The 2020 Election Has Begun

Absentee ballots were mailed Friday and received by some on Saturday. If you are voting by mail, make sure to fill out the ballot envelope completely, then mail it or take it to the Board of Elections from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Click on the image to the right for a short video on the required envelope items. And tell your friends!

It's not too late to apply for an absentee ballot. You can apply online for an absentee ballot in a single step at votebymail.ncsbe.gov, or call the Board of Elections at (910) 798-7343 and ask them to mail you a paper application.

Trump Tells Wilmington Voters to Vote Twice

In a visit to Wilmington last week, President Donald Trump encouraged North Carolina residents to attempt to vote both by mail and in person, seemingly urging them to commit voter fraud as a test of mail-in voting systems.

“They are going to have to check their vote by going to the poll and voting that way because if it tabulates, then they won’t be able to do that,” he said in an interview with the Wilmington-based WECT. “So let them send it in, and let them go vote. And if their system is as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote. If it isn’t tabulated, they will be able to vote. So that’s the way it is, and that’s what they should do.”

Trump did not like the fact that 600,000 people in North Carolina already have applied to vote absentee. He repeatedly has railed against voting by mail claiming, without any evidence, that mail-in voting will lead to fraud. As has become standard for Trump crowds, supporter in Wilmington crammed themselves against a barrier, maskless and shoulder to shoulder, to get close to the maskless President. Haven't these people heard there's a pandemic going on?

Every Trump Scandal is a Hoax According To Rouzer

Last week, U.S. Representative David Rouzer told a crowd of about 50 Donald Trump supporters that, just like other investigations and criticisms aimed at the president since his inauguration, recent congressional investigations of the U.S. Postal Service and its moves to downscale operations were part of a “hoax,” according to an article in the Port City Daily.

“First we had Russia-gate, then we had Ukraine-gate. All these are hoaxes,” Republican Rouzer told the crowd. “Last week we had the Post Office hoax.” Days before the “MAGA Meet-up” in a parking lot of the New Hanover County Republican Party headquarters, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy defended his cost-cutting decisions during hearings before the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Rouzer will be opposed for his 7th District Congressional seat in November by Democrat Chris Ward of Tabor City.

Candidate Dr. Kyle Horton Advocates "Transparency," Skeptical of Privatization

Kyle Horton, a physican and long-time public health and veterans advocate, is running for a seat on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Kyle earned both an MD and Master of Business Administration in a 5-year dual degree physician leadership development program. She said, "I have experience working with local relevant housing partners advocating for affordable development and adaptive reuse to address shortfalls in workforce and housing availability particularly for medically fragile individuals."

Kyle first came to New Hanover County in 1999 to attend UNCW. She moved away for Medical School and medical residency training but returned in 2012. She is single and says her only child "is my fur baby Dudley who also serves as my campaign Chief of Staff. I care for 2 elderly parents with chronic medical issues."

"My top priority is to restore faith in commission leadership by reversing the recent changes to the transparency of county governance that have failed to live up to our motto as the model of good governance," Kyle said. She said the Coronavirus pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in public health at the same time that a plan to sell the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center threatens to disrupt care and drive up costs. "I will fight the ideological attempts to privatize and divest some of our most valued local assets including NHRMC, our public libraries, Cape Fear Museum, public transit, etc."

An Update On The Coordinated Campaign From Regional Organizer Jesse Braughton

We've hired our final Field Organizer in NHC! Please make sure people have the information for their local FO, so they can get plugged in with the Coordinated Campaign!

Our organizers here in New Hanover County:

Manning Turkheimer, He/Him, House District 20, [email protected], (434)-227-2568

Troi Dixon,She/Her, House District 18, [email protected], (919)-285-6316

Isaac Galton, He/Him, House District 19, [email protected], (828)-284-2784

Our recurring weekly events:

Virtual Phone Bank Calls- https://www.mobilize.us/nc2020victory/event/297609/

We are making these calls on WEEKDAYS: Tuesday through Friday, all day.

We have trainings for these calls on Tuesdays/Thursdays at 5:00 PM and Wednesdays/Fridays at 12:00 PM over Zoom. Once someone has gone through one of our trainings, then they can make these calls whenever they want to.

Dialer Calls- https://www.mobilize.us/nc2020victory/event/297609/

We are making these calls on WEEKENDS: Saturday and Sunday- we have specific shift times.

