TCB March 7, 2024 — Bully Pulpit

BULLY PULPIT

Mark Robinson — Greensboro’s most famous bigot — wins the Republican primary for NC governor, becoming the first Black nominee for the seat. Plus, results from every Triad race.

BY STAFF | PG. 5

2024

PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS INSIDE!

7

CITY LIFE

THURSDAY

X ANNiS – Ten Years of Visual Reflections @ Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (W-S) 9 a.m.

Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is hosting X ANNiS – Ten Years of Visual Reflections, on view in the Main Gallery until April 27. The exhibition showcases the work of Marianne DiNapoli-Mylet who “explores spiritual tendencies and celebrates the ten years of investigating societal, familial, and experimental connections in her life” through the use of pastels, acrylics, found and repurposed objects and other items. Free and open to the public. Visit intothearts.org for more information.

MARCH 7 - 8

We Heal Together Community KickOff @ St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church (W-S) 5 p.m.

We Heal Together is a new four-year initiative by Action4Equity, Crossnore’s Center for Trauma Resilient Communities and Forsyth Futures that aims to “build upon the already existing assets of the East WinstonSalem community, further enhancing efforts to create and sustain trauma-resilience in the community.” This kick-off celebration features panel discussions, a community conversation, networking opportunities and a meal. Advance registration is required at bit.ly/ whtkickoff

Dr. Jessica B. Harris in Conversation with Dr. Love Jones @ Greensboro History Museum (GSO) 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Jessica B. Harris, a professor and culinary historian, will be in conversation with Dr. Love Jones discussing her critically acclaimed books surrounding the food and foodways of the African diaspora including High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America. Visit the event page on Facebook for more information.

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FRIDAY

International Women’s Day: Inspire Inclusion @ Stock + Grain Assembly (HP) 5:30 p.m.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the Junior League of High Point, YWCA Latino Family Center, the Sister Circle and other community organizations are hosting a networking event surrounding women’s inclusion. More information on the Facebook event page

Houseplant 101 w/Jack @ D.O.S.E. Art Collective (W-S) 7 p.m.

Join Jack for a free evening of horticulture knowledge and exploration. Learn all you need to know about houseplants, becoming a plant parent and how to keep plants healthy. Head to doseartcollective.com for more information.

CITY LIFE

Nightblooms EP Release Show @ Flat Iron (GSO) 8 p.m.

Greensboro-based band Nightblooms is excited to announce the release of the second EP installment in their “apocalypse trilogy” Love Songs for the Apocalypse. Head to Flat Iron to enjoy the band’s “equal parts honeyand-vinegar approach” in songs that examine end times. Purchase tickets at flatirongso.com

SATURDAY

MARCH 9 - 11

Arte & Aroma @ Core Coffee (HP) 2 p.m.

This unique paint and sip experience offers a meetthe-artist with Rick Ruiz, great conversations and complimentary Mexican hot chocolate. Tickets available on Eventbrite

Crafty Queers @ North Star LGBTQ+ Community Center (W-S) 3 p.m.

Crafty Queers is a safe crafting space where attendees engage in light conversation while working on personal projects including crochet and painting. RSVP at northstarwsnc.org

Scan the QR code to find more events at triad-citybeat.com/local-events

witchcraft, prophecy and murder and examines the physical and psychological effects of being powerhungry. Visit creativegreensboro.com to purchase tickets.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch @ Camel City Playhouse

After its success last year, Camel City Playhouse is bringing back Hedwig and the Angry Inch for another run. The rock musical tells the story of Hedwig Robinson, a “genderqueer East German singer of a fictional rock and roll band.” Tickets on sale at camelcityplayhouse.com

9 11

10

Running of the Leprechauns 5K @ Oden Brewing Company (GSO) 10 a.m.

Get a headstart on your St. Patrick’s Day festivities by participating in this 5K hosted by Owen Brewing Company. The route starts at Oden and tours the UNCG campus before heading back to Oden for the Saturday before St. Paddy’s leprechaun and craft beer celebration. More information on the Facebook event page

SUNDAY

Macbeth @ Stephen D. Hyers Theatre (GSO) 2 p.m.

Creative Greensboro, in collaboration with Shared Radiance Performing Arts Company, presents a teen production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The play mixes

MONDAY

We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina @ CG O’Kelly Library at WSSU (W-S) 8 a.m.

We Built This, on display until March 31, is a traveling exhibit highlighting the stories of the Black architects who constructed or designed historical sites throughout North Carolina. It spans more than three centuries and adds historical context to topics like slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and more. More information at cityofws.org

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BUSINESS

PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS

Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com

OF COUNSEL

Jonathan Jones

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR

Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

CITYBEAT REPORTER

Gale Melcher gale@triad-city-beat.com

KEY ACCOUNTS

SALES

Chris Rudd chris@triad-city-beat.com

AD MANAGER

Heather Schutz heather@triad-city-beat.com

TCBTIX

Nathaniel Thomas nathaniel@triad-city-beat.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Carolyn de Berry, John Cole, Owens Daniels, James Douglas, Michelle Everette, Luis H. Garay, Destiniee Jaram, Kaitlynn Havens, Jordan Howse, Matt Jones, Autumn Karen, Michaela Ratliff, Jen Sorensen, Todd Turner

TCB IN A FLASH @ triad-city-beat.com

OPINION

At the Trump rally, a case for asking ‘why’

by

On Sept. 9, 2016, former First Lady and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton stood at the front of a campaign fundraising event in New York City and stated the phrase that would eventually be reclaimed by Trump supporters over the next eight years, through his presidency and now into his current reelection campaign.

“You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the ‘basket of deplorables.’ Right?” Clinton said at the time, resulting in laughter from the crowd.

This past Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum — less than eight years since Clinton first used the phrase — Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Trump-backed Republican running for re-election to the US House District 5 seat, recycled the term as a reminder of what the political left thinks of her and those who support Trump.

“The media can call me whatever they want,” Foxx said on Saturday. “They’ve called us deplorables, fascists, MAGA Republicans, and now they’re calling us Christian nationalists. Call me whatever you want as long as I’m on the side of President Trump against Biden and those woke Marxist Democrats.”

WEBMASTER

Sam LeBlanc

ART

ART DIRECTOR

Aiden Siobhan aiden@triad-city-beat.com

COVER:

Republican nominee for governor, Mark Robinson, addresses the crowd at the Koury Convention Center on Super Tuesday after results showed he won the primary.

Photo by Maaroupi Sani Design by Aiden Siobhan

In a way, Foxx’s comments during the rally were some of the most insightful of the entire event, which lasted almost four hours.

In a time when political polarization in the country is at an all-time high, it’s easy to pit political opponents or even just those who vote in the opposite party as demonic, evil, idiotic monsters. And there’s no denying that Trump and his political allies have said and done things that are objectively racist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic and a downright denial of many people’s basic human rights.

Still more than 5,000 supporters

showed up to the rally in Greensboro this past weekend, despite the 91 criminal charges against the former president, the most significant one relating to Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Through the controversies, the Jan. 6 insurrection and the criminal proceedings, it was evidenced by the crowd that many people still believe him to be America’s savior, and that he is the best hope in preventing a second Biden presidency.

And it’s important to understand the reason why.

Dozens of reports over the last few years have delved into the issue of growing polarization between Democrats and Republicans, between Trump and Biden supporters. In a Pew Research article from November 2020, the authors write that the “polarizing pressures of partisan media, social media, and even deeply rooted cultural, historical and regional divides” plus the country’s rigid two-party system makes politics a “zerosum” game in which “one side’s gain is inherently the other’s loss.”

But it wasn’t always this way. As other reports show, just 20 years ago, the two political parties were much more likely to agree, or at least, be closer in viewpoint on certain stances including education, immigration and the role of government power. Of course, it should be noted that another reason why polarization has gotten worse over time is because of growing support for marginalized groups like the LGBTQIA2S+ community and support for abortion access on one end of the spectrum while the other end has gone the opposite direction.

