Campaign consultant Jim Burton works everyday to get Republicans elected up and down the ballot. Burton takes listeners behind the scenes of his 2022 work to get Sen. Bobby Hanig elected in a Democratic leaning district. Burton also talks about his craft, including how polling informs a political message, the targeting of voters, working directly with candidates, and what he's looking for in the 2024 election. Democrats announce election targets , Rep. Jon Hardister resigns , former Rep. Grier M...
Apr 04, 2024•56 min•Ep. 156
As Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed talks about his faith and its linkage to Christianity and Judaism , the importance of fasting during this Islamic Holy Month, and how it informs his politics. Skye and Brian also unpack the Rep. Michael Wray concession , Rep. Kevin Crutchfield still fighting , a new presidential poll in NC, sports wagering a good bet for NC , Gov. Cooper calls for a school voucher moratorium , Race of the Week , #TOTW , and the Sweet 16 this Ea...
Mar 28, 2024•55 min•Ep. 155
Veteran lobbyist Andy Ellen went for a morning run in the summer of 2023, returned home to catch up on news before heading to the General Assembly, and he collapsed. He had a heart attack. The President/General Counsel of the NC Retail Merchants Association opens up about that day, his family's history with heart disease, and why he wants you to see a doctor today. Skye and Brian also unpack a week of news, including a WRAL gambling poll , Rep. Michael Wray is running out of options , Sen. Thom ...
Mar 21, 2024•59 min•Ep. 154
Rep. Brian Biggs is in his first term representing Randolph County, however his path to victory included a primary race in 2022 against a veteran GOP legislator . The Freshman GOP Whip talks about his life, family and political career, including that intra-party race and his prior service on the Randolph County School Board. Skye and Brian unpack the week's news, including Congressman-elect Addison McDowell , a pair of polls , John Locke Foundation's 2024 Civitas Partisan Index , Gov. Cooper's c...
Mar 14, 2024•54 min•Ep. 153
It was a North Carolina primary election for the ages, one that was incorrectly described in the days leading up to it as a "sleeper." Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir/Craven/Beaufort) guest hosts the podcast with Skye and Brian as they try to make sense of a primary election that defied the political odds and protocols. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame , the NC Travel Industry Association , the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association , the NC Pork Council , and the NC Healthc...
Mar 07, 2024•59 min•Ep. 152
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 5, the day many races across North Carolina will be ultimately decided. However, some of the more crowded races are likely heading to runoffs. Political science professors Michael Bitzer (Catawba College) and Chris Cooper (Western Carolina University) join Skye and Brian for the entire podcast to talk early voting trends, races to watch, political party realignment, purity tests, and what surprises could be in store on election night. Dr. Bitzer and Dr. Coo...
Feb 28, 2024•55 min•Ep. 151
Kimberly Reynolds is a Democratic political consultant at Maven Strategies , a firm she founded with Maggie Barlow. Kimberly talks about her career dating back to 1999, including her past work for the NC Senate Caucus program and #ncpol campaigns she's managed. Skye and Brian also share Republican polling from Capen Consulting , which includes the standings for the crowded race for Lt. Governor, Governor, and President. Plus, campaign endorsements , conservative groups backing Democrats , update...
Feb 22, 2024•59 min•Ep. 150
Sen. Eddie Settle is a no-nonsense, unpretentious, and accessible legislator whose style of legislating has won him admiration and respect from his colleagues, including Democrats. The Wilkes County native talks with Skye and Brian about his politics, life, family, work, and faith. Plus, early voting is underway , a voter identification lawsuit scheduled , Governor Cooper's executive order , RNC Chair news , casino legislation in short session a bad bet , possible changes to election law , Race ...
Feb 15, 2024•51 min•Ep. 149
Rep. Caleb Rudow is currently sitting in one of the safest House seats in the General Assembly. The Asheville Democrat could sit back in 2024, put a few yard signs up, and coast to re-election victory. So why is he trading it in to challenge GOP freshman Congressman Chuck Edwards in the ruby-red leaning 11th District? Skye and Brian also break down a pair of polls from Meredith University and High Point University , legislator death threat leads to arrest , Race of the Week , #TOTW , the Super B...
Feb 08, 2024•52 min•Ep. 148
The Senate Republican Caucus is well known as a well-oiled, disciplined machine known for recruiting top-shelf candidates, methodically executing campaign plans, and winning majorities (sometimes supermajorities) since 2010. Political operative Dylan Watts runs that machine and he sits down to talk about his life and work, which sometimes is a blur except when he's playing golf. The Cary native also discusses candidate recruiting, ideological diversity in districts, polling, and his thoughts abo...
