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National Republican Party Chair Michael Whatley was back in his home state of North Carolina last month, where he made an appearance at a “Believers and Ballots” event alongside vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance.
Whatley made his pitch for the GOP to be a beacon for the faithful. “We need more men and women of faith in public office, in North Carolina and across this country,” he said to cheers and applause.
But Whatley’s lofty rhetoric has often clashed with explosive headlines about some of the GOP’s top candidates this year. There’s the multiple allegations about gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson’s pornography habits, in addition to his oft-inflammatory rhetoric on the stump. There’s superintendent candidate Michele Morrow’s past calls for the execution of leaders like former President Barack Obama. And there’s Donald Trump, who is currently selling a “God Bless the USA” Bible for $59.99 a piece.
Tim Funk dives into Whatley’s quest to convince voters that Republicans are still the party of faith.
Michael Whatley’s ‘Party of Faith’ Has Problems At The Top
The chairman of the national Republican Party wants it to lean into faith. But that can be awkward given the words and actions of some of the GOP’s most prominent candidates.
HOP and Change
In a recent webinar, North Carolina health care leaders were jubilant.
“We are changing lives,” said Dr. Becky Tilson, state health director and chief medical officer at North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services. “This is a win-win-win.”
The reason for the enthusiasm: North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot, a $650 million initiative to improve people’s health by strengthening their living conditions, had just received a roundly positive evaluation after two years.
The Assembly reported on HOP shortly after its launch. While the idea that issues like access to food, housing, and transportation affect people’s health wasn’t novel, North Carolina’s plan to address it is one of the most ambitious in the country.
Reporter Amanda Abrams followed up on the outcome of the pilot and what comes next for HOP.
Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.
What We’re Reading
Bidder End: A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution found in an Edenton filing cabinet was auctioned off for $11 million last week, CBS reports.
Water We Waiting For: Bloomberg looks at what Asheville’s water woes following Hurricane Helene indicate about the challenges of aging infrastructure and increasing climate risks.
Blast Off: More than 1 million North Carolinians have already cast their ballots, WRAL reports, which is about 13 percent of registered voters.
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