North Carolina’s 28th Senate District wasn’t supposed to be competitive, but internal squabbling in the Democratic Party has made it so ? at least to some degree. It’s one third-tier race to watch tomorrow night.
The district encompasses southwest/central Guilford County. Democrats enjoy an almost 60 percent advantage in voter registration, compared to Republicans’ 22 percent. In 2008, the district broke for Obama over McCain 70-30 percent.
So why is it even remotely competitive? Because Democrat-turned-independent candidate Bruce Davis mounted a successful petition drive to get his name on the ballot, Democrats fear the vote could be split between Davis and the real Democratic nominee, Gladys Robinson.
Republican Trudy Wade, a current member of the Greensboro City Council and former Guilford County commissioner, is vying to take the seat from the Democrats’ hands.
Another factor that makes the district more competitive is that it’s an open seat. Incumbent Democrat Katie Dorsett, a four-termer, decided not to run for re-election at the last minute.
Republicans hope the following scenario plays out: Democrats split their vote between Robinson and Davis, clearing the way for Wade to win a plurality of votes and snag the seat. In the event of that unlikely outcome, the seat would be very tough to defend for the GOP in 2012, given its demographics.
At the very least, it’ll be an entertaining race to watch tomorrow night.
