Democratic state Sen. Natasha Marcus is a three-term North Carolina state senator and was recently the Democratic nominee for N.C. commissioner of insurance, only losing by less than 5 points to incumbent Republican Mike Causey.
Her loss comes in a mix of gains and losses for Democrats, statewide and federally. At the state level, Marcus’ Democratic colleagues have broken the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly, pinching a nerve on the sweeping political power the Republican Party has enjoyed the past two years. At the federal level, some would consider Republicans riding a red wave, controlling both legislative branches and the presidency.
Marcus’ departure also comes at a pivotal time for the landscape of N.C. politics. With only days left to utilize their supermajority, Republican lawmakers voted to override Gov. Cooper’s veto of a bill that strips the state's incoming Democratic officials of key powers — considered a power grab by N.C. Democrats. Issues like Hurricane Helene relief aid, education funding and school vouchers, redistricting, regulatory reform and more, still linger among lawmakers.
We'll speak with Marcus about the state of politics in North Carolina, including why she's worried about the impact of school vouchers. Plus, we’ll discuss the recent political drama in Raleigh, her race for insurance commissioner, and why Democrats were successful in N.C., but missed the mark on the national level.
GUEST:
Natasha Marcus, Democratic state senator representing Mecklenburg District 41
