By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

A batch of polling released this week gives new insights into some of North Carolina’s top three political races.

A total of four polls were released. Each shows different results for the presidential race in North Carolina and the state’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate race. When added to other, recent surveys, Republicans lead in the presidential and senate race in the state. The gubernatorial race is the only of of North Carolina’s big three that show a Democrat leading.

The Real Clear Politics average of polling shows Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump leading Democrat Hillary Clinton in North Carolina by 1.2 percentage points. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is leading Democrat Deborah Ross by 1.9 percentage points. Democrat and Attorney General Roy Cooper is leading incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory by 2.4 percentage points.

Polls released this week came from Fox News, Elon University, Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling, the New York Times and Siena College.

The date that polls were conducted is specifically relevant in the gubernatorial race. They were all conducted after the NCAA and ACC canceled events in the state because of House Bill 2 or as news was breaking that events were cancelled. House Bill 2 has repeatedly been attributed to Cooper’s lead.

Fox News and Elon found small leads for McCrory. The New York Times and Public Policy Polling found larger leads for Cooper. The latest batch of polling, however, has decreased Cooper’s lead.

Lawsuit questions newly redrawn congressional maps

North Carolina’s state legislators drew new congressional maps this year because of a federal court decision. Now, another lawsuit has been filed against those redrawn maps.

Filed on behalf of the League of Women Voters, the suit argues that the new maps violate the First and 14th Amendments. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

The suit specifically makes complaints alleging gerrymandering according to political affiliation. In a news release, the Southern coalition for Social Justice says the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet agreed on an acceptable standard to determine when a partisan gerrymander is unconstitutional.

“The Constitution guarantees everyone’s right to participate equally in an electoral system that does not discriminate against them because of their beliefs,” said Anita Earls, executive director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. “It’s clear that the intent and effect of creating North Carolina’s 2016 congressional maps were to manipulate the democratic process. The result disparages voters and ensures that one party can maintain political power even when a majority of the state’s voters do not support them.”

In the special redistricting, Rowan County’s congressional districts saw a notable change. They were previously the 5th, 8th and 13th districts. Now only the 8th District remains. The 13th District was moved into Rowan.

Both of Rowan County’s congressional districts are seen as safely Republican.

Congressman celebrates Rowan prayer ruling

One of Rowan’s representatives in Congress on Thursday celebrated a federal court’s ruling in favor of county commissioners’ prayer practices.

Rep. Richard Hudson, R-8, led 17 former and current members of Congress in filing an amicus brief before the 4th Circuit Court. The brief filed by congressional representatives encouraged the court to rule in favor of Rowan.

When the court overturned a previous ruling this week, Hudson released a statement praising the decision.

“As a defender of our constitutional rights, I am pleased with today’s decision to protect our first amendment right to prayer,” Hudson said. “I will continue to do all that I can to protect religious liberty and stand up for our right to pray.”

Conservation group pitches in money to defeat McCrory

In an effort to bring attention to the state’s coal ash controversy, the Conservation Votes PAC has announced the launch of a $700,000 ad campaign.

The TV ad specifically aims to tie McCrory to ongoing coal ash problems in North Carolina. It will run in the Triad and Asheville TV markets from Sept. 22 to Oct. 5.

With the latest announcement, the group says it has invested a total of $1.6 million in an effort to defeat McCrory and elect Cooper.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.