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The Republican primary runoff in Montgomery County seemed an unlikely target for outrage over election integrity. Fewer than 500 people voted that day.

But county elections director Rhonda Johnson drew online ire after a conservative activist 300 miles away took to TikTok to lodge accusations against her, including that Johnson counted ballots alone at night.

Online commenters quickly piled on, calling for Johnson to be fired, imprisoned, or even hanged. “I have a tree and a rope!!!!!! treason!!!!!” one read. 

Johnson, 55, is still shaken. She’s worked in elections for two decades has never seen anything like this. As Emily Vespa reports, state and local elections officials like Johnson who once kept a low profile are now facing increased pressure amid claims of “stolen” elections and allegations of fraud.  

Election Turmoil Comes to a Rural County

The Montgomery County elections chief’s job is in jeopardy after an online provocateur criticized her work and commenters joined the fray. She’s the latest official to come under fire.

Eighty-five percent of North Carolina’s county elections directors said threats against elections workers have increased since 2020, a recent survey found. A quarter said they’ve personally been threatened.

The intense scrutiny is driving some out of elections altogether. Two-thirds of county directors have left their positions since 2019, data from the State Board of Elections show. 

Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.

Ongoing Helene Coverage

A Homegrown Grocery Giant Stumbles After Helene

Ingles is the flagship supermarket in Western North Carolina. But Helene has dealt the brand a major blow.

In Junaluska, A Historic Church Gathers After the Storm

This historically Black community just outside of Boone has weathered quite a bit over its 200 years.

Cherokee Avoided Helene’s Worst: ‘We Were Spared’

At the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ largest annual gathering, a grateful community reflects on the storm’s impact.

What We’re Reading

Do The Same Thing: Four incumbents were re-elected to the State Employees’ Credit Union’s board of directors, BusinessNC reports. The Assembly previously wrote about the battle over the credit union’s approach to lending. 

Schoolhouses Rocked: Even when schools reopen, students in Western North Carolina could face long-lasting academic and emotional setbacks, The New York Times reports.

Tested Out: Durham agreed to stop using a standardized written test that the U.S. Justice Department said unintentionally discriminated against Black applicants for entry-level fire department jobs, via WRAL.

Highly Rated: The N&O reports that the state department of insurance kicked off a hearing on insurers’ request to raise homeowner premiums by an average 42.2 percent. The hearing is expected to take weeks.

‘We Lost the Town’: Hurricane Helene decimated creative communities in places like Marshall, Spruce Pine, and Asheville, writes The INDY.

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