The powers-that-be in the North Carolina General Assembly want to keep their short session short and sweet. A lot of people are saying that’s because Thom Tillis doesn’t want to engender a lot of controversy while he’s running for Senate, but it’s also good campaign strategy for individual legislators. No matter what they do while they’re in session, the state media is sure to hate it, and it’s never helpful to have voters open up their newspaper each day and find what is essentially free campaign advertising for the Democratic Party.
That said, one of the legislators who might emerge from this session looking pretty good is Senator Bill Cook (R-Beaufort). Cook is one of the most vulnerable Republican senators and faces a tough reelection battle this year against former Senator Stan White, whom he defeated in 2012 by only 21 votes. Campaign reports show White with a huge financial advantage, which is unusual for a challenger.
But the actions of Cook’s colleagues might have given him a break. Elizabeth City State University, which faces declining enrollment and budgetary troubles, was targeted by the NC Senate for closure. Given the university’s status as an HBCU, reaction was swift. The Legislative Black Caucus angrily denounced the plan, and the chancellor of the university posted a statement on its website outlining the economic impact of Elizabeth City State.
Cook, whose district contains the university, rushed to ECSU’s aid, introducing an amendment which would scrap the study provision and take closure of the university off the table. “ECSU has had its fair share of problems in the past few years, but I do not think this study is the best way to begin addressing them,” Cook said. Cook’s amendment passed unanimously and Senate Republicans abandoned their plans.
Now, Cook can return to his constituents and cast himself as the guy who saved Elizabeth City State from closure. It won’t guarantee him reelection, obviously, but it can only help in what’s going to be one of the closest races this year. And it proves Cook has influence with his colleagues. Would Stan White have had that kind of clout?
Speaking of Senate races, we’re going to be returning to analyzing districts shortly. The analysis of SD-01 has already been posted. In addition, I’ll be categorizing the races according to their level of competitiveness (Solid, Likely, Lean, Tilt), according to district demographics, turnout, finances, past election results, and other factors. Right now, SD-01 is Tilts Republican, which means Cook has an ever-so-slight, almost nonexistent, advantage. By far Cook’s biggest problem is his underwhelming fundraising, and if it continues then a rating change will be necessary.
John Wynne is the “conservative voice” at PoliticsNC, where he also provides polling analysis and commentary on legislative campaigns. When not writing about politics, he enjoys gardening and listening to opera. Contact: johncwynne@gmail.com.
Honest, John, that was one of the most simplistic and naïve assessments you’ve given yet. Cook will be viewed as the savior of ECSU, and folks will rush to vote for him? Really?
I think it’s just as likely that constituents there will notice that he couldn’t, by his own actions, keep that provision out of the near-final budget bill; that his party either didn’t consult with him or think enough of him to keep that provision on the sidelines from the start; and that, behold, he is a bonafide member of the political party that not only included that provision, but also the party that leads the county’s board of elections and that sought to keep an African-American ECSU student off the ballet for a city council position.
I’ll guess that Cook will win again, but I see his role (or non-role) in jettisoning that sad (if not outright bigoted) ECSU provision as a wash in terms of getting or losing votes.