Politics

NEWS 4/8/26 11:18am

Elon Town Council proposes property tax increase to offset rising costs

By Emma Perman

Residents in Elon may soon see an increase in their property taxes from 35 cents to 40 cents as town officials work through the upcoming budget. Town Manager Richard Roedner has proposed a 5-cent increase in the property tax rate as part of the draft budget for the 2026 fiscal year. It comes as officials face rising costs including the town’s waste and water operations.

NEWS 4/3/26 4:55pm

SGA set to appoint VP of Communications, VP of Finance

By Mia Torres

At Elon University’s Student Government Association, not every leadership role is decided by a student vote. While students recently cast ballots for executive president and vice president, two executive positions, vice president of communications and vice president of finance, are filled through an internal application and interview process.Final appointments will be announced at the first SGA business meeting of the new term on April 9, when newly elected senators will be sworn in and the new executive board will be introduced. Members of SGA say this approach ensures candidates are chosen based on experience and not popularity. 

NEWS 4/2/26 1:16pm

Elon Poll reveals former Gov. Roy Cooper leads wide name recognition advantage ahead of 2026 midterms

By Alannah Klingsporn

An Elon University Poll published April 2 found that Democratic candidate and former governor Roy Cooper holds a name recognition lead, with 70% of respondents saying they have heard about Cooper, with just 35% who have heard the same amount about his Republican opponent, Michael Whatley. 48% of registered voters viewed Cooper favorably compared to 34% who viewed him unfavorably. 25% of registered voters viewed Whatley favorably and 34% unfavorably with 41% holding a neutral opinion.

NEWS 3/28/26 9:26pm

Crowds gather across North Carolina for third nationwide “No Kings” protests

By Kate Gray and Katrina Holtz

RALEIGH, N.C. — Thousands of people assembled around the North Carolina State Capitol Building at 1 p.m. on March 28 for the third nationwide “No Kings” protest.According to the No Kings website, there were more than 3,000 planned protests nationwide, with 79 in North Carolina alone.The demonstration was primarily organized by progressive advocacy groups Indivisible and the 50501 movement. They previously held the Hands Off protest in April 2025, and two No Kings protests in June and October 2025.

NEWS 3/21/26 12:48pm

NCDHHS launches new program looking to expand number of mental health providers in state

By Monika Jurevicius

In North Carolina, the demand for social workers in the state is growing as substance use and mental health service needs increase. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched the Public Service Leadership Program, a collaboration between the NCDHHS and 25 higher education institutions in the Social Work Coalition on NC Work Development, to help with that demand.Alongside the announcement of the new program on March 2, the NCDHHS released its first “State of North Carolina’s Mental Health and Substance Use Services Workforce Report” supported by UNC’s Behavior Health Workforce Research Center and Sheps Health Workforce NC.

NEWS 3/12/26 8:48am

Elon SGA hosts executive candidate forum

By Alannah Klingsporn

Students filled Irazú Coffee on March 11 to hear from three candidates who are running for an executive position on Elon’s Student Government Association about what they hope to bring to the student body if elected. The topics discussed included sustainability and the lack of SGA knowledge on campus.

NEWS 3/4/26 12:11am

November elections loom as primary races end

By Miles Hayford

As the 2026 primary elections come to an end in North Carolina, eyes are turning towards November. But for many races, the primary elections are the determining factor in the race, according to Elon University political science professor Jason Husser.

NEWS 3/3/26 11:46pm

Alamance County Board of Elections handles election night returns

By Lily Mosbacher

After polls closed on election night, sealed ballot bags, memory drives, and paper tapes began arriving at the Alamance County Board of Elections office, where officials prepared to count the results.At 8:05 p.m., the first election judge pulled into the parking lot. Within 10 minutes, a line stretched behind them as precinct workers waited to check in provisional ballots and hand over the materials that would determine the night’s outcome.

NEWS 3/3/26 6:49pm

Town of Elon casts votes for election day… or not

By Fiona McAllister

The North Carolina primary election started bright and early when polls opened at 6:30 a.m. and voters cast ballots for their candidates. However, talk of Election Day was quiet in the Town of Elon.Vivian Splawn, Burlington resident and employee at All That Jas, said she was disappointed not to see people in line to vote in the election, as she went to cast her ballot. “It's really sad that there's such a low turnout when you go there and you don't have to wait in line, but that's just how it is,” Splawn said. “And on the bigger ones, sometimes it's like that too.”

NEWS 3/3/26 12:14pm

How unaffiliated voters impact elections

By Alannah Klingsporn

The North Carolina primary election starts today. With some voters being able to vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate, unaffiliated voters will have a different experience at the polls on election day. Unaffiliated voters can pick one party’s primary or choose a nonpartisan ballot. Voting in a party primary doesn’t change their unaffiliated status, and their choice carries into any runoff. 

NEWS 3/3/26 8:00am

Election Center: Candidate profiles for the March 3 primary

By Elon News Network

Primary elections will be held March 3 in North Carolina. The Democratic and Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate will be on the ballot. The winners of these races will face off in November during the general election for the open North Carolina Senate seat. Another race on the Republican ballot is Alamance County Sheriff, with incumbent Terry Johnson being challenged by two candidates. Other races for Board of County Commissioners, County Clerk of Superior Court and North Carolina Appeals Seat 1 are also on the ballot. 

NEWS 3/3/26 3:09pm

Shuttle service aims to increase student voter access

By Mia Torres

Students looking to cast their ballots on Election Day will have transportation available through a shuttle service organized by Elon Votes.On Tuesday March 3, a shuttle will run from The Center for the Arts to two polling locations in Alamance County: Elon Elementary School and First Baptist Church of Elon.

NEWS 3/3/26 9:49am

LIVE BLOG: 2026 primary elections in Alamance County, North Carolina

By Elon News Network

Polls across North Carolina opened at 6:30 a.m. March 3 for the 2026 midterm primary elections. In Alamance County, registered Democrats can vote for one candidate each for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives District 9 and NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 3, and two candidates for Alamance County Board of Commissioners. 

NEWS 3/19/26 3:13pm

Primary elections bring changes to NC statehouse

By Trista Panagakos

The North Carolina primary elections have altered what the statehouse may look like in November. North Carolina, Wilmington, Aaron King said incumbents usually have an advantage when running for office because of name recognition, a record of accomplishments and organization. King said challengers are able to campaign as an outsider against an incumbent and explain to voters how the incumbent is failing them. Eight incumbent state lawmakers lost their primaries March 3, three Democrats and five Republicans.

NEWS 2/25/26 1:07pm

Elon Votes sponsors State of the Union watch party

By Kate Gray

Around 15 students gathered in Moseley Center on Feb. 24 for the State of the Union watch party, hosted by Elon Votes. The broadcast was President Trump’s first State of the Union of his second term and lasted a record 108 minutes, according to AP News. The previous record for the longest presidential address to Congress was 100 minutes and was set by Trump last year.

NEWS 2/23/26 1:55pm

Mebane City Council to expand offices, parking for staff

By Alannah Klingsporn

The Mebane City Council purchased a dentist's office and parking lot for $325,000 in a unanimous vote. The property is located across from the City Hall. North Carolina requires local governments to keep a minimum reserve — called a fund balance — equal to 8% of their annual general expenses.

NEWS 2/22/26 12:52pm

North Carolina remains in running for first 2028 presidential primary

By Kate Gray

North Carolina is one of 12 states vying for the first-in-the-nation Democratic primary in 2028, according to the Democratic National Committee. The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee must select four to five states for the early nominating window of the 2028 presidential election, with at least one state from each of the DNC’s four regions: East, Midwest, South and West.

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