Our hearts are broken as we say goodbye to North Carolina's beloved four-term Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.

We extend our condolences to former First Lady Carolyn Hunt, Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt, and the Hunt family. 

There are no words to express what Governor Hunt meant to North Carolina and to all of us. He played a unique role in improving the lives of every man, woman, and child in our state today.

Governor Hunt spearheaded innovations which cemented North Carolina's place as a beacon in the South and national leader in public education, economic development, public health, and so many other areas of life.

Governor Hunt was a pragmatic leader whose immense political skills and never-ending devotion to North Carolina allowed him to establish a legacy which is unmatched. 

While our state has lost a giant, we take solace in the assurance that his influence will forever endure. We also pledge to continue Governor Hunt’s work.

We take more than a moment to reflect on the life of a great man and to express our gratitude for all he did to shape the North Carolina we know and love. 

Godspeed and thank you, Governor Hunt.

Today marks the solemn anniversary of a pivotal moment in our nation's history—the events of January 6th at the US Capitol. As we reflect, it’s essential to acknowledge both the triumphs and trials that have shaped our democracy since that fateful day.

At Now or Never NC, we stand united in our commitment to upholding democratic values and fostering an engaged, informed, and empowered citizenry.

The past three years have tested the resilience of our institutions and been a testament to the dedication of individuals who continuously strive to make a positive impact in our communities.

We’re immensely grateful for the genuine successes and milestones we've achieved together.

It's equally important to acknowledge the hard-fought electoral defeats and disturbing forces that serve as reminders of the challenges we face. 

The setbacks do not deter us, but instead strengthen our resolve to build a more inclusive, equitable, and just society for all.

As we remember January 6, 2021, we thank you for your unwavering dedication to this cause and we reaffirm our commitment to be a force for progress.

It’s with heavy hearts and fierce determination that we write to denounce the 12-week abortion ban passed by the Legislature over our Governor’s veto.  

We’re deeply disappointed that these legislators believe they can continue to enact an extreme agenda without the will of the people. And that they’re emboldened by recent decisions of our state Supreme Court on redistricting and voting rights in the lead up to this assault on reproductive rights. 

Of all the harmful steps this Legislature has taken over the past ten years, and there are legions, this may be the most dangerous, and the most stark warning for what they hope North Carolina will become.

Our response is a defining moment for us as North Carolinians.

We decide now whether this is our rallying cry or our whimper.  

Today, we choose to politically fight here at home, for the State we know and love. Please join us!

We’re equipped for this moment. We’re sufficiently of one mind, experienced, and resolved to help right these wrongs. It may not happen overnight, but we’re fighting back now. 

Let’s work together to win seats, force balance, and restore the forward-looking North Carolina we know.

Now or Never NC 

August 2022

Now or Never NC is announcing an important change to its candidate selection criteria to add women’s reproductive rights.

Until recent weeks, we’ve asked prospective endorsed candidates to affirm strong support for public education, redistricting reform, voting rights, and appreciation for the role of local government. 

But tragically, as we know, the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Many women across the country have already had their fundamental right to reproductive decision-making taken away. 

In North Carolina, abortion remains legal, though critical decisions will now be made by extreme State Legislators in Raleigh, especially if they regain a Supermajority.

Yet, there’s more.

This week, a federal judge reinstated a North Carolina ban on abortion after 20 weeks. And State Legislative “leaders” say they will eliminate women’s reproductive rights when the Legislature returns in January. 

That will happen if we cannot sustain Governor Cooper’s vetoes.

For this reason, Now or Never NC formally adds support for women’s reproductive rights as a fifth criteria for endorsed candidates.

Women must have decision-making over their own bodies.

The North Carolina we have known is a forward-looking beacon in the South, and leader in the nation. For almost a decade, our trajectory has been and remains in jeopardy. 

With phenomenal candidates, their campaigns, and you, we’ve helped blunt the tide and flip more than 15 State Legislative seats. 

In 2022, please join us in supporting our alumni and grounded challengers to protect women’s rights and prevent Supermajority return.

Now more than ever, it’s now or never.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing has left a hole in the collective heart of our nation.  

She was a history maker in the fight for justice and equality, and a history-enabler for generations who followed. A life of principle and immense purpose, both before and after joining the United States Supreme Court.

Many of us will mourn her loss at length, even with fright for what it may mean for her legacy and our nation.

But whether the flame she’s lit is dimmed in your heart tonight, or already raging to work for causes she championed with almost superhuman fight, we know we are led by her example.  

Her spirit and determination will live on within us, in you. We will build a more perfect union in her name. 

