Name this historic NC clubhouse

November 6, 2026

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Hey, it’s Billy.

In this Friday edition of Cardinal & Pine, we’ve got a new round of “Where are we in NC?” below, but first:

This week’s Good News Friday includes a big state park expansion and one resourceful effort to repair the environmental damage of Helene.

But we center it, naturally, on the absolutely astonishing turnout in this week’s midterm elections.

As C&P contributor Ryan Pitkin points out, the 2026 turnout rivals one of the most bitterly contested Senate races in North Carolina history. Who remembers Harvey Gantt and Jesse Helms?

We took a closer look at the numbers, and tell you why they’re so remarkable.

Read Good News Friday here.

North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton speaks at an election night event for Democratic Senate candidate Roy Cooper, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)

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Thanks for reading the Cardinal & Pine email. Here’s what’s in it today:

The view from Little Cataloochee
C&P’s most-viewed content this week
Where are we, NC?

Billy Ball

Senior Newsletter Editor, Cardinal & Pine

This election season, Cardinal & Pine journalists were on the ground across North Carolina. We knocked on doors, attended town halls, tracked down candidates, and worked late nights to keep you informed. From social media and newsletters to live blogs, we brought you the latest wherever you followed the news.

The election is over, but our work isn’t. We’ll keep covering the issues that matter to North Carolinians and holding elected leaders accountable.

That work is possible because of you. Can you chip in $25, or any amount, to support the journalists behind our reporting?

Donate →

Cheryl Ruffulo photographed this gorgeous fall view from Little Cataloochee.

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1. North Carolina’s 2026 election: Democrats’ big night keeps getting bigger

“Democrats claimed big wins in the US Senate, US House, the courts, and won a majority in one chamber of the NC General Assembly.”

2. Five reasons why the GOP got crushed in North Carolina

“Democrats flipped the script in a purple state that’s been dominated by Republicans since 2010. Republicans were completely annihilated.”

3. Opinion: In NC, a student got turned away from early voting. Here’s what happened next.

“She appeared to be a student at Duke University. I didn’t catch her name. Her ankle was wrapped in tape. After waiting 45 minutes or more at an early voting site in Durham, she came out looking demoralized.”

4. In an age of AI, these North Carolina makers are keeping heritage crafts alive

“Makers are bringing back traditional heritage crafts in North Carolina and sharing them with those eager to make something no computer ever could.”

Dee Browning via Shutterstock

Apparently last week’ s contest was too easy. I got more than a few emails that said: “Are you kidding?”

The fastest to correctly name the American Tobacco campus in Durham was John Elledge. John, you’re king of NC this week.

This week’s edition should be more challenging.

Where are we, NC?

Where are we?

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. I’m an NC native and journalist. I tend to lean left on opinion, but I lean no way on facts. Today’s edition includes stories from Ryan Pitkin. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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