EMPAC-endorsed candidates scored major victories on Tuesday! Even with several races pending, EMPAC is proud to boast an 83-percent win rate in the election! Once again, SEANC proved in this election that it is a strong force to be reckoned with in state politics.

Treasurer’s race: SEANC scored a resounding victory in the fight to protect members’ retirement security and health care by lifting Dale Folwell to victory over Dan Blue III for Treasurer. EMPAC and member volunteers put significant effort into this race because Folwell pledged to cut fees paid to Wall Street with retirement funds and to stabilize State Health Plan premiums. His opponent was content with the status quo of the Janet Cowell-led Treasurer’s office, which is unacceptable for state employees and retirees.

With a margin of victory nearing 250,000 votes, Folwell’s message of accountability, oversight and strong management of our hard-earned money prevailed. 

Folwell spoke with both the SEANC Retiree Council and SEANC Executive Director Mitch Leonard after the election. He pledged his willingness to work with the association. He was gracious for our support, and plans to work to ensure the needs of state employees and retirees are considered in all decisions.

Governor’s race: As of now, the race for Governor is too close to call, but it’s obvious that SEANC members had a major impact on the race. Roy Cooper leads the vote count by around 5,000 votes.

Cooper’s success would not have been possible without the hard work of SEANC members who worked diligently in statewide canvass initiatives, phone banks and get out the vote efforts at the polls. It also would not have been possible without the many members who put aside party politics to vote for a candidate who supports state employees and retirees.

The number of ballots yet to be counted climbed to 50,000 Thursday. When all votes are finally tallied next Friday, if the margin of victory is less than 10,000 votes, a recount may be called for which may in turn prolong the process even beyond next Friday. Click here for more information on the process.

If his lead holds, we look forward to working with Governor-elect Cooper for the next four years, and will remind him that state employees and retirees matter even when there’s not an election coming up. At our convention in September, Cooper told SEANC President Stanley Drewery that SEANC would have a voice in his administration. We are going to hold him to that.

Too close to call races – In addition to the Governor’s race, the race for Attorney General, State Auditor, three state house races and one state senate race are still too close to call. EMPAC endorsed Josh Stein currently leads Buck Newton for Attorney General by nearly 21,000 votes, while EMPAC endorsed Beth Wood currently leads her opponent Chuck Stuber by a little more than 3,000 votes. Like the Governor’s race, we can expect a wait to declare victories in the races until all outstanding votes have been canvassed and accounted.

We were disappointed in the Lieutenant Governor’s race, where SEANC hero Linda Coleman could not get enough support to beat Dan Forest. We expect great things out of Coleman in the future nonetheless. She has been a champion for working families all her life, and we expect her to continue that work.

By the numbers: In total, EMPAC made 110 endorsements during this election cycle. With seven races still undecided, 86 of our endorsed candidates have been able to declare victory! Of the ten Council of State endorsements, three of our candidates have declared victory with three races outstanding. Of our 29 N.C. Senate races, 22 have already declared victory with one race outstanding. Of our 70 house races, 61 of our candidates have declared victory with three races still waiting to be declared.