Still, with the November General Election just eight months away, simply lumping Trump supporters into a category of “deplorables” only furthers that polarization, diminishing any chance of a nuanced understanding of the reasons why people vote the way that they do. Because without asking the question, we have no way to start the conversation. And I don’t think we can afford to just ignore the question any longer.

Sayaka Matsuoka

THE 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS

by Brian Clarey, Sayaka Matsuoka and Gale Melcher

The 2024 North Carolina Primary Election has come and gone, giving us a clearer picture of what is to come in November, and also an idea on how the electorate is thinking.

Turnout was 24.1 percent — a full 7 points lower than the 2020 primary, which happened right before the pandemic hit.

There were few surprises at the top of the ticket — both Joe Biden and Donald Trump cruised to easy, early victories in their presidential primaries. A few incumbents and long-serving officials lost their bids,and crowded Republican fields in a Congressional race and the lieutenant governor races resulted in runoffs, while Democrat victories were less convoluted.

FEDERAL RACES

PRESIDENT - Republican

Winner: Donald Trump

Numbers: With 99 percent of precincts reporting at 11:45 p.m., Donald Trump became the Republican nominee for North Carolina. He won 74 percent of the vote, while Nikki Haley, his opponent, garnered 23 percent.

On Wednesday morning, Haley dropped out of the race, clearing the path for Trump to be the default Republican nominee in a rematch against Biden in the fall.

Analysis: Despite his 91 felonies, voters turned out for the former president this primary election. On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling that allowed Trump to be restored to Colorado’s ballot, noting that states cannot reject presidential candidates on grounds that they engaged in rebellion or insurrection. During his campaign rally on March 2, voters told TCB that they were supporting Trump because of his policies

on immigration, the economy and because he’s “America first.”

PRESIDENT - Democrat

Winner: Joe Biden

Numbers: It was clear, that without any opponents, Joe Biden would be the Democratic nominee for president for the state. In the end, Biden got 87 percent of the vote while 13 percent voted as “No Preference.”

Analysis: While Biden ultimately won, political experts have been watching closely at how states would vote in the Democratic primary for president after Michigan voters sent a message to Biden a few weeks ago, with many voting “Uncommitted” due to Biden’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While Biden has yet to call for a ceasefire, his Vice President, Kamala Harris, did so at an event in Selma, Ala. on March 3.

US HOUSE DISTRICT 5 - Republican

Winner: Virginia Foxx

Numbers: Incumbent Virginia Foxx won re-election after pulling 68 percent of the vote against her opponent, Ryan Mayberry.

Analysis: Foxx, a Trump-backed politician, was first elected to the district in 2005. Since then, she has run on a platform that is anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQIA2S+ and pro gun. She voted against impeaching Trump twice and also voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. She faces Democrat Chuck Hubbard in November.

US HOUSE DISTRICT 6 - Republican

Note: There are no Democrats running in this race so whoever wins the runoff will become the default winner of this race.

Winner: Runoff between Addison McDowell and Mark Walker

Numbers: For much of

A polling station in Greensboro on Primary Election Day.

PHOTO BY MAAROUPI SANI

Tuesday night, newcomer Addison McDowell and former state representative Mark Walker were neck and neck. By 11:45 p.m., with 99.3 percent of precincts reporting in, McDowell pulled slightly ahead with 26.1 percent of the vote to Walker’s 24 percent. But neither candidate garnered the required 30 percent of the vote, which means this race will go to a runoff election set to take place on May 14.

Analysis: McDowell, aged 30, is a Trump-backed candidate who formerly worked on Ted Budd’s campaign. Walker, on the other hand, was elected to the US District 6 seat in 2014 until the district was redrawn for a Democrat in 2020. Though he has at times spoken out against Trump, his website namedrops the former president a couple times and endorses his positions on the border wall, the tax code and immigration.

US HOUSE DISTRICT 9 - Republican

Winner: Richard Hudson

Numbers: Incumbent Richard Hudson won re-election against his opponent Troy Tarazon after pulling 83 percent of the vote.

Analysis: Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Hudson is one of the more powerful Republicans in the House. As such, he has an A+ rating from the NRA and a 100-percent rating from the National Right to Life. He also voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Hudson will face Democrat Nigel William Bristow in November.

US HOUSE DISTRICT 10 - Republican

Note: There are no Democrats running in this race so Harrigan runs unopposed in November and is the default winner of this race.

Winner: Pat Harrigan

Numbers: Pat Harrigan beat out four other candidates running for the seat after garnering 41 percent of the vote. The runnersup included Grey Mills (39 percent), Brooke McGowan (10 percent), Charles Eller (7 percent) and Diana Jimison (3 percent).

Analysis: Harrigan, a West Point graduate and Special Forces combat veteran, is a gun manufacturer. He is bullish on Second Amendment rights; other policy positions on his website put him squarely at odds with Biden’s record on the economy, immigration, national security, election integrity and “protect[ing] the unborn.” In 2022, he ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Jeff Jackson (D) in District 14.

STATE RACES

GOVERNOR - Republican

Winner: Mark Robinson

Numbers: By 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson walked out onto the stage inside the ballroom at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro,

dressed in a dark grey suit and a red and blue-striped tie.

“Tonight is the cultimation [sic] of a lot of doggone hard work,” Robinson said, speaking to a crowd of about 300-400 supporters.

By 9:30 p.m., most media outlets had called Robinson as the Republican nominee for governor after he took 65 percent of the vote with 52 percent of precincts reporting. His opponents in the primary, Dale Folwell and Bill Graham, both trailed Robinson by more than 40 percentage points

Analysis: As Robinson addressed the crowd, he talked about his humble beginnings as one of 10 children who grew up to a single mother in Greensboro off of Logan Road. He also talked about his two main campaign platforms: education and the economy.

Since he was elected as the state’s first Black lieutenant governor in 2020, Robinson has been actively vocal against diversity in the classroom, has called LGBTQIA2S+ North Carolinians “filth” and created a statewide schools taskforce that aimed to target members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. He’s also staunchly pro-life, though he admitted to paying for an abortion for his wife in 1989. He also spoke during former President Trump’s rally on March 2, where he received a strong ovation from the crowd of thousands.

GOVERNOR - Democrat

Winner: Josh Stein

Numbers: Democratic nominee Josh Stein pulled 70 percent of the vote by 9:30 p.m. Runner up Mike Morgan had 14 percent while the rest of the three candidates — Chrelle Booker, Marcus Williams and Gary Foxx — trailed with less than 7 percent of the vote.

Analysis: Stein currently serves as the state’s attorney general, a position he won in 2017 and again in 2020. According to his website, he was born in Washington, DC and his family moved to Charlotte and then Chapel Hill, where he attended high school. From there he matriculated at Dartmouth College and went on to earn degrees from Harvard Law School and Kennedy School of Government.

While Robinson had never held office or worked in politics prior to his run for lieutenant governor, Stein interned for NC Rep. Dan Blue and also managed the US Senate campaign for John Edwards in 1998.

As attorney general, he has gone after corporate polluters and e-cigarette makers, brought home $50 million in federal opioid-addiction treatment money and chipped away at a backlog of untested rape kits, among other initiatives.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR - Republican

Winner: Runoff between Hal Weatherman and Jim O’Neill.

Numbers: Weatherman, a former political advisor to former Lt. Gov Dan Forest, was able to gather nearly

20 percent of the vote, while the current Forsyth County DA O’Neill barely edged out challenger Deanna Ballard with 16 percent.

Analysis: A convoluted Republican field saw 11 candidates getting votes in this primary, while Democrats’ votes were more focused.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR - Democrat

Winner: Rachel Hunt

Numbers: By 9:02 p.m., when the race was called, NC Sen. Hunt had garnered more than 70 percent of the vote. Challengers Ben Clark and (the other) Mark Robinson were each more than 50 points behind her.

