Chris Cooper
@chriscooperwcu.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science & Public Affairs at Western Carolina University. American politics, state politics, North Carolina politics, southern politics, elections. Recent book: Anatomy of a Purple State (UNC Press 2024).
http://www.chriscooperwcu.com
http://www.chriscooperwcu.com
There’s been a raft of scooter thefts on campus.
That’s not good.
But, I do wish the subject lines of the campus emails warning us about said scooter thefts didn’t say “motor vehicle theft” as if there’s a real life Vin Diesel running a stolen car ring in Cullowhee.
That’s not good.
But, I do wish the subject lines of the campus emails warning us about said scooter thefts didn’t say “motor vehicle theft” as if there’s a real life Vin Diesel running a stolen car ring in Cullowhee.
November 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
There’s been a raft of scooter thefts on campus.
That’s not good.
But, I do wish the subject lines of the campus emails warning us about said scooter thefts didn’t say “motor vehicle theft” as if there’s a real life Vin Diesel running a stolen car ring in Cullowhee.
That’s not good.
But, I do wish the subject lines of the campus emails warning us about said scooter thefts didn’t say “motor vehicle theft” as if there’s a real life Vin Diesel running a stolen car ring in Cullowhee.
Fascinating article by Seth McKee, Dan Smith & Olivia Zhang showing that in-migrants to FL increasingly register as Republicans upon their arrival in the ☀️ State
The trend is uniform regardless of whether the in-migrants come from blue or red states
academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
The trend is uniform regardless of whether the in-migrants come from blue or red states
academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Fascinating article by Seth McKee, Dan Smith & Olivia Zhang showing that in-migrants to FL increasingly register as Republicans upon their arrival in the ☀️ State
The trend is uniform regardless of whether the in-migrants come from blue or red states
academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
The trend is uniform regardless of whether the in-migrants come from blue or red states
academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
Another day, another candidate filed w/ the FEC for #nc11
acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:...
1/3 🤏🧵
#ncpol
acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:...
1/3 🤏🧵
#ncpol
November 22, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Another day, another candidate filed w/ the FEC for #nc11
acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:...
1/3 🤏🧵
#ncpol
acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:...
1/3 🤏🧵
#ncpol
Cooley: “we only call him the new guy when it’s convenient.”
Isbell: “You want grow up and paint houses like me, trailer in my yard till you’re 23. You want to feel old after 42 years, keep dropping the hammer and grinding the gears.”
This DBT Decoration Day time capsule is worth every penny.
Isbell: “You want grow up and paint houses like me, trailer in my yard till you’re 23. You want to feel old after 42 years, keep dropping the hammer and grinding the gears.”
This DBT Decoration Day time capsule is worth every penny.
November 22, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Cooley: “we only call him the new guy when it’s convenient.”
Isbell: “You want grow up and paint houses like me, trailer in my yard till you’re 23. You want to feel old after 42 years, keep dropping the hammer and grinding the gears.”
This DBT Decoration Day time capsule is worth every penny.
Isbell: “You want grow up and paint houses like me, trailer in my yard till you’re 23. You want to feel old after 42 years, keep dropping the hammer and grinding the gears.”
This DBT Decoration Day time capsule is worth every penny.
We’ve now reached the “bald eagles dropping cats onto cars” portion of the apocalypse.
November 20, 2025 at 2:24 AM
We’ve now reached the “bald eagles dropping cats onto cars” portion of the apocalypse.
So what happens now? Why appeal, of course.
But, as @taniel.bsky.social reminds us, the filing deadline is right around the corner
(5/5)
But, as @taniel.bsky.social reminds us, the filing deadline is right around the corner
(5/5)
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
So what happens now? Why appeal, of course.
But, as @taniel.bsky.social reminds us, the filing deadline is right around the corner
(5/5)
But, as @taniel.bsky.social reminds us, the filing deadline is right around the corner
(5/5)
And, there were, of course, experts presenting quantitative data showing the likelihood of creating such a map based on criteria other than race.
See here for a good summary of the court's assessment of Dr. Moon Duchin's report.
(4/5)
See here for a good summary of the court's assessment of Dr. Moon Duchin's report.
(4/5)
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
And, there were, of course, experts presenting quantitative data showing the likelihood of creating such a map based on criteria other than race.
See here for a good summary of the court's assessment of Dr. Moon Duchin's report.
(4/5)
See here for a good summary of the court's assessment of Dr. Moon Duchin's report.
(4/5)
The order is 160 pages, so there's too much to tweet w/o taking all day), but the decision systematically reviews a whole lot of legislative history & public record information to establish that it was race, not partisanship that drove the decision. See this, for ex ⤵️(3/5)
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The order is 160 pages, so there's too much to tweet w/o taking all day), but the decision systematically reviews a whole lot of legislative history & public record information to establish that it was race, not partisanship that drove the decision. See this, for ex ⤵️(3/5)
The defendants had argued that this new map was about partisanship (namely, getting more Reps in office), not race.
