Historic 2010 N.C. Election Demonstrates Conservative Strength

John Locke Foundation president cites statewide legislative vote, rejection of sales-tax hikes

RALEIGH (Carolina Journal Online) — Nearly 60 percent of North Carolina voters cast ballots to give Republicans control of the General Assembly for the first time in more than a century. John Locke Foundation President John Hood says that's just one sign of the strength of conservative candidates and issues in Tuesday's election.

"It was clear relatively early on Election Night that Republicans were going to pick up enough seats to flip the tables on Democrats and hold substantial majorities in both legislative chambers," Hood said. "What's clear now is that the district-by-district results fit with a general theme of voters throwing overwhelming support to conservative candidates."

Of more than 2.46 million votes cast in state Senate races, 1.45 million voters (59 percent) chose Republicans, while 1 million selected Democrats. The percentages were the same in state House races, where 1.41 million North Carolinians voted Republican, compared to 970,000 who voted for Democrats.