In that, and so many ways, her memory is most truly a blessing.

Make no mistake, the President & Vice President are making a play for North Carolina.

Both have been here this week, and they and their surrogates will continue to be in our state through the election. And the GOP National Convention starts later this month in Charlotte.

All our top challengers are running in districts the President won in 2016.

It’s true, thankfully, that in 2018 we (together) made great strides in electing challengers in many such districts.

Earlier today, Now or Never NC issued the following press release on the next phase of our efforts to create a new majority in the North Carolina State Legislature:

Now or Never NC welcomes Blair Reeves

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Raleigh – Now or Never NC, a volunteer-driven, independent political action committee dedicated to electing progressive candidates to North Carolina’s State Legislature, welcomes new team member Blair Reeves, creator of Long Leaf Pine Slate, a highly successful online fundraising project.

The immediate goal is to further propel top State Legislative challengers to help create a new majority in the 2020 elections.  Now or Never NC’s new grassroots, social media fundraising effort will utilize the moniker Longleaf Slate. 

Now or Never NC member Mark Granville stated:

“We welcome Blair Reeves, whose leading-edge work creating the Long Leaf Pine Slate has helped transform North Carolina political fundraising.  Now or Never NC amplifies the work of top challengers who are committed to the causes of public education, nonpartisan Redistricting Reform, voting rights, and have an appreciation for the role of local government. The addition of Mr. Reeves turbo charges our continued efforts to elect progressive candidates in North Carolina’s most competitive state legislative races in 2020.”

Blair Reeves offered this statement on the opportunity to join Now or Never NC:

“In state legislative campaigns, mostly unknown candidates must constantly compete with well-entrenched incumbents for donors and visibility.  Now or Never NC has done tremendous work supporting these candidates to help level the playing field and I respect their track record.  I’m eager to combine our strengths and join forces to most effectively get North Carolina back on a progressive trajectory and return fair elections, good government, and honest leadership to Raleigh.”  

Now or Never NC was founded in Raleigh in 2014, and has been a key, early supporter of many of the new progressive State Legislators elected in North Carolina over the past 3 election cycles.  For more information visit www.NowOrNeverNC.org  

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Now or Never NC 

On October 1, 2013, a group of concerned citizens, comprised of Democrats, Independents, and mainstream Republicans, met in the back of a salon in Cameron Village, in Raleigh.  

North Carolina had taken a hard political turn the right, though we knew of our State’s history of support for public education, and the role of Governors like Martin and Hunt.

As would be the case with subsequent gatherings in communities across the State, a future Legislator and future local elected official would join in. This effort was born. 

We established two main goals: 1) to focus time, talent, and resources on top-tier challengers in the most winnable districts in this gerrymandered State, and 2) to focus on actual solutions to our State’s most pressing concerns. 

The following mission statement ensued:

     WE ARE committed North Carolinians who know our state to be a place of reason and moderation.

     WE SEEK to support a forward-looking agenda, a common-sense approach, and a tone of civility in the public affairs of our state.

     WE AIM to promote changes that strengthen North Carolina's reputation as the best place to live, raise a family, educate a child, build a business, and pursue the American Dream.

     WE ASK for your gifts, talents, and time as we work together towards this goal.

     WE BELIEVE North Carolina is at a crossroads, and that the time to act is now.

Adversity, Resilience, Results:

Since then, with top challengers, their campaigns, and you, we’ve helped propel more than 15 top challengers to great victories, while facing considerable adversity. In 2014 and 2016, our first two cycles, the final weeks of each election were hard.

In 2014, a tide that saw the defeat of U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, close State Senate races were lost: one in Fayetteville we’d win back in 2018, and another in Wake County where Sarah Crawford is highly favored in 2020. 

In 2016, a tide that almost prevented Governor Cooper from winning office, Jane Hipps of Waynesville waged a valiant battle in a tough Senate district and subsequently with cancer. She inspired us all.  Joe Sam Queen would win back the overlapping State House seat in 2018. 

Also in 2016, Warren Judge of Kitty Hawk, one of the most tenured local elected officials in our State’s history, sadly passed away just days before the election. In 2020, it's an honor to back his widow, Tess, for the State Senate. 

The point is:  This effort and the people of North Carolina have the resilience and experience to win. 

For now, we’ll focus on the present crisis. 

While the temporary physical distance between us seems daunting, we’re sufficiently steeled and of one mind to get through this.  Soon enough, we’ll again marshal the talent and resources to politically fight where we are, for the heart and soul of America. 

Now or Never NC