Our shifts are Sat: 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM and Sun: 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM. The first 30 minutes of each shift will be a training on the Dialer and our persuasion script. Once someone has gone through one of our trainings, then they can make these calls during these shift times on the Weekends.

Text Banking- https://www.mobilize.us/nc2020victory/event/312184/

We are sending texts out every single day.

Yard Signs Update:

We have had a lot of requests for Yard Signs- we are getting our first batch of them in the next week or so. For this first wave, we will be giving signs to those who have completed a volunteer shift with the Coordinated Campaign- they will be first come first serve. Once we run out of this first batch, we will let you know when we get our next shipment!

If you have any questions, please email Jesse Braughton, Regional Organizing Director, [email protected]

Other Volunteer Opportunities:

Making phone calls is our #1 priority- we know the only way we will win is if we reach out to voters and get them to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot. BUT, we recognize that making phone calls isn't always feasible for all. There is a role for each and every one of you on this campaign, so please reach out to your local organizer to learn more!

Democracy Heroes Needed to Staff Polling Places; Teens Eligible to Serve

(From the North Carolina Board of Elections) North Carolina election officials are searching for democracy heroes to work at polling places and voting sites for the November 2020 general election. Young people who will be 17 by election day are eligible to be Student Election Assistants, and they will be paid for the time they spend working and training. It's an opportunity to provide a vital service to the community while getting valuable experience in the democratic process. Student Election Assistants must be citizens who are currently enrolled as a student in good standing in a public, private or home school, and they must be a resident in the county. Additional details and an online application may be found here.

Of course, the Board of Elections also needs adults. There is a worker shortage due in part to the understandable reluctance of at-risk workers to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you're not at high risk and interested in becoming an election worker in 2020, please contact the New Hanover County Board of Elections to apply.

Blue Ballots Now Available

We just received 20,000 blue ballot door hangers! Several precincts said they planned to start doing literature drops, so these arrived on Friday. By purchasing in quantity we were able to drive the price down to about $40 per thousand. To contribute to the purchase of Blue Ballots, please click here.

You can click on the image to the left to see a larger PDF version, which you can print at home (use landscape mode). You can also click it on your iPhone and save the Blue Ballot PDF to photos for later reference, and to share with others by text or email.

NHCDP Office Open Today (Labor Day)

The New Hanover County Democratic Party office at 5401 New Centre Drive, Wilmington will now be staffed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon to 2:00 p.m. We will use the office primarily for pick up and drop off of yard signs, blue ballots and similar items. We do not anticipate scheduling meetings there at this time. Our office phone number is (910) 805-5703. Please wear masks and observe social distancing. One visitor at a time in the office.

EVENTS

Combined Campaign Virtual Phone Banks for Joe Biden Now Through November 3

When: Every day except Monday.

Where: Join Phone Bank and call from home

Team Joe supporters from Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender counties are invited for a virtual phone bank to make phone calls to voters. Training will be provided.

Lit Drop for Leslie Cohen -- Now through October 15

When: Now through October 15

Where: Register here to participate.

Because of the pandemic, volunteers cannot safely canvass voters as in the past. Instead, the Leslie Cohen for New Hanover County Board of Commissioners campaign needs volunteers to help spread Leslie's message across New Hanover County by lit-dropping in neighborhoods. This can be done on the volunteer's schedule at any time of day, since the campaign isn't trying to reach voters face-to-face. Lit-dropping involves dropping off campaign literature at voters’ homes. Safety is the campaign's biggest priority. Volunteers probably won’t have to interact with anyone as they drop off literature, but they will wear a mask just in case and use gloves and/or carry hand sanitizer to use as needed.

Virtual Phone Banks for Adam Ericson -- Wednesdays through October 28

When: Wednesdays from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. through October 28

Where: Join Phone Bank here and call from home

Adam Ericson is running against Republican Ted Davis Jr. for the position of State Representative for District 20.

Virtual Phone Bank for Marcia Morgan -- Thursdays through October 31

When: Thursdays from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. through October 31

Where: Join Phone Bank here and call from home

The Marcia Morgan campaign to turn the NC House 19th District blue ask volunteers to donate time! Donate your time calling potential voters on behalf of Team Marcia. We provide the training, the script, the names and numbers -- violunteers provide the phone and the willingness to help. Multiple shifts are available.

