The United States holds a presidential election once every four years. Elections always spark widespread debate, with diverse community members holding unique individual positions. Although the candidates change with each election, one thing remains constant—the media focuses almost entirely on the presidential election, ignoring gubernatorial, general assembly, and Council of State elections. This can hinder millions of North Carolinians’ civic engagement and political understanding, sparking less responsible voting decisions for statewide elections.

What are Gubernatorial, General Assembly, and Council of State Elections?

Gubernatorial, General Assembly, and Council of State elections determine the N.C. governor, General Assembly, and Council of State, respectively. These elections receive minimal media coverage throughout the state compared to the presidential election. Consider when you last saw a heated debate on the lieutenant governor race on Primetime TV. 

For Zach Wood, AP US Government & Politics teacher, the lack of interest in televising a gubernatorial debate is unsurprising. In an interview with “The Weekly Talon,” Wood explained the root of the problem.

“You know, the more views you get, the more money there is to be made,” Wood said.

This is disheartening because statewide elections arguably impact daily life more than the presidential election ever will. Decisions made by state leaders determine the quality of public schools, healthcare access, the maintenance of local roads, and dozens of other issues that directly touch our lives every day.

Gubernatorial elections are statewide elections held to determine the chief executive, or governor, of any state or territory in the United States. In North Carolina, gubernatorial elections occur at the same time as the presidential elections, although these elections stagger throughout the nation. While many people know their state’s incumbent governor, they often do less research to determine their vote for governor. Admittedly, this election provided some exception to this rule, since Governor Roy Cooper had already served two terms and was not eligible for re-election. Additionally, a salacious report from CNN on Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson’s internet history placed the Republican candidate under greater national scrutiny.

The governor of North Carolina serves as the head of the Council of State, a group of ten elected officials who oversee various state government functions. Those who cast a ballot in the 2024 election voted for members of the Council of State, which contains positions such as Superintendent of Public Instruction and Lieutenant Governor. The ten councilors of the Council of State oversee a branch of daily life and work together to maximize the efficiency of the sectors of the state. These officials oversee key public services like public education, law enforcement, and state infrastructure. These positions have counterparts in the government of the United States, although these federal counterparts have less bearing on North Carolina specifically. As such, the governor of North Carolina, in almost all cases, has more influence on North Carolinians than the president.

Working in coordination with the Governor and Council of State, the General Assembly is the most powerful legislative body in North Carolina. It crafts the state budget, shapes legislation, and oversees the executive branch. The General Assembly has more of an impact on our daily lives than the United States Congress. Every two years, voters elect members of the General Assembly. The Senate, the upper body, contains 50 members, and the House, the lower body, contains 120 members. 

The influence exercised by members of the Council of State, the General Assembly, and the governor of North Carolina should be a sign for voters to do their research. Unfortunately, many of our state’s voters take a “down-the-ballot” approach, where a ballot might be fully Democratic or fully Republican without further consideration. For example, at a Davie County early voting site, some civilians gave out sample ballots with only Republican candidates chosen, aiming to promote down-the-ballot voting for that party. When we asked Mr. Wood if he thinks voter research has declined, he noted that “It’s decreased a little bit, but if anything, voter turnouts are decreasing the most where people are just refusing to vote because they don’t like either candidate or they also can’t vote for the third-party candidates that they would rather vote for… because of the rigorous process of getting put onto the ballot.” Our civic duty is to understand and defend our reason for our votes and understand our candidates’ policies—especially when these state-by-state candidates have such an unbelievable impact.