Analysis: Hunt, who ran on reproductive rights as well as education and broadband access, secured key endorsements including Reps. Kathy Manning, Jeff Jackson, Alma Adams and Deborah Ross; pro-chice groups Lillian’s List and Emily’s List; a score of state legislators; a few mayors and councilmembers; the NC Sierra Club; and the NC AFL-CIO.

ATTORNEY GENERAL - Democrat

Winner: Jeff Jackson

Numbers: The race was called at 9:38 p.m., with Jackson holding 55 percent of the votes counted, more than 20 points ahead of Durham County DA Satana Deberry and more than 40 points ahead of Marine veteran Tim Dunn.

Analysis: Rep. Jeff Jackson, who was drawn out of the 14th Congressional District in the last round of redistricting, achieved national popularity with a TikTok channel he uses to explain his job. He also served as a NC senator. In November, Jackson will face his Congressional colleague Republican Rep. Dan Bishop, who declined to campaign for re-election in the 8th Congressional District so he could run for attorney general.

AUDITOR - Republican

Winner: Runoff between Jack Clark and Dave Boliek

Numbers: Neither candidate was able to secure more than 30 percent of the vote, entitling Boliek (22 percent), who came within a percentage point or two from Clark (23 percent), to a runoff to decide who will face incumbent Democrat Jessica Holmes in November.

Analysis: Six candidates entered this race. Former Greensboro City Council member Jim Kee came in last, with about 10 percent of the vote and winning just two counties.

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURERepublican

Winner: Steve Troxler

Numbers: Incumbent Troxler prevailed over challenger Colby “Bear” Hammonds in a race that was called at 9:51 p.m. by the Associated Press. By that time, Troxler had secured 69 percent of the vote, a lead of more than 200,000 votes.

Analysis: Troxler has been Agriculture Commissioner since 2006 and will run against Democrat Sarah Taber in November.

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCEDemocrat

Winner: Natasha Marcus

Numbers:

Former NC Sen. Natasha Marcus steamrolled over challenger David Wheeler, garnering more than 77 percent of the vote by 9:30 p.m.

Analysis: Marcus gained a much larger percentage of votes than Republican Mike Causey, who she will face in November, but he got more total votes.

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCERepublican

Winners: Mike Causey

Numbers: Incumbent Republican Mike Causey was able to best two challengers, Andrew Marcus and C. Robert Brawley, with more than 58 percent of the vote by 9:30 pm. In the end, he had 60 percent after all precincts finished reporting in.

Analysis: At 9:30 p.m. Causey had almost 100,000 more votes than Marcus, the closest challenger, and had won more than 90 counties in the state.

COMMISSION OF LABOR - Republican

Winner: Luke Farley

Numbers: Farley took more than 36 percent of the vote, besting closest challenger Jon Hardister by more than 8 points by the time Hardister conceded at midnight.

Analysis: This is an upset. Political newcomer and OSHA lawyer Luke Farley soundly defeated former NC House Rep. Hardister, who had risen to the role of House whip in Republican leadership. Challengers Chuck Stanley and Travis J. Wilson siphoned off more than one-third of the vote. In a post on Facebook, Hardister said that while the results were not what he wanted, he called Farley

to congratulate him and hoped that the party would be more united come November.

SECRETARY OF STATE - Republican

Winner: Chad Brown

Numbers: Securing 43 percent of the vote when the race was called at 11:25 p.m., conservative Christian Brown ceded the Triangle counties of Wake, Durham and Johnston to challenger Christine E. Villaverde, a Trump supporter who had almost 30 percent of the vote when the race was called.

Analysis: Moderate Republican Jesse Thomas was just three points behind Villaverde by midnight, though he had won just three small counties, by finishing second in many of the counties Brown won. Brown will face incumbent Democrat Elaine Marshall in November.

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION - Democrat

Winner: Maurice “Mo” Green

Numbers: In a race called at 9:45 p.m., Green had received 66 percent of the vote, compared to challengers CR Katie Eddings (25 percent) and Kenon Crumble (9 percent).

Analysis: Green, the former superintendent of Guilford County Schools, prevailed across the state, ceding only Caldwell and Bladen counties to challengers with 64 percent of the vote counted.

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION - Republican

Winner: Michelle Morrow

Numbers: A close race called after midnight, Morrow defeated incumbent Catherine Truitt by more than four points.

Analysis: Morrow, who has called public schools “indoctrination centers” and was at Trump’s speech on the ellipse during the Jan. 6 insurrection, will face career academic administrator Mo Green in November.

TREASURER - Democrat

Winner: Wesley Harris

Numbers: Harris had taken more than 66 percent of the vote at the time the race was called, 9:46 p.m., while opponent Gabe Esparza trailed by more than 150,000 votes.

Analysis: By 10:30 p.m., Esparza had won just a single county, Chowan, on the Albemarle Sound, population 13,000. Harris, meanwhile, served as a state rep from

Mecklenburg, NC’s most populous county.

TREASURER - Republican

Winner: Brad Briner

Numbers: With about 40 percent of the vote, Briner edged out challengers Rachel Johnson and AJ Daoud, who got about 34 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

Analysis: Briner has a background in finance — he’s one of Michael Bloomberg’s investment managers with no political experience save for an appointment to the UNC Board of Trustees. He’ll face former NC House Rep. Harris in November.

NC SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SEAT 6 - Democrat

Winner: Allison Riggs

Numbers: In early returns, North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs claimed victory in the Democratic primary against Judge Lora Cubbage of Greensboro. By the end of the night, Riggs had 69 percent of the vote to Cubbage’s 31 percent.

Analysis: Riggs, who was appointed to the NC Supreme Court by Gov. Roy Cooper in 2023, benefited from strong support in 89 of the state’s 100 counties. At the time the race was called, Riggs was losing by about 3,500 votes in Guilford County, where Cubbage resides, but had captured more than 70 percent of the vote in Forsyth. Riggs will face Republican Jefferson Griffin, who did not face a primary challenger, in the fall.

NC COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE SEAT 15 - Republican

Winner: Chris Freeman

Numbers: In the NC Appeals Court Republican primary, challenger Chris Freeman upset incumbent Judge Hunter Murphy in a race that was called just after 10 p.m. At that time, Freeman had tallied 62 percent of the vote, winning big in the state’s most populous counties

Analysis: Freeman will face Democrat Martin E. Moore in the fall.

GUILFORD COUNTY RACES

NC SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE DISTRICT

24B SEAT 1 - Republican

Winner: Georgia Nixon

Numbers: By 10:30 p.m., with 78 percent of precincts reporting in, Georgia Nixon led her opponent, Tab Hunter, by more than 14 percentage points (Nixon had 57 to

Hunter’s 43 percent.)

Analysis: Nixon said during a recent candidate forum that as a judge, she would practice fairness and “create an environment where everybody will be heard.” Nixon was sanctioned in 2013 by the state bar for her actions relating to two separate cases.

In the end, Nixon’s general good standing and good behavior kept her from having her license suspended. Nixon currently runs her own private practice and has served on Jamestown Town Council for 12 years. She’s been practicing law since 1991. When asked about minors turning to the courts to seek abortions in NC, Nixon said she is pro-choice. Nixon will face Democrat Stephanie Reese in November.

NC DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT

24 SEAT 5 - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Baker runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: Walter Trip Baker

Numbers: By 10:30 p.m., Walter Trip Baker had 62 percent of the vote compared to his opponent, John Parker Stone, who had 38 percent. By that time, 85 percent of precincts were reporting in.

Analysis: Walter Trip Baker was first appointed to district court in 2023 by Gov. Roy Cooper. Prior to that, Baker served as an assistant district attorney in Guilford County and was a solo practitioner at Baker Law Offices. In total, he has 20 years of legal experience. During a candidate forum, Baker said that his philosophy of law is to take his time and to do research and “lean” on other attorneys if needed to make a decision in a case. He said that he is pro-choice and has presided over hearings involving minors seeking abortions in the state.