This is a similar argument to what we're likely to see in #ncpol & elsewhere (see #5 in this @theassemblync.bsky.social piece: theassemblync.com/politics/nc-...)
(2/5)
This is a similar argument to what we're likely to see in #ncpol & elsewhere (see #5 in this @theassemblync.bsky.social piece: theassemblync.com/politics/nc-...)
(2/5)
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The defendants had argued that this new map was about partisanship (namely, getting more Reps in office), not race.
This is a similar argument to what we're likely to see in #ncpol & elsewhere (see #5 in this @theassemblync.bsky.social piece: theassemblync.com/politics/nc-...)
(2/5)
This is a similar argument to what we're likely to see in #ncpol & elsewhere (see #5 in this @theassemblync.bsky.social piece: theassemblync.com/politics/nc-...)
(2/5)
In a 2-1 decision (w/ a Trump-appointed judge part of the 2), a federal court blocked TX from using its new congressional map, which would have shifted 5 seats to be more Rep & reduced minority voting power
Here's the TL;DR description of the decision (copied from the order itself) ⤵️
1/5🧵
Here's the TL;DR description of the decision (copied from the order itself) ⤵️
1/5🧵
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
In a 2-1 decision (w/ a Trump-appointed judge part of the 2), a federal court blocked TX from using its new congressional map, which would have shifted 5 seats to be more Rep & reduced minority voting power
Here's the TL;DR description of the decision (copied from the order itself) ⤵️
1/5🧵
Here's the TL;DR description of the decision (copied from the order itself) ⤵️
1/5🧵
Rest easy, Todd Snider.
November 15, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Rest easy, Todd Snider.
The most amazing thing about this Olivia Nuzzi story isn’t that she had a digital affair with a presidential candidate almost 40 years her senior, but rather that she claims to have written a book on her phone while hiking.
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The most amazing thing about this Olivia Nuzzi story isn’t that she had a digital affair with a presidential candidate almost 40 years her senior, but rather that she claims to have written a book on her phone while hiking.
Ah but they've never seen the Northern Lights
They've never seen a hawk on the wing
They've never spent spring on the Great Divide
And they've never heard ole' camp cookie sing
They've never seen a hawk on the wing
They've never spent spring on the Great Divide
And they've never heard ole' camp cookie sing
November 12, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Ah but they've never seen the Northern Lights
They've never seen a hawk on the wing
They've never spent spring on the Great Divide
And they've never heard ole' camp cookie sing
They've never seen a hawk on the wing
They've never spent spring on the Great Divide
And they've never heard ole' camp cookie sing
And, how about this from @tommytomlinson.bsky.social
tommytomlinson.substack.com/p/the-launch...
Makes me think about some of the magazines that meant something to me that are now gone or altered, including Dirt Rag, No Depression, The Sporting News, Velo News (yes, I have niche interests)
(4/5)
tommytomlinson.substack.com/p/the-launch...
Makes me think about some of the magazines that meant something to me that are now gone or altered, including Dirt Rag, No Depression, The Sporting News, Velo News (yes, I have niche interests)
(4/5)
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
And, how about this from @tommytomlinson.bsky.social
tommytomlinson.substack.com/p/the-launch...
Makes me think about some of the magazines that meant something to me that are now gone or altered, including Dirt Rag, No Depression, The Sporting News, Velo News (yes, I have niche interests)
(4/5)
tommytomlinson.substack.com/p/the-launch...
Makes me think about some of the magazines that meant something to me that are now gone or altered, including Dirt Rag, No Depression, The Sporting News, Velo News (yes, I have niche interests)
(4/5)
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
If you're curious about the context of close elections in #ncpol, see this post I wrote before the 2025 elections.
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Skip to "The Upside: Your Vote Counts" for the discussion of closeness.
Photo credit: @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social
3/3
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Skip to "The Upside: Your Vote Counts" for the discussion of closeness.
Photo credit: @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social
3/3
November 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
If you're curious about the context of close elections in #ncpol, see this post I wrote before the 2025 elections.
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Skip to "The Upside: Your Vote Counts" for the discussion of closeness.
Photo credit: @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social
3/3
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Skip to "The Upside: Your Vote Counts" for the discussion of closeness.
Photo credit: @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social
3/3
Updated the close elections graph to include last week's 2025 elections 👀 ⬇️.
Last Tuesday, 60 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes, including 4 council seats in Jefferson, Brookford, Calypso & Murfresboro that (before canvass) were tied.
(🧵 1/3)
Last Tuesday, 60 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes, including 4 council seats in Jefferson, Brookford, Calypso & Murfresboro that (before canvass) were tied.
