Registered Republicans now outnumber registered Democrats in North Carolina for the first time ever – but how much does that actually matter? Not much, says Tom: voters were more likely to cross party lines in previous generations, so Democrats have actually performed better in recent elections than they did in the past with a big registration advantage. More importantly, unaffiliated voters outnumber both Democrats and Republicans, so the outcome is really in their hands – and with most unaffiliated voters feeling low on Donald Trump these days, Democrats are still poised for big wins in the 2026 midterm even without a registration advantage.
97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news and local voices in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday morning, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck chats with government officials, UNC scholars, business and nonprofit leaders, area musicians, and others in our community as they share their thoughts, their experience, and their expertise on the central issues of today. Click here to listen back to all of Aaron’s conversations – and tune in to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” at 7:30 a.m. on 97.9 The Hill to hear those conversations live.
Every other Monday, Aaron is joined at 8:30 a.m. by Tom Jensen, the director of Public Policy Polling, for a longstanding regular segment called “What We’re Thinking,” looking at recent survey numbers and discussing what they tell us about American public opinion – election-related and otherwise.
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