

Does that feel a little strange to him?

"Not at all!  It’s only strange for people who make it strange.  I’ve met a couple nice ladies here, and we all are proud that our fellow citizens are getting out to vote.  It’s the most American thing that we get to do."

In Brunswick County at Belville Elementary, there is a similar scene.  Teagan Perry Hall is a current Boiling Spring Lakes City Commissioner. While she campaigns for two Republicans in local races, she’s standing and chatting with a Brunswick County Democratic party member.  And sharing a table.

"This particular election I changed my affiliation to unaffiliated in order to vote for these two candidates.  So they were the only two candidates that were on the entire Republican ballot that I voted for.  During elections in November I will most definitely be on the Democratic side."

Dale Todd, Democratic Party Precinct Vice Chair in Belville, acknowledges it’s a bit unusual.

"Normally we don’t share space – especially when we're down to the actual election.  We normally try to separate ourselves so we don’t run off people who don't want to talk to us."

But that hyper-polarization we all hear so much about – not true, says Todd, in the real world. 

"At the individual level there’s still discourse.  I mean, you can find some common ground on just about any issue among most individuals."

Rachel hosts and produces CoastLine, an award-winning hourlong conversation featuring artists, humanitarians, scholars, and innovators in North Carolina. The show airs Wednesdays at noon and Sundays at 4 pm on 91.3 FM WHQR Public Media. It's also available as a podcast; just search CoastLine WHQR. You can reach her at rachellh@whqr.org.