We are one of only five states that have held a primary election this year. Phil Berger got a big surprise in that he lost his bid by a razor thin election. Of course, he has appealed, but it appears that the results wwill not be enough to change the election. He appeared to think that he was entitled to his seat since he has won several re-elections.
It is not clear yet what cost him the election, but obviously his constituents were ready for a change. I would speculate that part of that may be due to the fact that although we are more than eight months into the state’s fiscal year, we still don’t have a budget. That is due primarily to a gridlock in the Senate that is controlled by the Republicans. They can’t even agree among themselves. This delay, again relying on a continuing resolution, doesn’t meet the needs of a fast-growing state. For example, the state has had to pick up some of the bills for the hurricane damage two years ago that FEMA has failed to pay.
Several factors were involved:
- The continuing high cost of living, especially groceries
- The Tariff wars increased the cost of automobiles and home appliances assembled from foreign-made parts
- Focus on niche issues: windmills, personal grievances against opponents, and foreign affairs such as Greenland and Venezuela
- Health care costs
- Radical enforcement of immigration tactics, including harassment of protests, resulting in two deaths of U.S citizens recently
- Resistance from some MAGA supporters because of his statements about guns
The U.S. Constitution specifies that Federal Congressional Elections for the President will be held every four years, senators every six years (the schedule varies), and two years for the representatives. Each state sets its own election laws and appoints an election board to conduct the elections, publicize the rules, and announce the winners.
In addition, the Census Bureau conducts a census of every voter every ten years. The maps that divide the federal districts are redrawn every decade to reflect the changes in population density, movement of voters, so that the election will be current.