North Carolina Republican Party

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North Carolina Republican Party
Chairman Hasan Harnett
House Leader Mike Hager
Senate Leader Phil Berger
Headquarters 1506 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27605
Student wing North Carolina Federation of College Republicans
Youth wing North Carolina Young Republicans
Ideology Conservatism
Economic liberalism
Fiscal conservatism
Social conservatism
National affiliation Republican Party
Colors Red
Senate
34 / 50
House of Representatives
74 / 120
U.S. Senate
2 / 2
U.S. House of Representatives
10 / 13
Website
www.ncgop.org

The North Carolina Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in North Carolina. Hasan Harnett was elected Chairperson of the party on June 6, 2015.

The elections of 2010 led to Republican control of both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time since 1896.[1] In 2012, Republicans retained control of the legislature and elected two Republicans, Pat McCrory and Dan Forest, as Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively. Most of the other Council of State offices (the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively) remain under Democratic control (the other Republicans are Cherie K. Berry, Commissioner of Labor and Steve Troxler, Commissioner of Agriculture.)

History

Nineteenth century

Although Republicans first nominated a candidate for President of the United States, John C. Fremont, in 1856,[2] the party was not established in North Carolina until after the Civil War, in 1867. With the help of the newly enfranchised freedmen, Republicans were briefly successful in state politics, dominating the convention that wrote the North Carolina Constitution of 1868 and electing several governors.[3] After Reconstruction, Democrats returned to power. Republicans did have success in the 1890s when they joined forces with the Populist party in an "electoral fusion".[4][5][6]

Twentieth century

Very little progress was made for North Carolina Republicans during the first half of the twentieth century. Only in 1928 did Republicans carry the state's electoral votes for president (for candidate Herbert Hoover).[7] As a party electorally, it was most confined geographically to areas in the Piedmont near Charlotte and Winston-Salem and the mountains in the western part of the state. It was from there that the first Republican since before the Great Depression was elected to Congress in 1952, Charles R. Jonas. He was joined in 1962 by Jim Broyhill. From this base, and nearly winning the electoral votes for the state in the Presidential elections from 1952 to 1960, the party began to grow.

From 1968 through 2004, Republicans won every presidential election in the state, except for when Jimmy Carter was elected in 1976.[8]

In 1972, Republicans became competitive in statewide elections for the first time since 1900, when James Holshouser was elected Governor of the state, and Jesse Helms was elected to the U.S. Senate.[9] Jack Lee, who was elected state party chairperson in 1977, is widely credited with unifying North Carolina Republican Party at the time.[10][11]

Party platform

The most recent version of the North Carolina Republican platform was released on June 7, 2013. It contains ten articles and was formed by 13 district representatives and 3 Republican chair members.[12]

Family

The Republicans of North Carolina support two parent male-female family values. Same sex marriage is not supported by North Carolina Republicans and amendments to the constitution are supported to limit the definition of marriage to a man and woman.

Economy

The party supports free enterprise economics with little government regulation and taxation. North Carolina is the top tax payer in the southeast United States.[13]

Individual liberty

The party believes that individuals possess God-given inherent rights and it is the job of the government to protect them and support equality under the law.

This section of the platform affirms their opposition to government healthcare mandates that are inconsistent with the religious tenets of an organization and the support of free-market solutions to the healthcare crisis.

Sanctity of life

The party believes that the government must respect and protect all human life from conception to natural death and that Roe v. Wade should be overturned.

Also, the use of human cloning or the use of human embryos is opposed by the party.

State government

The party believes that government must not spend money it does not have or levy unfunded mandates on local government.

The party opposes gambling or a state lottery.

Elections

Citizens should have access to campaign finance records according to the party .

The party supports poll judges, updated voter rolls and the use of photo identification to deter fraud.

Education

The party believes:

  • All children should have access to a quality education
  • In the right to pray in school and public events privately.
  • Patriotism should be encouraged in public schools. Curriculum should include information on the founding of the country and the United States Declaration of Independence. Economics should be taught as well in order to form well rounded citizens.
  • Sex education should not be taught without parental consent: abstinence should be taught in its stead and the bulk of sexual education be left to the parents.
  • Vocational education should be expanded.

Justice

The party supports the death penalty in cases of murder. Also wait time for the death penalty should be cut as much as possible according to their 2011 justice plank.

North Carolina Republicans have come under fire for their support of the death penalty. In an effort to repeal the Racial Justice Act, North Carolina Republicans introduced a bill that would essentially veto the act voted on in 2009.[14] In June 2013, North Carolina's governor Pat McCrory signed the repeal of the Racial Justice Act, saying that the law was essentially a ban on capital punishment in the state.[15]

Environment

The party believes we have a duty to protect our resources. They also support a comprehensive energy policy that promotes energy security and independence.

National policy

The party believes that the first priority of the federal government is to provide for our security, which includes adequate support and compensation for our troops.

English should be the official language of the United States.[12]

The party supports Social Security, but also supports alternative financial retirement options.

Current elected officials

The party controls four of the ten statewide Council of State offices and holds a majority in both the North Carolina House of Representatives and the North Carolina Senate. Republicans also hold both of the state's U.S. Senate seats and 10 of the state's 13 U.S. House seats.

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

U.S. House of Representatives

Statewide offices

North Carolina General Assembly

See also

References

External links