NC DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT

24 SEAT 10 - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Armstrong runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: Charlene Armstrong

Numbers: By 10:30 p.m., Armstrong had pulled 72 percent of the vote compared to Moshera Mills’ 28 percent, with 85 percent of precincts reporting in.

Analysis: Charlene Armstrong has worked for 27 years as an attorney, 18 of those years in Guilford County. During a candidate forum, she said that she is pro-choice and that she’s represented “young ladies who need to have that decision made for them and it was heart-wrenching when judges decided for whatever reason not to approve that decision because the judges had whatever opinion, and these young ladies’

plans for their future and they could not talk to their parents about it.”

NC DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT

24 SEAT 12 - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Smith runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: Kelvin Smith

Numbers: By 10:30 p.m., incumbent Kelvin Smith had won his seat again after pulling 45 percent of the vote. His opponents, Cynthia Hatfield and ShaKeta D. Berrie, had pulled 28 and 27 percent of the vote, respectively.

Analysis: Incumbent Kelvin Smith was first elected to district court in 2020 after beating opponent Gavin Reardon in the election. He was then appointed by Gov. Cooper to a different vacant seat. When asked about minors turning to the courts to seek abortions in NC, Smith said that “a lady justice, allegedly, is blind. So your personal perspective should not matter whether you’re pro-life or pro-choice.”

NC DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT

24 SEAT 13 - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Tomlin runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: Brian Tomlin

Numbers: By 10:30 p.m., incumbent Brian Tomlin had rewon his seat after pulling 65 percent of the vote with 85 percent of precincts reporting in. His opponent, Gabriel Kussin, had gotten 35 percent of the vote.

Analysis: Incumbent Brian Tomlin was appointed to an open seat in 2019 by Gov. Roy Cooper and was then re-elected in 2020 after winning the primary election against Moshera Mills. Tomlin has worked as a lawyer and a judge for a combined 27 years. Prior to that, he worked as a news reporter for 11 years, five of them at the News & Record On his website, he notes that during his time practicing law, he’s seen “the darkest sides of the human population” but that he’s “hopeful for our future.”

NC DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT

24 SEAT 14 - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Gause runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Goldsborough and William H. Hill, Jr. had 30 and 15 percent of the vote, respectively.

Analysis: Tomakio Gause first ran for District Court in 2020 and lost to Carolina Tomlinson-Pemberton in the primary election. Gause has worked in private practice for the last 13 years and has worked in law for 18, representing indigent criminal and civil clients. She said she is pro-choice and that she would reach out to other attorneys if there’s anything she doesn’t know while sitting as a judge, “because I don’t know everything and I’m perfectly fine admitting I don’t know everything,” she said.

NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DISTRICT 59 - Republican

Winner: Alan Branson

Numbers: By 10 p.m. Alan Branson had bested his opponent, Allen Chappell by garnering 70 percent of the vote with 55 percent of precincts reported.

Analysis: Former Guilford County commissioner Alan Branson is a staunch conservative who pushed for lowering taxes and increasing police in schools, served on county commission from 2012-20 before ultimately losing the seat to Democrat Mary Beth Murphy. Branson has been endorsed by incumbent Jon Hardister, who is running for state labor commissioner this year, as well as former Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes and fellow past county commissioners Jeff Phillips and Justin Conrad. In November, Branson will face Democrat Tanneshia Dukes.

NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DISTRICT 60 - Democrat

Winner: Cecil Brockman

Numbers: By razor-thin margins, incumbent Brockman secured the Democratic nomination over opponent James Adams. The incumbent garnered 50.7 percent of the vote and 3,047 votes while Adams got 49.3 percent and 2,964 votes when all was said and done. Despite the close numbers, the difference was larger than 1 percent, making the race ineligible for a recount.

Winner: Tomakio Gause

Numbers: By 10:30 p.m., Tomakio Gause had pulled 55 percent of the vote with 85 percent of precincts reporting in. Her opponents, Stephanie

Analysis: Brockman has been the representative of House District 60 since he was first elected to the seat in 2015 when he was just 30 years old, making him one of the youngest, and only openly bisexual, state representatives at the time. During his tenure, Brockman has pushed for legislation that would enact police reform, offer free lunch for students, support esports at community colleges, expand the state’s pre-K program and establish an independent redistricting process. But in the past few years, he’s been absent on some very key votes, including during a vote that got rid of permits for pistols. Then in late February, reports showed that a conservative Republican group had sent out mailers

on his behalf. Brockman will face Republican Joseph Perrotta in November.

NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DISTRICT 62 - Republican

Winner: John M. Blust

Numbers: By 10:30 p.m., former State House Representative John Blust, who represented House District 62 from 2004-18 and District 27 from 2001-03, had won 34 percent of the vote with 55 percent of precincts reporting in. The other four candidates in the race were about 14 percentage points behind Blust with Britt Moore and Michelle Bardsley running neck-and-neck for second place.

Analysis: This go around, Blust is prioritizing defunding diversity and inclusion programs in schools, curbing abortion access and decreasing gun regulation per his campaign website. Blust will face Democrat Marjorie Benbow in November.

GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSION

DISTRICT 6 - Republican

Winner: Maritza Gomez

Numbers: Gomez won 55 percent of the vote, beating former school board candidate Demetria Carter by almost 10 percentage points. Analysis: Despite a sparse online presence, Gomez was able to rise above Carter, who made a name for herself when she ran for school board in 2022. According to a Ballotpedia survey, Gomez is a first-generation Cuban American who was born in Miami to exiles who fled the Castro regime. As part of her platform, she intends to support the sheriff’s office and protect the second amendment. Gomez will face incumbent Democrat Brandon Gray-Hill in November.

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

DISTRICT 7 - Democrat

Winner: Bettye Jenkins

Numbers: By 10 p.m., incumbent Bettye Jenkins had garnered 85 percent of the vote with 53 percent of precincts reporting in. Her opponent, Anthony Izzard trailed behind with 15 percent of the vote.

Analysis: Incumbent Bettye Jenkins has served on the Guilford County school board since 2020, when she beat incumbent Byron Gladden for the seat. Jenkins currently serves as the vice-chair and has called for more state funding for local schools and higher teacher pay. Jenkins will face Republican Karen Coble Albright in November.

FORSYTH COUNTY RACES

NC DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT 31 SEAT 10 - Democrat

Winner: Shonna Alexander

Numbers: With 100 percent of precincts reporting by 10:45 p.m., Shonna Alexander won the seat with 43 percent of the vote. In second place came Lauren Tuttle with 30 percent and then Andrew Keever in third, with 27 percent of the vote.

Analysis: Attorney Shonna Alexander grew up in Winston-Salem and passed the bar in 1999. She also previously served as a magistrate judge. In 2008, Alexander was suspended from practicing law for three years, but was able to get reinstated after one year due to good behavior. The suspension stemmed from the years 2005-06 in which Alexander failed to appear in court multiple times on behalf of one client and was unresponsive to another client. Alexander faces Republican Erin Brock in November.

NC STATE SENATE DISTRICT 31Democrat

Winner: Ronda Mays

Numbers: Mays and Laurelyn Dossett vied for the Democratic nomination, but ultimately Mays secured 55 percent of the vote to Dossett’s 45 percent.

Analysis: Mays is the former president of the Forsyth County Association of Educators and used to work for Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Schools. Currently, she works as a school social worker in Stokes County, according to reporting by WFDD. On her website, she lists equitable access to education, high-speed internet access, Medicaid expansion, affordable housing, and increasing food access as per priorities. Although she has never held political office, Mays says on her website that she has volunteered and worked on various political campaigns and has served as an assistant, judge, and chief judge on Election Day. Mays faces Republican Dana Caudill Jones, who incumbent Joyce Krawiec has endorsed, in November.

