The Caucus: NCGOP Chair on the Next Two Years

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Jason Simmons’ NCGOP Turnaround Plan

Earlier this month, Jason Simmons was narrowly reelected as the North Carolina Republican Party chairman, thanks in part to an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Simmons will play a key role in deciding which candidates the party supports in the 2026 midterms and shaping the party’s messaging. 

His victory comes amid infighting over the direction the party should take. Some insiders argue that hardline conservatives like Michele Morrow and Mark Robinson hurt down-ballot candidates in the 2024 election and that the party must recruit Republicans who might be more palatable to a general electorate. Others see more centrist candidates like U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis as insufficiently loyal to Trump and undeserving of party support.

I spoke with Simmons yesterday about his vision for the next two years. Here are a few highlights:

In the 2024 election, Republicans suffered the biggest gubernatorial defeat since 1980, ended a streak of 17 consecutive statewide judicial victories, and lost the supermajority in the House. How do you plan to turn things around?

As we continue to have more Republicans registered than Democrats and turn out Republicans at a higher rate, we also then have to make sure that we are addressing the concerns of the unaffiliated voters and speaking to them. 

When you look at the Republican priorities, our message is far better than the Democrats’ positions. We have better policies and messages when you’re talking about the economy, education, and public safety. When we get in front of the voters and we have an opportunity to talk to them, and we have good candidates with good messages and the money behind them, we will be victorious.

What role, if any, do you see the party having in recruiting candidates that you believe can win a general election?

You have that ideological divide about what the role of the party is as you’re going into primary season. Our bylaws are very explicit where it does talk about how the party needs to maintain a position of neutrality. But I would also say it doesn’t mean that we need to be neutered. We can continue to educate the electorate about candidates and make sure that the candidates are put in a position to answer questions.

We’ve seen some heightened concerns about civility in this state and across the country. Are there any additional safeguards being put in place at the NCGOP, or any advice to officials to ensure their safety?

I won’t speak to measures because, obviously, if you start speaking about measures, now you’re putting that into the public space…There is never any acceptable reason for violence. Rhetoric and tone is something that I’m also very mindful of.

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I asked the same question of other legislative leaders and officials in light of the shooting of two Minnesota state lawmakers this weekend. One lawmaker and her husband, a Raleigh native, died.

In an email to lawmakers on Monday afternoon, General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock said his department is “working on enhanced security plans” to keep members safe. When reached for comment, Brock declined to elaborate on what those protocols might look like, citing security concerns.

— Bryan Anderson

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Thanks for reading The Caucus, a politics newsletter anchored by Bryan Anderson. Reach us with tips or ideas at politics@theassemblync.com.

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Insta Problems

Over the weekend, Democrats across the country participated in a series of “no kings” protests directed at President Trump. In Raleigh, one state lawmaker raised eyebrows after she posted a video to Instagram that included a photo of a protester holding a sign depicting a beheaded Trump. State Rep. Julie von Haefen of Wake County has since removed the image from the video, made her Instagram account private, posted a statement to Facebook condemning political violence, and deleted her X account. 

Republican House Speaker Destin Hall condemned the post, saying he and legislative attorneys will review the matter.

Von Haefen said in a statement on Sunday, “There is no place for that kind of extremism in our democracy, no matter the target, no matter the party.”

The NCGOP’s Simmons on Monday called for von Haefen to step down.

“The posts Rep. von Haefen shared do not show the judgement or temperament of someone to hold public office,” Simmons said in a statement. “For the good of her constituents to have effective representation, she should resign.” (Von Haefen declined to comment on the GOP’s call for her to leave office.)

Anderson Clayton, the chair of the state Democratic Party, wrote on X that the NCGOP’s efforts reflect a “manufactured outrage,” given the relative silence from Republicans about violent rhetoric from the party’s gubernatorial and superintendent candidates last year.

Lobby Hobby

A top lobbyist and Democratic lawmaker are engaged in a war of words over a bill that would do away with a state goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric public utilities by 70 percent, compared with 2005 levels, by 2030.

In an internal note to his colleagues last week, Rep. Bryan Cohn, a Democrat representing Vance and Granville counties, blasted advocacy groups for pressuring Democrats to vote against it. In it, he singled out Dan Crawford, a lobbyist and director of government relations for the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters.

Cohn accused Crawford and the group of launching “a smear campaign” and committing “political thuggery” by coming to Democrats’ offices and warning that they would be held accountable for their votes through the environmental group’s annual scorecard.

Crawford said the bill, which also addresses how utilities can charge ratepayers for plants under construction, would raise costs for residential customers. 

“When Rep. Cohn wants to have a big boy conversation, he knows where to reach me,” Crawford said in a statement. “I am not interested in playing childish games with a freshman member of the minority party who hasn’t done his homework.”

Eleven Democrats supported the bill, which could receive final approval in the Senate over the next two weeks.

Silent Stein

On Friday morning, Gov. Josh Stein signed six bills into law. Of biggest note: House Bill 506. At the urging of Treasurer Brad Briner, the new law establishes a five-member state Investment Authority to make decisions for the pension plan.

Despite inviting reporters to the Governor’s Mansion at 8 a.m. for the occasion, Stein took no questions. So no one could ask how he’ll approach several controversial bills that could prompt his first veto showdown with GOP lawmakers. 

There are now four bills left on Stein’s desk, including two measures to crack down on illegal immigration and one that would repeal concealed carry permit requirements. Stein has until Friday to act on the immigration bills and until June 23 to weigh in on the gun bill.

If the past is any history and Stein takes a page out of former Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto playbook, plan for news on Friday afternoon.

— Bryan Anderson

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Upcoming Birthdays: Rep. Allen Chesser on Wednesday, June 18; Reps. Keith Kidwell and Lindsey Prather on Saturday, June 21.

Let us know what’s on your radar at politics@theassemblync.com.

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