Virtual Phone Banks for Harper Peterson -- Thursdays through October 29

When: Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. through October 28

Where: Join Phone Bank here and call from home

Harper's campaign for State Senate will be hosting a weekly phone bank every Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. through October 28.

Legislative Candidate Facebook Live Forum Hosted by NAACP -- September 8

When: Tuesday, September 8, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Facebook live link here

The New Hanover County NAACP along with the Wilmington Chapter of Links, Inc., National Pan-Hellenic Council-SE NC and the Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host a Facebook live forum with legislative candidates. Any questions you wish to have asked please inbox the New Hanover County NAACP or email [email protected]

An Evening With the Artist, Leslie Cohen -- September 9

When: Wednesday, September 9, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Zoom virtual event. Reservations link here.

This is an opportunity to spend an hour in the studio with New Hanover County Commission candidate Leslie Cohen as she works on a new painting. Leslie will do her best to explain her process as she works and answer your questions as she goes along. Plus, you will have the opportunity to own one of Leslie’s original oil paintings. There are two ways to get a painting: 1. By donating you will be entered into a drawing to win Two Calla Lillies (6”X12” framed oil on canvas, Retail value $600). 2. The supporter making the largest donation will receive Storm Over Old San Juan (24"X30" framed oil on canvas. Retail value $2,000). The drawing will be held on Facebook live on Wednesday, September 16th at noon. The highest donor will also be announced at that time.

Stories From Behind the Screen with Kyle Horton -- September 14

When: Monday, September 14, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Zoom virtual event. For details and reservations click here.

Film and TV have been a big part of New Hanover County for many years. Join Kyle and several of our favorite actors for a virtual event, as they share their experiences and stories. Kyle is excited to have Nick Basta (Harriet) , Jane McNeill (The Walking Dead) and Tammy Arnold (Ozark) join her for a behind the scenes look at our film and TV industry. After you purchase your ticket, an email with the zoom link for the event will be shared with you. This event is a fundraiser for Dr. Kyle Horton for New Hanover County Commissioner.

Broadway Sings to Flip the NC House with Marcia Morgan -- September 15

When: Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 p.m. VIP reception; 7:00 p.m. Main Event

Where: Zoom virtual event. For details and reservations click here.

Join Marcia for an evening of performances and conversation with Broadway stars of Hamilton and more, hosted by Broadway cast member of Hamilton Ryan Vasquez, the only actor to have played Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, and the founder of Swing From Home, an organization working to connect remote volunteers and grassroots fundraising to state legislative races across the country. He will be joined by the multi-platinum artist behind "This Is Me" from The Greatest Showman, Keala Settle, Original Broadway Cast member of Hamilton Elizabeth Judd, and fellow Schuyler Sister Erin Clemons. The evening will feature performances from the artists, as well as a conversation surrounding arts and activism, and the role of art as an agent for social change.

Auction to Help Support the NHCDP -- September 19

When: September 19, Kickoff

Where: Zoom virtual event.

On September 19th our on-line auction will go LIVE with over 25 donated items for you to bid on. Choose from original artwork, jewelry, gift cards, baskets of wine and food, a 2-night stay on a beautiful Airstream, a homemade Thai dinner delivered to your home by the cook and more! There is something for everyone, so get ready to bid!

Watch for more details in the upcoming NHCDP newsletters and the NHCDP website.

Celia and Friends Fundraiser for Marcia Morgan -- September 24

When: Thursday, September 24, 6:45 p.m. sponsor reception, 7:00 p.m. main event.

Where: Register here.

In times like these, don't we all need a good laugh to keep from crying? Award-winning syndicated humor columnist and New York Times bestselling author Celia Rivenbark will join the Marcia Morgan Team for an evening filled with her trademark wit and humor, and she'll be joined by a few friends who have their own talents to share. This is a FREE virtual event but sponsorships are available at a number of levels. Proceeds support the candidacy of Maricia Morgan for NC House District 19.

RiseUP Rally -- September 26

When: Saturday, September 26, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Zoom

Hold the date for an exciting Zoom RiseUP Rally to celebrate our party, our donors and our great volunteers. There will be special guests, fun and the final bell on our on-line auction. More details to follow. Save the date and get ready to RiseUP and party for the party.