NC STATE SENATE DISTRICT 32Democrat

Winner: Paul Lowe

Numbers: Incumbent Paul Lowe defeated Gardenia Henley with nearly 65 percent of the vote and 11,740 votes. Henley secured 6,433 votes and 35 percent of the vote.

Analysis: Lowe is from WinstonSalem and has been senator for District 32 since 2015. During his tenure, he has sponsored bills that would have helped Black farmers,

made police footage more readily available, legalized medical marijuana in NC and prohibited the release of mugshots to the public and media. On his website, he lists expanding healthcare, funding school bonds to improve infrastructure and workforce development as his priorities if re-elected. Lowe will face Republican George K. Ware in November.

NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DISTRICT 72 - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Baker runs unopposed in November and is the default winner of this race.

Winner: Amber Baker

Numbers: Baker had a strong showing at the polls, pulling 76 percent of the vote, defeating challenger Marcus Pearson who pulled nearly 24 percent of the vote.

Analysis: Two-term representative Amber Baker first won her seat in 2021. During her tenure, she has pushed for the expunction of certain eviction records from public records to make it easier for people to access housing, advocated for a tax credit for solar panels and pushed for making it illegal to refuse employment or fire someone over a hairstyle

NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DISTRICT 74 - Democrat

Winner: Amy Taylor North

Numbers: North defeated Wilder in an 80-20 percent victory. She secured 4,943 votes while Wilder got 1,252.

Analysis: According to her campaign website, Amy Taylor North has volunteered for a Congressional campaign in the past and is passionate about funding public schools. She advocates for free community college for the first two years, protecting reproductive rights, increasing teacher pay, more environmental protections and pushing for gun safety through background checks, permits and banning assault-style weapons. Despite this being her first time running for office, she’s been endorsed by Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines, Mayor Pro Tem Denise Adams, Rep. Evelyn Terry and Sen. Paul Lowe. North will face incumbent Republican Jeff Zenger in November.

COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT BDemocrat (vote for 3)

Winners: Kendall Fields, Valerie Brockenbrough and Marsie West Numbers: Fields collected a little more than 29 percent of the vote (12,335 votes), while Brockenbrough got nearly 29 percent (12,185 votes).

West came in third with 28 percent (11,986 votes). Curtis Fentress came in last with 5,765 votes, or nearly 14 percent of the vote.

Analysis: All three winners ran on a collaborative platform together. A social studies teacher at Parkland Magnet High School, Fields is a lifelong resident of Forsyth County. He was previously the assistant manager at Hanna’s Café and aims to provide a “fresh perspective” on the board.

Brockenbrough is an entrepreneur who runs Zoë b Organic and helped found Community for Public Schools, a group of parents, educators and other community members involved in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. She served as the board president of Piedmont Environmental Alliance for two years.

West is a senior consultant with the Enosys Group, a business consulting firm. She was the vice president of Wachovia Bank from 1990-94. Her previous experience as a civil servant includes serving as a town meeting member for Reading, Mass. from 2005-15 and serving as the finance committee’s chair and vice chair for several years. She was on the Reading Board of Selectmen from 2013-15.

COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT B -

Republican (vote for 3)

Winners: Richard V. Linville, Gloria D. Whisenhunt and Dave Plyler

Numbers: Incumbent Linville was the top vote-getter

with 15,331, or 22 percent, while fellow incumbent Whisenhunt got 14,851 or nearly 22 percent. Finally, incumbent Plyler received 12,021 votes, nearly 18 percent. Challenger Gray Wilson got 10,837 votes while Terri Mrazek got 9,249. Ralf Walters received 6,024 votes.

Analysis: Although Plyler announced in early February that he was retiring and not seeking another term, after his victory on Super Tuesday, he told the WinstonSalem Journal that he changed his mind. “It is what it is,” Plyler said of the results. “A victory.”

Linville was first elected in 1980 and was the chair of the board from 1985-86. A farm owner, Linville’s community service includes the NC Association of County Commissioners Agricultural Committee, Transportation Advisory Council and North Carolina Agricultural Steering Committee. Whisenhunt was initially elected in 1996 and has served as chair and vice chair of the board. Before that, she was on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education from 1990-96.

REGISTER OF DEEDS - Democrat

Winner: Lynne Johnson

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Johnson runs unopposed in November and is the

prospective winner of this race.

Numbers: Incumbent Lynne Johnson garnered 62 percent of the vote with 17,001 votes. Johnson secured her seat tonight against challenger Brittany Bailey, who collected 38 percent of the vote.

Analysis: Lynne Johnson has held the role since 2016 and ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections in 2020. Johnson worked in the Register of Deeds office for nearly three decades starting in 1986. She also worked in the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court office. There was no Republican primary so Johnson is the default winner.

WINSTON-SALEM MAYOR - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Joines runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: Allen Joines

Numbers: By 10:45 p.m., with all precincts counted, Joines garnered 73 percent of the vote with 15,903 votes. Joines’ opponents, JoAnne Allen and Frankie Gist were a distant second and third with 20 and 7

His other positions include evaluation director, public safety coordinator, development director and deputy city manager. Joines unseated incumbent Mayor Jack Cavanagh in 2001 with 78 percent of the vote and has served as mayor ever since. Joines ran unopposed in the 2005, 2009 and 2016 general elections. According to TCB’s reporting, many of Joines’ campaign donors are white, male and upper class.

WINSTON-SALEM CITY COUNCIL

NORTH WARD - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Adams runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: DD Adams

Numbers: Adams secured nearly 66 percent of the vote with 1,452 votes.

Analysis: Incumbent Adams defeated Eunice Campbell, who had 23 percent of the vote and 518 votes, and Kymberli Wellman, who received 240 votes and nearly 11 percent of the vote.

Before the election was called, Adams told TCB at the Forsyth County Democrats watch party that she hoped to get the chance to do more for her ward. She’s been focused on housing during her time in office, and her ward recently secured 180 units of affordable housing.

WINSTON-SALEM CITY COUNCIL

NORTHEAST WARD - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Burke runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: Barbara Hanes Burke

Numbers: Burke secured 62 percent of the vote and 1,787 votes. Her sole opponent was Paula McCoy, who took more than 38 percent of the votes with 1,119 votes.

Analysis: This is incumbent Burke’s second time running for the seat, which she has held since 2020. During the primary election in March 2020, Burke rallied the Northeast Ward’s support with 57 percent of the vote, defeating challengers Morticia “Tee-Tee” Parmon and Keith King.

Burke ran unopposed in the general election, garnering 84 percent of the vote.

WINSTON-SALEM CITY COUNCIL EAST WARD - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Scippio runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: Annette Scippio

Numbers: Scippio garnered more than 58 percent of the vote and 1,093 votes.

Analysis: Incumbent Scippio was challenged by Phil Carter, who received 21 percent of the vote and 396 votes, Christopher Taylor, who garnered 16 percent and 309 votes and Jared Lamkin, who received 4 percent and 76 votes. Scippio has been in office since 2018 when she replaced former Councilmember Derwin Montgomery, who had just been selected as the state’s representative for the 72nd District. She secured the Democratic nomination in the 2020 primary and ran unopposed in the General Election.

WINSTON-SALEM CITY COUNCIL SOUTH WARD - Democrat

Note: There are no Republicans running in this race so Burke runs unopposed in November and is the prospective winner of this race.

Winner: Vivián Joiner

Numbers: By 10:45 p.m. with 100 percent of precincts reporting, Joiner had secured 35 percent of the vote and 960 votes.

Analysis: Joiner unseated incumbent Larson, who collected nearly 30 percent of the vote and 814 votes. Adrian Smith received nearly 20 percent and 534 votes and Carolyn Highsmith received nearly 15 percent and 407 votes. With no Republican primary, Joiner will sail through to victory in November.

