Graft and patronage.
Kind of like liquor inspectors.
Exactly, only it's gas pump inspections, tobacco allotments, State Fair contracts, and other little things all over the state that add up to LOTS of bribes.
The Ag Deptartment, by far, has they largest number of patronage positions of any department outside the direct control of the Governor's office.
And for reference sake: Article VI, Sec. 5 of the NC Constitution reads: All elections by the people shall be by ballot, and all elections by the General Assembly shall be viva voce. A contested election for any office established by Article III of this Constitution shall be determined by joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly in the manner prescribed by law.
It was seriously believed, after a motion filed with the Supreme Court by Atkinson, that the Dems were going to do just precisely this... their only other option than the Special Election just blown out of the water.
Basnight could still try this, "reluctantly" after the House pulls the stunt.. but WHAT a can of worms.
NO one has ever tried exercising this part of the Constitution, and it looks to me like it calls for a Joint Ballot, which would mean a Joint Session... The lawsuits would fly...