(🧵 1/3)
November 9, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Updated the close elections graph to include last week's 2025 elections 👀 ⬇️.
Last Tuesday, 60 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes, including 4 council seats in Jefferson, Brookford, Calypso & Murfresboro that (before canvass) were tied.
(🧵 1/3)
Last Tuesday, 60 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes, including 4 council seats in Jefferson, Brookford, Calypso & Murfresboro that (before canvass) were tied.
(🧵 1/3)
Here ⬇️, the California Republican Party is arguing the merits of diversity and the threats of racial gerrymandering for democratic norms.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
November 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Here ⬇️, the California Republican Party is arguing the merits of diversity and the threats of racial gerrymandering for democratic norms.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Interesting item from @raleighreporter.bsky.social's weekly newsletter* about a new PAC, "NC True Conservatives", that supports Senator Berger in his primary campaign against Sam Page.
mailchi.mp/06b0806cbb66...
#ncpol
*if you're not subscribed, there's an easy (& free) fix for that.
mailchi.mp/06b0806cbb66...
#ncpol
*if you're not subscribed, there's an easy (& free) fix for that.
November 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Interesting item from @raleighreporter.bsky.social's weekly newsletter* about a new PAC, "NC True Conservatives", that supports Senator Berger in his primary campaign against Sam Page.
mailchi.mp/06b0806cbb66...
#ncpol
*if you're not subscribed, there's an easy (& free) fix for that.
mailchi.mp/06b0806cbb66...
#ncpol
*if you're not subscribed, there's an easy (& free) fix for that.
Sylva election day is in, too.
These are officially non-partisan elections, but the more progressive candidates won all of the open seats.
These are officially non-partisan elections, but the more progressive candidates won all of the open seats.
November 5, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Sylva election day is in, too.
These are officially non-partisan elections, but the more progressive candidates won all of the open seats.
These are officially non-partisan elections, but the more progressive candidates won all of the open seats.
The NCGA thought this wan't a great idea so they passed McDuffie's law to prevent others from attempting a similar move.
I talked about this in chapter 8 of Anatomy of a Purple State, but the footnote is the best part bc it includes a story of chicken feathers.
(4/4)
I talked about this in chapter 8 of Anatomy of a Purple State, but the footnote is the best part bc it includes a story of chicken feathers.
(4/4)
November 5, 2025 at 12:06 AM
The NCGA thought this wan't a great idea so they passed McDuffie's law to prevent others from attempting a similar move.
I talked about this in chapter 8 of Anatomy of a Purple State, but the footnote is the best part bc it includes a story of chicken feathers.
(4/4)
I talked about this in chapter 8 of Anatomy of a Purple State, but the footnote is the best part bc it includes a story of chicken feathers.
(4/4)
In 2023, 6 NC elections were tied and thus decided by a coin toss. In 2021 that number was 10 and it was 13 in 2019
In those cases, if the number of ballots cast is <5000, the board of elections breaks the tie "in a method of random selection determined by the NCSBE" (usually a coin toss).
(3/3)
In those cases, if the number of ballots cast is <5000, the board of elections breaks the tie "in a method of random selection determined by the NCSBE" (usually a coin toss).
(3/3)
November 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
In 2023, 6 NC elections were tied and thus decided by a coin toss. In 2021 that number was 10 and it was 13 in 2019
In those cases, if the number of ballots cast is <5000, the board of elections breaks the tie "in a method of random selection determined by the NCSBE" (usually a coin toss).
(3/3)
In those cases, if the number of ballots cast is <5000, the board of elections breaks the tie "in a method of random selection determined by the NCSBE" (usually a coin toss).
(3/3)
That means turning out the 5 passengers of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine (assuming Scooby is eligible to vote) would have decided the winner in 212 off-year elections in NC over those years
That example too strained? Go with the starting line-up for the Heels if you prefer.
(2/3)
That example too strained? Go with the starting line-up for the Heels if you prefer.
(2/3)
November 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
That means turning out the 5 passengers of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine (assuming Scooby is eligible to vote) would have decided the winner in 212 off-year elections in NC over those years
That example too strained? Go with the starting line-up for the Heels if you prefer.
(2/3)
That example too strained? Go with the starting line-up for the Heels if you prefer.
(2/3)
Why you should vote in municipal elections?
In 2019, 88 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes--67 in 2021 and 57 in 2023!
(1/3)
In 2019, 88 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes--67 in 2021 and 57 in 2023!
(1/3)
November 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Why you should vote in municipal elections?
In 2019, 88 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes--67 in 2021 and 57 in 2023!
(1/3)
In 2019, 88 #ncpol elections were decided by 5 or fewer votes--67 in 2021 and 57 in 2023!
(1/3)