Two Events Show Dems are Enthusiastic About Election

There's definitely excitement in the air as we near the 70-days-before-election mark.

Roy Cooper, our ex-governor and Senate candidate, met with an adoring crowd of more than 200 people on Thursday, Aug. 20. His focus on "make stuff cost less" was made real by two women who spoke about rising costs. A young mother discussed the high cost of childcare (do you realize childcare can cost more than $20,000 a year?) and a retired teacher shared how her medical insurance premiums almost doubled this year, making managing her husband's health issues even more difficult.

Cooper made many points that resonated with the crowd, including the lack of Helene recovery money WNC has received. "We need to make sure this area fully recovers and gets the funds it needs to do the job," he said.

He also warned that all the progress NC has made over the last decade was at risk from the Republican agenda. "We need to send somebody to Washington who will care about the people who are left behind."

An organizer for the Cooper event said this was their biggest crowd so far.

Another large crowd met for breakfast and conversation on Saturday, Aug. 22. This monthly Morning Momentum event featured Gina Baxter, incumbent running for Hendersonville City Council; Doyle Brown, candidate for NC Senate 48; and John Morgan, candidate for NC House 113.

The three discussed various ways the General Assembly has failed WNC, from Helene recovery to voter suppression to taking power away from local government.

Brown mentioned that people are still paying mortgages on homes that don't exist any longer. Morgan suggested that we're too far away from Raleigh for the General Assembly (GA) to consider our needs.

Both also talked about the reduction in early voting hours, extensive gerrymandering, and overall attempts to suppress voting. Brown said, these efforts are meant to "intentionally stop people from voting and having their voices heard."

Baxter spoke about the difficulties local communities will have paying for schools, infrastructure and services as the GA added more costs onto them and, at the same time, are proposing to restrict their ability to raise property taxes. She said the GA is "focused on power grabs, not the needs of our communities."

The crowd of more than 80 cheered for the three candidates repeatedly. Morgan encouraged them to remain hopeful and engaged, saying no race has been decided yet. He added, "It's time for a new age. We need to serve the people, not the party."

The next Morning Momentum will be Saturday, Sept. 26, at Blue Ridge Community College. More details will be posted here.

For more on the Cooper event: https://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/four-seasons-politics/16265-senate-candidate-roy-cooper-rallies-supporters-during-downtown-campaign-stop.html?utm_source=Hendersonville+Lightning&utm_campaign=530dc1a9d3-lightning_rss_email_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ad9761b65a-530dc1a9d3-475834870