Election Season Is in Full Bloom With Both Trump and Biden Visiting North Carolina

Trump comes to Selma. Biden lands in Greensboro. What is this, 2020?

Former president Donald Trump held a rally in Selma, North Carolina to air grievances and endorse several candidates this weekend and President Joe Biden will be in Greensboro on Thursday to highlight one of his signature legislative achievements.

What is this, 2020?

Yes, the midterm election season is in full swing.

Historically, far fewer people vote in midterm elections than in general elections. Many surveys, in fact, show that people are often entirely unaware there are elections outside the national frenzy of presidential races. But midterms are just as consequential as presidential elections.

The 2022 midterms will decide which party controls the US House and Senate, determine the future of NC’s Supreme Court, and set who’s in charge of the NC General Assembly, where crucial decisions on healthcare, equity, voting rights and potentially even abortion rights will be made.

Biden’s Thursday NC visit is part of a “Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour,” the White House says, to detail the effects of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed last year. The legislation will bring trillions of dollars to rural areas across the country to establish high-speed internet, repair crumbling roads and bridges, modernize wastewater systems, and ensure clean drinking water, among several other things.

According to White House estimates, the legislation will bring North Carolina hundreds of millions of dollars in direct assistance to improve health and access for rural areas.

As for Trump, in his weekend rally he repeated his often-repeated lies that the 2020 election was stolen, and offered his support for US Rep. Ted Budd, who represents Burlington and is running for one of North Carolina’s US Senate seats.

The party primary elections are on May 17, where voters will choose who will represent each party in the general election in November.

Here is a quick look at the rest of primary election calendar and the key dates you need to know:

Last day to register to vote in the primary – April 22

Early voting starts – April 28

Deadline to request an absentee ballot – May 10

Early voting ends – May 14

Primary election – May 17