Joiner, who has lived in the city for 25 years, is the owner of the southern comfort food destination Sweet Potatoes, nestled in downtown Winston-Salem. Joiner told TCB that she plans to spend the next months until she takes office “working with folks in the city, learning

more about the projects that are ongoing and coming up with a plan to hit the ground running. When she takes office, she wants to work vigorously toward bringing more affordable housing to her ward and the rest of the city.

WINSTON-SALEM CITY COUNCIL

NORTHWEST WARD - Democrat

Winner: Regina Ford Hall

Numbers: Hall garnered nearly 63 percent of the vote with 2,197 votes.

Analysis: Incumbent Jeff MacIntosh, D, announced in January 2023 that he would not seek re-election. Hall faced Bob Hartwell, who secured nearly 37 percent of the vote and 1,309 votes. Hall is the executive director of Boston-Thurmond community network and previously worked as the reintegration and youth development manager with the city and helped coordinate the Winston-Salem Urban Food Policy Council. She also worked as a program administrator for Successful Outcomes After Release, or SOAR, a city program that temporarily employs former offenders and gives them work experience in routine labor and clerical jobs. On Tuesday, Hall told TCB that she was excited to advocate for city staff and “bring that perspective to council.”

WINSTON-SALEM CITY COUNCIL

NORTHWEST WARD - Republican

Winner: Jimmy Hodson

Numbers: Hodson garnered nearly 59 percent of the vote with 1,225 votes.

Analysis: Hodson faced off against Herbert Burns who gathered 41 percent of the vote and 857 votes. Hodson told TCB that he’s “really excited” and is “looking forward to continuing the conversation with all the voters and the Democrat candidate until November.” Hodson said that he hopes to convert unaffiliated voters to vote Republican, and feels that the Northwest Ward needs a Republican in that seat because “there’s eight wards in the city and only one of them have a Republican,” referring to Robert Clark’s West Ward.

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More than 5,000 people showed up to see Trump in Greensboro last weekend. We wanted to know why.

by Sayaka Matsuoka |

On March 2, thousands of Trump supporters flocked to the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center to hear the former president speak. As crowds of attendees snaked through the building, down the sidewalk and into the parking lot, they wore all matter of red, white and blue and held signs supporting Trump and attacking Biden. On Super Tuesday, Trump won 14 out of the 15 states including North Carolina. His only opponent in the race, Nikki Haley, dropped out on Wednesday morning, clearing the path for a TrumpBiden rematch this fall.

While many outlets have since written about Trump and his surrogates’ comments during the rally, TCB wanted to point the microphone at the supporters who still, despite the Jan. 6 insurrection, the 91 felony counts, the sexist and racist comments, support Donald Trump for president.

While some talked about Trump’s appeal as an “America-first” candidate, others relayed relatable concerns about the state of the economy, inflation and housing prices.

Carolyn Diane Brown, 65 Washington, NC (about 2.5 hours from Greensboro)

This was Carolyn Diane Brown’s fourth time seeing Trump — once in Wilmington last year and twice in Greenville previously.

Brown, who wore a bedazzled denim Trump hat, a black T-shirt with Trump sitting on a throne that read “The Great Maga King,” and American flag leggings, said she’s been a fan ever since she saw Trump on “The Apprentice.”

“I like him because he’s not a swamp-dweller,” Brown told TCB. “I like men who are strong; I don’t like wusses.”

Still, even Brown, who was the most outspoken supporter TCB spoke to, appeared to admit that Trump had his faults.

“He’s not perfect by any means, but none of us are; he’s got issues, he’s in court,” Brown said. “You can agree that some of the things that he did weren’t perfect, but look at the other side.”

Saturday, March 2, former President Trump campaigned in Greensboro to a crowd of more than 5,000 supporters.

PHOTO BY CAROLYN DE BERRY

However, when asked about what she thought about the criminal charges against Trump, Brown said that she was “concerned” because it could mean that he might get prosecuted. But even then, she said she would still vote for Trump.

“He could be under the jail, and I’m still voting for him,” she said.

On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling that allowed Trump to be restored to Colorado’s ballot, noting that states cannot reject presidential candidates on grounds that they engaged in rebellion or insurrection.

Additionally, Brown echoed Trump’s “America first” rhetoric.

“Our country is more important than the other countries,” Brown said. “America comes first. If you’re not America first, get away from me; I’m serious.”

It’s the same reason Brown supports the gubernatorial run of current NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who received a passionate ovation from supporters when he spoke ahead of Trump during Saturday’s rally.

“He’s an America-first candidate,” she said.

In addition to being concerned about immigration, Brown said that she was opposed to Obamacare and that she was supposed to be at the Capitol on Jan. 6 but that she couldn’t make it because of a surgery scheduled the next day.

Ultimately, Brown said she was glad she didn’t go because she could “really easily get into trouble.”

“I would have followed the crowd,” she added.

When asked about the results of the 2020 election, Brown repeated the false claim by Trump that the election was stolen. She also noted that even as a woman, she wasn’t concerned about Trump’s comments about women.

Dorothy Richmond, 79; Roosevelt Sellars, 72; Jimmy Richmond, 59; and Amillion Murphy, 39 Burlington

It was evident, from the crowd, that the Black family standing towards the front of the line that snaked up the sidewalk and down through the parking lot at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events center was one of the few groups of color at Saturday’s event.

“We’re like the ants in a can of milk,” joked Amillion Murphy.

All four members of the family, including Amillion, told TCB that they had voted for Trump in 2020 and had plans to vote for him again this fall.

The fact that his supporters were predominantly white didn’t bother them.

“Segregation stopped basically 100 years ago,” said Murphy, who noted that she didn’t care about racism because “everybody’s racist out here.”

“It doesn’t hurt me, sticks and stones, but we gotta build our economy,” she argued.

Instead, the family’s main concerns were the cost of goods like groceries and gas, as well as the plight of senior citizens.

“He helped the people during Covid,” said Roosevelt Sellars, the second oldest member of the group. He noted how Trump signed multiple stimulus bills in 2020 at the height of the pandemic including the one on Dec. 27, 2020, in which he advocated for increasing the $600 direct payments to Americans to $2,000 per person.

In the same vein, Jimmy Richmond, 59, stated that he thought the economy was better during Trump’s presidency versus Biden’s.

“I think he lowered the deficit a lot,” Richmond said.

In reality, Donald Trump saw an “explosive rise in the national debt that occurred on his watch,” according to ProPublica

Upon deeper research, the issue of the national debt and deficit is a much more difficult issue to parse through than just saying it was better or worse under a specific presidency. Given the unprecedented effects of the pandemic, both presidencies saw issues with the job market, inflation and an increase in the national debt. But each also had their own successes and failures, according to reporting by the Washington Post For example, under Biden, 14 million jobs were added to the market in three years and student loan debt was forgiven by the billions. But during Trump’s presidency, the rate of inflation, and thus the cost of goods like gas and groceries, was lower on average.

The issue of which candidate would be better for seniors, another big concern for Dorothy Richmond, is also a murky subject.

In the lead-up to the primary election, both candidates have pitted their opponent as being a villain towards Medicare and Social Security.

According to reporting by the New York Times, “Social Security’s main trust fund is currently projected to be depleted in 2033, meaning the program would then be able to pay only about three-quarters of total scheduled benefits. Medicare, for its part, is at risk of not having enough money to fully pay hospitals by 2031.”

According to the Times, last January, Trump said in a video that “under no

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS

NICKEL CREEK

L-R: Amillion Murphy, Jimmy Richmond, Dorothy Richmond and Roosevelt Sellars

PHOTO BY SAYAKA MATSUOKA

circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security.” But he has not outlined a clear plan for keeping the programs solvent. On the other hand, in mid 2022, Biden passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which allowed the government and seniors to spend less money to prescription drugs and made Medicare benefits more generous to seniors, per CNN

Like some other Trump supporters, members of the family denied that Trump had anything to do with the Jan. 6 riot, saying that “nobody told them to go down there.”

