About 20 years ago, in the early 2000s, Paul Shumaker’s party began experiencing a troubling trend.
Shumaker, a Republican operative with a classic Carolinian drawl, laid it out for Al Jazeera in stark terms: Republican registration started declining, while the number of “unaffiliated” voters gradually rose.
“Now there are no liberal Republicans left, and there are fewer moderate Republicans, too,” Shumaker said.
He shared data showing how both major parties, Republicans and Democrats, have, in total, invested more than $147m in the state over the last 10 years — but even that couldn’t stop an “explosion” of unaffiliated voters, who are now the clear majority.
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Of the 8.5 million voters in North Carolina this year, approximately 38 percent are registered as “unaffiliated”. That dwarfs the 32 percent who identify as Democrat and the 30 percent who say they’re Republican.
This explosion of “unaffiliated” voters dovetails with larger demographic trends showing Americans bucking traditional party labels, adding to the unpredictability of elections.
However, that doesn’t mean “unaffiliated” voters will opt for a third-party candidate. Surveys have shown that the majority of independent voters do, in fact, “lean” consistently towards either the Republican side or the Democrats.
Which is to say, they’re very much up for grabs — and in demand — by the two major parties.
“Neither party can win without building a coalition for unaffiliated voters,” Shumaker said.
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Republicans, he explained, need to appeal to unaffiliated voters in the suburbs and cities — two areas Democrats are expected to win.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris waves to the crowd at a campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina, on October 13 [Jonathan Drake/Reuters]
Democrats, meanwhile, are hoping to use “unaffiliated” voters to compensate for losses in their base. More than 2.4 million people in North Carolina registered as Democrat as of October 26 — down from more than 2.6 million at around the same point in the 2020 election cycle.
Party strategists like Jackson hope to make up the loss by appealing to voters in left-wing strongholds — typically urban centres — while holding ground in rural areas.
After all, North Carolina has the largest rural population in the US after Texas.
“People often say you have to lose by less in the rural areas, but that’s not true: You just have to stop the bleeding,” Jackson said. “If Kamala Harris holds [outgoing President] Joe Biden’s margins, she could have a shot.”
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Mac McCorkle, a Democratic political consultant with a cheery, amiable aura, refers to unaffiliated voters as “precious” to his party. He believes only a small number of voters will decide whether North Carolina backs Harris or Trump.
“It’s not like 20 percent of the electorate can go either way,” he said. “We’re talking about a race that’ll be decided by one, two, three percent.”
MADISON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A major investment is moving one of Madison County’s largest construction projects a step closer to reality.
State leaders approved $27 million in the budget for the county’s new public service complex—bringing the project to more than two-thirds of the funding needed.
Grading has already begun on the property near the health department and sheriff’s office.
MADISON COUNTY MULLS FUTURE OF HISTORIC COURTHOUSE AS PLANS MOVE FORWARD FOR NEW BUILDING
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The $88 million project is set to combine governmental, social and judicial facilities in Madison County.
Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt spoke about the impacts he believes the new complex will have.
JULY 9, 2026 – Grading has already begun for Madison County’s new public service complex near the health department and sheriff’s office. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
“A place that’s easy to get into, easy to get out of, and something that says we’re Madison County strong,” said Honeycutt. “We’re looking very much forward to moving into the facility and consolidating five locations into one.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUDGET INCLUDES $7M TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK FROM HELENE DEBRIS
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Madison County officials are encouraging community input on the plans for the new complex before the groundbreaking ceremony at the end of July.
A small, mostly GA-focused airport in North Carolina will get $4.5 million to help attract a new airline.
WCTI-TV reported Wednesday that the money was allocated to Pitt-Greenville Airport in a state budget recently signed into law by Governor Josh Stein. The funding will support a revenue guarantee for carriers that opt to connect Greenville.
Many small airports use revenue guarantees to help reduce the financial risk for potential partner airlines.
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Currently, only American Airlines serves Greenville, with American Eagle commuter flights to Charlotte.
Airport Executive Director Brandon Craft told WCTI that the addition of another airline could help grow Greenville into a travel hub for eastern North Carolina. He also said that the airport is pursuing grants to help expand and improve its facilities.
Greenville is located about 80 miles east of Raleigh.
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Wednesday, July 8, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from July 8 drawing
12-29-37-43-55, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
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Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 8 drawing
Day: 2-9-0, Fireball: 5
Evening: 7-9-6, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 8 drawing
Day: 8-9-6-6, Fireball: 6
Evening: 3-4-8-5, Fireball: 4
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Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from July 8 drawing
07-13-19-23-33
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from July 8 drawing
01-03-14-18-32
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 8 drawing
16-18-43-48-50, Bonus: 01
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Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
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Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
