North Carolinians made history this week by electing a Republican-led General Assembly for the first time in more than a century. The John Locke Foundation and Carolina Journal helped voters prepare for that election with analysis of important races, and JLF experts scrutinized the results for media outlets statewide. In the final days of the election season, CJ stories about top political races attracted attention. The Lincoln Tribune and Tar Heel Tribune published Associate Editor Sara Burrows‘ story about the hotly contested race in N.C. Senate District 50. The Lincoln Tribune also picked up Associate Editor David Bass‘ article about a three-way contest in House District 3; Meck Deck blogger Jeff Taylor‘s report on left-leaning activists’ efforts to force greater disclosure of donors to nonprofit political advocacy groups; and a column from Daren Bakst, JLF Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies, panning a proposed constitutional amendment to ban ex-felons from running for sheriff statewide. The Beaufort Observer published Bakst’s column as well. The Associated Press interviewed Joseph Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies, about the series of local sales-tax referendums placed on ballots across North Carolina. The Charlotte Observer, Greensboro News & Record, and WRAL.com picked up that story. WNCN Television interviewed Mitch Kokai, Director of Communications, about the sales-tax vote slated for Orange County. A Morganton News-Herald article quoted a county commissioner candidate who cited JLF research while making a final plea for votes. The Witty Sparks website also highlighted a video clip of JLF President John Hood outlining key legislative races to watch on election night. Hood headed to the News 14 Carolina studios that night to offer on-air commentary as the television station announced results. Kokai discussed election-night returns with Curtis Wright on WAAV/WFNC and with Pete Kaliner on WBT. Once the results were clear, the John Locke Foundation continued to offer its expertise. The Lincoln Tribune published Bass’ election recap and contributor Kristy Bailey‘s report on overblown allegations of voter intimidation, while News & Observer columnist Rob Christensen noted the potential positive impact of the election results on the John Locke Foundation’s influence in state government debates. Taylor offered post-election analysis for the WBT Radio morning show and for Tara Servatius‘ afternoon program. Hood also discussed election results Wednesday with Tara Servatius on WBT, and the Associated Press, Wilmington Star-News, and American Independent all sought Hood’s opinions about the electoral outcome. The Lincoln Tribune picked up a JLF news release featuring Hood’s insights about the results, and Hood shared his analysis with a national audience as well, through frequent contributions to National Review Online’s “Corner” blog. CJ Managing Editor Rick Henderson discussed election results with Chad Adams on WLTT Radio Wednesday morning, while Kokai returned to the WAAV/WFNC airwaves the next day to compare election notes with Curtis Wright. Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray discussed election results in presentations Thursday to the Cary Southwest Wake Republican Women and the Lower Cape Fear Republican Women in Wilmington. Those appearances followed Gray’s election eve Tea Party rally speech in Rockingham. Gray will recap election results during an appearance this afternoon on WTSB Radio. She’s scheduled to offer election analysis this weekend on N.C. Spin and Curtis Media Group’s “People and Politics” program.