A transcript fact check of Trump’s speech from that day recalls his using violent imagery, using words like “strength” and to not show any weaknesses and urging his supporters to “fight.”

He also did tell voters to go to the Capitol, stating “we are going to try and give — the Democrats are hopeless, they are never voting for anything — not even one vote.”

Trump made only a passing suggestion that the protest should be nonviolent, saying, “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”

Similar to Brown, the members of the family felt the results of the 2020 election were “unfair,” and cited false claims about the legitimacy of the results. In one instance, Sellars alluded to Melissa Carone, a Trump witness who worked as an IT worker at Detroit’s vote-counting center in 2020. Carone was called as a star witness for Rudy Giuliani during an election-fraud hearing in which she falsely claimed that vans were filled with thousands of bogus ballots and that she saw ballots being illegally scanned multiple times. A circuit court judge denied the Trump campaign’s request to include Carone’s affidavit after finding that her “interpretation of events is incorrect and not credible.” In 2022 when Carone attempted to run for office in Michigan, she was disqualified for making false statements in an affidavit.

Caiden Rabineau, 17 Greensboro

Caiden Rabineau was only 9 years old when Trump first announced his run for presidency in 2016. Now, eight years later, he told TCB that he plans to vote for the former president in November after he turns 18 later this year.

Both Rabineau and his friend Dylan Coble cited concerns about the economy and inflation as reasons for supporting Trump.

“I’m 17, and I feel like I can barely afford to do the things I want to do,” Rabineau said.

And he doesn’t trust President Biden, he said.

“He’s telling us that he’s going to make the country better, but it’s getting worse,” Rabineau said about the economy.

One of his main gripes, and a recurring theme throughout Saturday’s events was the repeated bashing of what Trump called “migrant crime.”

But before Trump’s speech had even begun, both Rabineau and Coble pointed to “illegal non-Americans” as being part of the economic problem. And the same rhetoric continued during the event. During his speech, Michael Whatley, the chairman of the NC GOP, stated that during Biden’s presidency, 8.5 million undocumented immigrants

had crossed into the United States. But that’s a misrepresentation of the data.

According to US Customs and Border Protection, the 8.5 million represents encounters, not individual people.

That means that if one person tries to enter the country three times and is stopped each time by border officials, for example, that equals three encounters, even if it’s the same person encountered,” as explained by Politifact

But the rhetoric has stuck. Rabineau seemed to equate issues with the economy — despite the steady decrease in inflation over the last two years — to immigration.

“Immigration is overwhelming the country and they’re giving out jobs to nonAmericans that Americans don’t have,” Rabineau said.

But like was noted earlier, Biden added a substantial number of jobs during his presidency, about 400,000 per month, compared to 176,000 per month under Trump.

Still, things like increased gas and home prices have left voters like Rabineau feeling frustrated. That has resulted in him feeling like Trump is the best bet to turning the economy around, compared to Biden or any of the Libertarian candidates.

“I think it would take time, but it would get better,” Rabineau said.

Similar to other voters TCB spoke to, Rabineau wasn’t concerned about the criminal charges against the former president and repeated the debunked claim that the 2020 election was rigged.

Related to that, Rabineau said that he would want to see the US require IDs in all states to vote. This year in North Carolina, voters must show a valid form of ID to cast their vote.

While it’s true that many other countries and democracies around the world require a form of ID to vote, many countries — more than half according to the Pew Research Center — have compulsory voter registration, meaning registration is automatic, which makes access to voting easier. Many countries also have a more streamlined mail-in voting system.

In the US, where many demographics of the population — namely Black residents — have been excluded from the right to vote through racist policies like literacy tests, voter IDs have been found to disproportionately affect voters of color.

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Greensboro’s city manager resigns, but questions remain

by Brian Clarey

On Tuesday night, just before polls were scheduled to close, Greensboro Communications Manager Jake Keys issued an email under the subject line: “Greensboro City Manager Resigns Effective Immediately.”

The news made one Triad City Beat staffer gasp while she was in a voting booth.

Former City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba has been under fire since the night of Dec. 28, when Greensboro police were summoned to his home on a domestic disturbance call.

should be granted the same privacy as any other family deserves in similar circumstances,” the statement reads.

Kudos to the News & Record, who successfully obtained a judge’s order to review the same footage council got to see. And shame to the city, which is appealing that judge’s decision to release the video.

But for now, Jaiyeoba is no longer a public figure, which means that pursuit of this body-camera footage is likely over, and that we’ll have nothing but speculation to fill in the blanks.

Even without a resolution, the appearance of impropriety still lingers.

From that point, it seemed that the Greensboro Police Department and Greensboro City Council tried to steer this thing into the ground.

Police insisted that they followed “normal investigative procedures” following the domestic disturbance, though no arrests were made. Council, after viewing police body-camera footage almost two months later, took no action other than to issue a statement agreeing with the GPD and the Guilford district attorney’s decision not to pursue charges, and to say that the footage would not be made public.

“City Manager Jaiyeoba and his family

Even without a resolution, the appearance of impropriety still lingers. There’s another angle to this sticky situation. Historically, even in Greensboro, Black folks in positions of power are always vulnerable to attacks on their character and suitability for office. Skip Alston of the Guilford County Commission, who has faced accusations of impropriety most of his political career, and Dianne Bellamy-Small, who while on city council survived a recall election spearheaded by people who didn’t live in her district, could tell you more about this trend.

But we’ll probably never know what that footage would reveal, why Jaiyeoba resigned before it became public, where the cover-up began and ended.

“The bad man is gone,” the city is telling us with its press release. “You can go back to your daily lives.”

SHOT IN THE TRIAD

BY CAROLYN DE BERRY

West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro

A Trump supporter at Trump’s “Get Out The Vote Rally” in Greensboro days before Super Tuesday.

CROSSWORD

by Matt Jones

PUZZLES & GAMES

‘They’ve Got Chemistry’ — multiple times, even.

©

SUDOKU

by Matt Jones

Across

1. Begs for kitty kibble

6. Device that kept Blockbuster in business

9. Can’t-miss experiences

14. Move slowly

15. Random suffix

16. “Ah, I’m such ___!”

17. Pre-Internet library feature

19. Hooded snake

20. “But before ___ ...”

21. “Pet” that actually requires seeds

23. Actor McDiarmid

24. “Dang straight”

29. Mini-albums, for short

30. Word beginning a lot of Lil Wayne album titles

31. Grass rolls

32. Hacker’s language, in the early aughts

34. Leave off

37. “Superstore” actor Santos

40. Tutor’s task

44. Dispensers that may now be interactive

45. Where frisbees may get stuck

46. Fox show with choral versions of pop songs

47. Columbus sch.

49. 1970s-’80s sitcom planet

51. Sick

52. Browser issue that might slow your computer down

58. Football position

59. Like some gummy worms

60. “Didn’t I tell ya?”

61. Second tries

63. Tests of numerical aptitude

68. Millionaire intro

69. ___ Dew

70. Former capital of Nigeria

71. Observe secretly

72. Up to now

73. Comes down in a blizzard

Down

1. 1200, to Tiberius

2. Memorable period

3. “___ the ramparts ...”

