Dr. Michael Bitzer
Demographic shifts, historical revisionism fueling Christian nationalist push among conservatives
This week, Policy Watch published a report on the Christian nationalism animating The American Renewal Project, a conservative evangelical group working closely with the N.C. Republican party to promote GOP candidates and recruit pastors to run for office. The group, which rejects the concept of a separation between church and state, seeks to make its […]
In-person voting starts Thursday: Where things stand and what NC voters need to know
North Carolina’s 359 early voting sites open up this week for in-person voting and same day registration. This year’s in-person early voting period runs from Thursday October 20 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 5. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. Voters can use any early voting site in the county where they’re registered. The […]
Who are the voters in this year’s Senate race?
It’s an overworked phrase, but for all the focus put on fundraising, polls, gaffes and dark money PACs, elections really do come down to turnout. This year, the mix of voters who show up at the polls, what motivates them to do so and, of course, the totals they post when the ballots are counted will determine the outcome of North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race and, in this era of razor thin partisan margins, perhaps control of the chamber itself.
Veteran political scientist: Cawthorn, kudzu and the latest concern for the Republican party
If you’ve been trying to make sense of Congressman Madison Cawthorn abandoning the 11th congressional district for a run in the 13th, coupled with House Speaker Tim Moore decision not to challenge the freshman lawmaker, make time to read this explanation from Dr. Michael Bitzer at Catawba College. The veteran political scientist writes for the […]
Now that new maps are enacted, political scientist Bitzer takes a look at partisan data
North Carolina lawmakers have enacted new remedial maps after a court ordered redraw to fix House and Senate districts that were gerrymandered to entrench the Republicans in power. They have until 5 p.m. tomorrow to submit those maps to the court, and parties to Common Cause v. Lewis have until 5 p.m. Oct. 4 to […]
A deep dive into early voting data before election day
Early voting in North Carolina has ended and we’re staring down the barrel of election day. For one of the best data-driven takes on what we already know about this election going into Tuesday, you should head over to Old North State Politics, the blog of Dr. Michael Bitzer, professor of Political Science and History […]
Bitzer on 2016 voter demographics in NC
If you want to get deep into voter demographics in North Carolina (and I know there are some nerds like me reading this and that you do), you need to be looking to Dr. Michael Bitzer, professor of political science and history at Catawba College. Now that all the numbers are well and truly in, […]
Breaking down early voting data in NC
North Carolina’s early voting period has ended. As we all bite our collective fingernails down to the quick, it’s worth taking a look at this analysis of early voting numbers and demographics by Dr. Michael Bitzer, professor of history and political science at Catawba College. North Carolina did indeed break its early voting record. The […]