Click on a state to explore the latest Policy and Political updates.
02
You can refine your search by applying the category and date filters located above the map and within each State detail page.
03
Click “View State Profile” to find out more about each state and Washington DC
The State
of the States
North Carolina
Tar Heel State, Old North State
The English set up their first permanent settlement, the colony of Roanoke, in what is now North Carolina in 1585. Though the colony was lost, American schoolchildren are still taught about it in grade school. Now, the state is better known for its claim of being “first in flight,” as their license plates will tell you. This claim is debated with a few other states, but North Carolinians feel confident in their stake, as the Wright Brothers tested airplane prototypes in North Carolina. The outer bank beaches are the state’s most popular tourist attraction, but North Carolina also contains ranges of both the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains. With a Democratic Governor and a Republican senate and house, North Carolina is one of 14 states under divided government.
State capital
Raleigh
Population 2017
10273419
Largest city
Charlotte
Year entered union
1789
State flower
flowering dogwood
Motto
"Esse quam videri"
Dem
Governor
50Total Seats
State Senate
29
21
0
0
120Total Seats
State Assembly
65
55
0
0
Democrats
Republicans
Independent
Vacancies
Policies & Political Updates
State lawmakers give thumbs up to new 2020 Congressional maps; Dems likely to challenge in courts
Each of the 50 states is led by a governor, who is elected directly by that state’s voters. He/she implements state laws and oversees the executive branch, one of three branches of state government.
Governor
Governor
Roy Cooper
Governor's Party
Democrat
Running for re-election?
TBD
General Election
Nov 3 2020
Primary Election
2020
Open or Closed Primary
Open
Governor and Lieutenant Governor on same ticket
No
In most states, the lieutenant governor succeeds to the gubernatorial office if the current governor vacates the role. The lieutenant governor often heads the state senate.
Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Dan Forest
Lieutenant Governor's Party
Republican
General Election
Nov 3 2020
Primary Election
2020
Open or Closed Primary
Open
The attorney general is the chief legal advisor to the state's government and the state's chief law enforcement officer.
Attorney General
Attorney General
Josh Stein
Attorney General Party
Democrat
General Election
Nov 3 2020
Primary Election
2020
The upper chamber of state government, and the second branch of state government.
State Senate
Length of Term (Years)
2
Term Limits
None
Scheduled Session 2018
Jan 10 - July 4
Total Members
50
Number who are Democrats
21
Number who are Republicans
29
Number who are POC
10
Percentage who are POC
20%
Number who are men
37
Percentage who are men
74%
Number who are women
12
Percentage who are women
24%
General Election
Nov 6 2018
Primary Election
May 8 2018
The lower chamber of state government, sometimes called the house of delegates or state house of representatives, and the third branch of state government.
State Assembly
Length of Term (Years)
2
Term Limits
None
Scheduled Session 2018
Jan 10 - Jul 4
Total Members
120
Number who are Democrats
55
Number who are Republicans
65
Number who are POC
23
Percentage who are POC
19%
Number who are men
90
Percentage who are men
75%
Number who are women
30
Percentage who are women
25%
General Election
Nov 6 2018
Primary Election
May 8 2018
Each state sends two senators to the U.S. Senate, which is the federal government’s upper chamber. They also send a number of representatives that is proportional to the state’s population to the House of Representatives, the federal government’s lower chamber.
Representation in Congress
Senior Senator
Richard Burr
Party
Republican
Next Election
2022
Junior Senator
Thom Tillis
Junior Senators Party
Republican
Next Election Year
2020
U.S. House Democrats
3
U.S. House Republicans
10
Demographics
Female, percent
51.3%
White alone, percent
70.8%
Black or African American alone, percent
22.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent
1.6%
Asian alone, percent
3.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent
0.1%
Two or More Races, percent
2.2%
Hispanic or Latino, percent
9.5%
Number of Veterans, 2012-2016
683,221
Percentage of foreign born persons, 2012-2016
7.7%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons aged 5+, 2012-2016
11.3%
Number of Homeless
8,962
Number of Kids in Foster Care, 2015
10,324
Percentage in Foster Care for 5 or more years
5%
Number in Foster Care per Thousand
2
Economy
Minimum wage level in 2018 (Dollars per hour)
7.25
Annual state budget in Dollars (2016)
44,367,000,000
State Credit Rating as of 2017
AAA
State Debt in Dollars (2014)
17,463,787,000
Maximum State Income Tax Level, Percent
5.75%
Top Export by value, 2017
Top 1
Civilian aircraft engines and parts
Top 2
Pharmaceutical products
Top 3
Pharmaceutical products
Healthcare
Children's Uninsured Rate
4.5%
Parents' Uninsured Rate
15
Medicaid Expansion
No
Policy
Capital punishment
Yes
Legalization of cannabis
Medicinal decriminalized, recreational illegal
Assisted dying and euthanasia
No
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2012-2016