4. Collective acknowledgement from a room of beatniks, maybe

5. Coffee urn attachment

6. Quick clip

7. From Prague

8. Singer Bebe

9. Cheese partner

10. Eerie flyer

11. 1925 Edna Ferber novel

12. Bar mitzvah reading

13. Point of view

18. “Man’s ___” (viral 2018 song)

22. Part of FWIW

24. Reviewing website

25. “Nixon in China,” for example

26. Fitness motto opening

27. Less lurid

28. Checking proof

33. June Cleaver or Maggie Seaver, e.g.

35. Lance of the O.J. trial

36. Girl Scout group

38. Eyelashes

39. Deli counter qty.

41. Ninja, e.g.

42. In a new way

43. Toothpaste options

48. Colorful card game

50. Poses to propose

52. Contract conditions

53. Outdo showily

54. In a weird way

55. Delicious

56. Make speeches

57. Like Whataburger’s headquarters

62. Prefix with scope

64. Explosive compound

65. Some time ___

66. Cut (the lawn)

67. Punctured tire sound

Thu 3/07

Italian Class

@ 6pm / $58

Reto's Kitchen, 600 South Elam, Greensboro

Marvelous Funkshun live at The Flat Iron @ 7pm Flat Iron, 221 Summit Ave, Greensboro

Blue Cactus @ 7pm

The Ramkat & Gas Hill Drinking Room, 170 W 9th St, Winston-Salem

Ashley Cooke: shot in the dark tour @ 8pm

ONETHIRTEEN Brew‐house and Rooftop Bar, 113 N Greene St, Greensboro

JW Francis: Winston-Salem @ 8pm

Monstercade, 204 W Acadia Ave, Winston-Salem

Fri 3/08

Preacher Lawson

@ 7pm Comedy Zone, 1126 S Holden Rd, Greensboro

Sat 3/09

Spindle 45 @ 9pm

Old Nick's Pub Arcadia, 206 Millers Creek Dr Suite A, Winston-Salem

Sun 3/10

Mike Vitale: State Street Wine Company @ 6pm State Street Wine Company, 404 State St, Greens‐boro

Sunday Yoga @ SouthEnd Brewing Co. @ 10am / $5

SouthEnd Brewing Co, 117b West Lewis Street, Greensboro

Mon 3/11

The Agee Family @ 7pm Victory Bible Baptist Church, 6910 Martin Ferry Rd, Tobaccoville

Tue 3/12

Celtic Woman @ 7pm Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, 300 N Elm St, Greensboro

Murray & Peter Pre‐sent JIMBO's DRAG CIRCUS World Tour @ 8pm / $37.50-$80.25 Piedmont Hall, 2411

West Gate City Blvd, Greensboro

Wed 3/13

Victoria Victoria

@ 8pm

The Ramkat & Gas Hill Drinking Room, 170 W 9th St, Winston-Salem

Thu 3/14

Mo Lowda & The Humble

@ 7pm

Flat Iron, 221 Summit Ave, Greensboro

Fri 3/15

Los Primos del Este: No Es Mentira Tour @ 7pm MANSION Nightclub, 3081 Waughtown St, WinstonSalem

SCOBY, Dr.Shug, Transeúnte Errante, nervous surface @ Anchor Coffee Winston @ 7pm

Anchor Coffee Co., 486 Patterson Ave STE 135, Win‐ston-Salem

Sat 3/16

Eddie 9V

@ 7pm

Muddy Creek Cafe And Music Hall Old Salem, 137 West St, Winston-Salem

Sun 3/17

Sunday Yoga @ SouthEnd Brewing Co.

@ 10am / $5

SouthEnd Brewing Co, 117b West Lewis Street, Greensboro

William Nesmith @ 2pm

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Pig Pounder Brewery, 1107 Grecade St, Greensboro

Darren Nicholson Music

@ 7pm

Muddy Creek Cafe And Music Hall Old Salem, 137 West St, Winston-Salem

Jacoozy at The Flat Iron @ 8pm Flat Iron, 221 Summit Ave, Greensboro

Mon 3/18

Europe Fish Dinner @ 6pm / $58

Reto's Kitchen, 600 South Elam, Greensboro

The Honey Badgers @ 6pm

House Concert, Winston-Salem

Tue 3/19

Group Ballroom & Latin Class @ 2pm / $15

Mar 19th - Apr 25th

Real World Ballroom, 690 Jonestown Rd, WinstonSalem. realworldballroom@gmail.com

Wake Forest Demon

Deacons Baseball vs. High Point Panthers Baseball @ 6pm

David F. Couch Ball‐park, 401 Deacon Blvd, Winston Salem

Ben Gage: Songwriter Series @ 7pm

Flat Iron, 221 Summit Ave, Greensboro

Wed 3/20

Elonzo Wesley: Foothills Brewing @ 7pm

Foothills Brewing Tasting Room, 3800 Kimwell Dr, Winston-Salem

Calendar information is provided by event organiz‐ers. All events are subject to change or cancellation. This publication is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in this calendar.

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Andrew Bowen Studios

Andrew Bowen Studios provides a supportive, creative and professional photography experience for dancers. I believe that dance photography can and should be an experience that builds confidence and helps each dancer grow as an artist. You are the most important artist in my studio. That means I am responsible for creating a fun and professional environment where you are fully supported to exercise your artistic voice. Therefore, we embrace the creative journey for each image. I will work with you to adjust your technique as well as work-shop the variations that are artistically most meaningful to you. My promise to each dancer: I believe that I have a huge responsibility to every artist who comes to my studio. I respect and appreciate the vulnerability of working in front of a camera. I promise that I will support you, encourage you, guide you, coach you, laugh with you, and inspire you along your path to creating the photographs that make you proud of your accomplishments, and excited for your future. Your dance photos will be visually striking and technically excellent, but more importantly, they will reflect your individual artistry. Andrew Bowen is an award-winning artist who earned his Master Photographer Degree from Professional Photographer of America. Andrew’s dance photography has been displayed in several art juried art shows across the United States.

1010 Westridge Road GSO | 336.245.4492 | abowenstudios.com

Office Evolution

Office Evolution - Providing Flexible Workspace Solutions in Greensboro & High Point Office Evolution is innovating the coworking world with their flexible packages that include private offices, coworking, meeting rooms, and virtual office solutions. With a nation-wide network of 80+ locations, this company is committed to providing solutions that can evolve with you! With locations in Greensboro and High Point, these high-end office spaces are equipped with everything you need to handle your business needs. Office Evolution offers all-inclusive amenities including free parking, complimentary coffee and tea, printer access, staffed reception, fully furnished workspaces, and more. The perks, customizable services, and onsite manager are all there to make members feel at home while taking their work to a new level. Want to test out one of these amazing office spaces? Check out the two area locations (High Point and Greensboro) and contact them today to enjoy a FREE day pass today!

806 Green Valley Rd, Suite 200 GSO

336.477.1161

officeevolution.com/locations/piedmont-triad/

Clemmons Florist

Clemmons Florist Inc is proud to be a 4th generation florist, Greensboro’s oldest family-owned florist for 70 years. We strive for satisfaction and only use the freshest flowers and plants available. Most of the time we offer same day delivery to make sure your gifts are delivered in a timely manner. Feel free to order on our website, over the phone or in-store, we look forward to seeing you! Our designers take special attention to each and every order — we aim to please!

2828 Battleground Ave #E GSO

336.282.1701 | clemmonsfloristinc.com

The Extra Ingredient

The Extra Ingredient, independently owned and operated, began in 1985 at Friendly Shopping Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. Established by Art and Martha, The Extra Ingredient has always featured an unbeatable assortment of wellknown (and little-known!) brands of kitchen and tabletop items. We strive to provide the best selection, and the best service, any home or professional chef could need. We take pride in offering our customers high-quality kitchen equipment, baking supplies, cutlery, barware, kitchen textiles, electric appliances, gadgets, gourmet foods, whole bean coffee, loose and bagged teas, NC products, and beautiful collections of dishes and metalware for serving and entertaining. We love our “localness,” and appreciate our connection with our community and the citizens of Greensboro and Guilford County. We support our community, and are members of the Triad Local First, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Greensboro Merchants Association, and the local Better Business Bureau. We have a dedicated and knowledgeable staff, many of whom have worked with us for a number of years. We treat each other and our customers as we would like to be treated. Stop by and let us “help you cook up a complete kitchen!”

801D Friendly Center Road GSO | 336.299.9767 | extraingredient.com