The state Republican Party will be holding its convention this weekend and it promises to be a hot time. As reported last week, mainline Republicans are upset with Richard Morgan for forsaking the House Republican Caucus and cutting a deal to become co-speaker. Morgan won’t be there to face the music. That’s not all that has mainliners upset. It is pretty well known that Morgan plans to see four long-time House Republican leaders (who didn’t back Morgan) thrown to the wolves in the upcoming redistricting wars.
Ed McMahan and Connie Wilson, both from Charlotte are reported to be put into a single member district, insuring that at least one of them lose. Further, Leo Daughtry (former Republican Speaker nominee and caucus chair) and Billy Creech both from Johnston County are going to be put in a single member district.
That still isn’t all mainliners are concerned about. Republicans have watched Morgan’s relationship with Democrats become friendlier and friendlier. They suspect Richard Morgan will actually help design more Democratic districts and actually help Democrats get elected.
The natives are restless. Morgan would be well advised to be on hand to defend himself . One of his supporters, Representative Danny McComas of Wilmington has said he will attend and has no apology for Morgan or the group that put him in power. According to McComas more has been accomplished in this session to date than in the past 20 years. ["more has been accomplished" = taxes were raised, abortion was "protected", Jim Black was orally stimulated] Does that satisfy party faithful? We suspect not.
Exactly.
And the state convention slamming will not help the redistricting operation one little bit. All it did was cement the "dem + 5" vs the "GOP - 5" house split. We're screwed, but at least everyone thinks they set them straight. LOL
So, what's our next plan for repairing the redistricting nightmare? Our, what was it Shannon Reeves said, oh, our strategy?