Feb 01, 2024•57 min•Ep. 147
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a live recording of the Do Politics Better Podcast in front of an audience of over 100 people on the campus of UNC Asheville on January 19. Skye and Brian were joined by Senators Warren Daniel and Julie Mayfield to review the 2023 General Assembly session, issues they partnered on, and bills they were on opposite sides of. The Senate duo representing Buncombe County also look to the upcoming short session and provide a scan of issues facing western N...
Jan 25, 2024•52 min•Ep. 146
Tim Kent, the executive director of the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, traces his North Carolina political roots back to 1981, the year he arrived in the state and started covering its politics as an on-air TV reporter. Kent talks about covering the Hunt-Helms race in 1984 , a bipartisan overthrow of a Democratic Speaker of the House in 1989, and how it led to his transition from journalism to be one of the most high profile and successful association leaders in North Carolina. Skye...
Jan 18, 2024•59 min•Ep. 145
The NC Democratic Party announced last fall it hired Kian Sadjadi as its new executive director . The 36-year old veteran political operative will lead Democrats in 2024 as they try to turn their Election Day fortunes around. Skye and Brian also talk endorsement announcements , a fledgling redistricting lawsuit , Race of the Week , Tweet of the Week , and more. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame , the NC Travel Industry Association , the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Assoc...
Jan 11, 2024•55 min•Ep. 144
Sen. Vickie Sawyer kicks off the first podcast episode of 2024, and the conversation centers around social media trolls and how to deal with them. The Iredell County Republican also reads some mean tweets she received from trolls when she announced on X she was running for re-election. Skye and Brian also discuss how they let each other down in 2023 and their plans to improve in the New Year. Plus, the Tweet of the Year. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame , the NC Travel In...
Jan 04, 2024•50 min•Ep. 143
In this year-end podcast, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis sits down with Skye and Brian on Capitol Hill to talk about his early life growing up in trailer parks, his first foray into politics, the historic 2010 Republican takeover of the General Assembly, and his approach to representing NC in the U.S. Senate. Also, Senator Jim Perry (R-Lenoir/Beaufort/Craven) stands in for Skye as guest co-host and runs through the news of the week, including an NAACP election maps lawsuit , the final slate of NC cand...
Dec 21, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 142
Billy Ball writes about North Carolina politics and culture as Senior Editor at Cardinal & Pine , a left-leaning, online newspaper. Whether Ball is covering water quality in rural North Carolina, school funding disparities, or writing about the sounds of the cicada during summer time , his writing is steeped in authenticity. Billy talks about growing up in eastern North Carolina, his early love of journalism, and his approach to covering complex issues in a way readers can understand and rel...
Dec 14, 2023•56 min•Ep. 141
Rep. David Willis was raised by a single mom in Wilson, NC and eventually made his way to Union County, where he became an early childhood education provider. In between, he had stops in Greensboro, Boone, New York City, and China, where he met his wife at a Christmas party. The second term Republican talks to Skye and Brian about his life journey, the importance of his family, his decision to run for office, and his political future. It's also the first week of campaign filing season and Congre...
Dec 07, 2023•48 min•Ep. 140
Rep. Maria Cervania is serving in her first term in the General Assembly after serving her Cary and Morrisville communities on the Wake County Board of Commissioners. The progressive Democrat talks about growing up in a Republican household with deep military ties and an inspiring and heart-wrenching immigration story from the Philippines. Plus, Senate maps stand (for now), no congressional maps lawsuit (for now), no votes this week, a curious Senate poll in Rockingham County , more campaign ann...
Nov 30, 2023•56 min•Ep. 139
Dr. Michael Bitzer is often quoted in the media on all things #ncpol in addition to contributing to political discussions with his engaging and informational social media posts . The political scientist at Catawba College sits down with Skye and Brian to talk about his career, scholarly work, the 2024 election, and his fascination with North Carolina's ever-changing political landscape. Plus, more campaign announcements were announced this week, Auditor Beth Wood's resignation , Meredith College...
Nov 16, 2023•54 min•Ep. 138
Rep. Kelly Hastings has served in the General Assembly since 2011, however his work in NC politics dates back to 1992 when Lt. Governor Jim Gardner ran for Governor against Jim Hunt . It's also when the Cleveland County Republican met a young campaign volunteer by the name of Tim Moore , and a friendship began. The 7-term legislator opens up about his life, growing up with a learning disability, his military service, the toll of politics on family, and caring for aging parents. Skye and Brian al...
Nov 09, 2023•59 min•Ep. 137
The General Assembly's 2023 long session is adjourned and Sen. Todd Johnson (R-Union) and Rep. Allison Dahle (D-Wake) sit down with Skye and Brian to break it all down, including Medicaid expansion , the party switch , abortion , medical marijuana , LGBTQ+ bills , casinos , budget , redistricting , and more. The podcast also ticks through some campaign announcements , Council of State news , #TOTW , and Brian finds the Halloween candy. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame , t...
Nov 02, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 136
A deal for NC House Speaker has been reached by Reps. Destin Hall , John Bell , Jason Saine , and Brenden Jones . The four Republican legislators talk to Skye and Brian about why an agreement was reached, the timing of the announcement, and details of what a House leadership team will look like in 2025. The podcast also unpacks a week of political news: General Assembly adjournment, redistricting , campaign announcements , #TOTW , and more. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Fram...
Oct 26, 2023•57 min•Ep. 135
Most of the world looked in horror as Hamas attacked Israel with brutal terrorism on October 7. When General Assembly lobbyist Bruce Mildwurf heard the news, he immediately thought of his daughter who is serving in the Israeli Army. One day later, Israel formally declared war against Hamas. The NC School Boards Association lead lobbyist opens up about his daughter's decision to enlist in the Israeli Defense Forces after graduating from high school, how his family is processing the Israeli War, a...
Oct 19, 2023•59 min•Ep. 134
Rep. Jarrod Lowery loves Robeson County. It's where his Lumbee people have lived for thousands of years, it's where he grew up, and it's where he met his wife and is raising a family. The freshman Republican talks about life in his home county and how he's been working for most of his life to improve it, honor and celebrate it, and now represent it in the General Assembly. Skye and Brian also cover the veto overrides , a resolution supporting Israel gets political , redistricting votes scheduled...
Oct 12, 2023•53 min•Ep. 133
Dan Crawford has been on all sides of redistricting. In 2001, he worked for a Democratic Senate Redistricting Committee Chair, who oversaw the gerrymandering of congressional and legislative districts that year. Two decades later, Dan found himself on the U.S. Supreme Court steps holding a press conference about the lawsuit his organization was bringing against Speaker Tim Moore and the General Assembly's 2021 districts . The political operative takes Skye and Brian behind the lines as they disc...
Oct 05, 2023•51 min•Ep. 132
Dr. Chris Cooper is a regular contributor to #ncpol. His commentary and political insights can be found on X (Twitter) and in NC and national media outlets. The Madison Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Western Carolina University visited Raleigh to talk about his easy-to-understand public engagement, and his teaching and scholarly work. Dr. Cooper also gives insightful political analysis, historical perspective, and shares his magic wand wish for NC politics. Skye and Brian also c...
Sep 28, 2023•59 min•Ep. 131
Rep. Allen Chesser was in the room on Tuesday afternoon when the news came down that casino legislation in the state budget was dead, including the one planned for his Nash County district. The freshman Republican takes us behind the scenes of this epic political drama, his work over the last nine months to bring casinos to his district, and why he thinks the issue is far from dead. Skye and Brian also talk about two election bills pending, the 'Reg-Reform' bill , U.S. Senator Lauch Faircloth di...
Sep 21, 2023•44 min•Ep. 130
It was an epic week at the General Assembly as casino politics took center stage and threw a state budget vote off track this week. In this special edition of the podcast, Skye and Brian give a rundown of what happened (and what's likely to happen)from their vantage point just outside the Senate GOP Caucus room. They also discuss Mark Harris' re-entry into NC politics , Josh Stein gets a Democratic challenger in Mike Morgan , a new GOP gubernatorial poll , and the three GOP contenders for govern...
Sep 14, 2023•38 min•Ep. 129
Danielle Battaglia is the NC Congressional Correspondent for the News & Observer and Charlotte Observer and covers North Carolina's 16 members of Congress and reports on NC news from the White House. Danielle's reporting career started in Rockingham County in 2011, the year Sen. Phil Berger ascended to the President Pro Tem position. She talks about her journalism career, falling in love with political reporting, and how she transitioned to covering state politics full-time. She also opens u...
Sep 08, 2023•59 min•Ep. 128
Rep. Ken Fontenot is known for his fiery floor speeches, dramatic committee presentations, and his constant reminder to his legislative colleagues that he was elected to bring resources and change to his majority Black district in Wilson. The first term Black Republican talks about his dynamic legislative and political style, his life and careers, and his decision to run for office in an area of the state with strong Democratic Party ties. Skye and Brian also discuss the UNC tragedy , Rep. Marvi...
Aug 31, 2023•52 min•Ep. 127
