County voters voice their opinions on Election Day
Election Day saw voter turnout in Pamlico County fall relative to 2024’s general election and 2022’s midterm. In the majority of state races, county voters leaned right roughly along a 60/40% split Republican and Democrat respectively. Despite this, North Carolina Democrats saw victories across the state. Roy Cooper was elected for the U.S. Senate, Anita Earls for NC Supreme Court Seat 1, and all three Democratic Court of Appeals candidates won their races.
Notably for Pamlico County, Democrat Don Davis won his race in the newly redistricted 1st Congressional District for United States House of Representatives, receiving 49.6% of the vote. 2,387 of those 151,134 votes came from Pamlico County.
Only 39.38% of Pamlico voters picked Davis, with the other 57.52% electing for Republican Laurie Buckhout, shifting from 2024’s election. Two years ago, Pamlico split 84.78% to 15.22%, but that race in then District 3, was between Republican Greg Murphy and Libertarian Gheorghe Cormos.
58.85% (6,118 out of 10,396) of the eligible voter population participated in this year’s midterm election, down from last year’s general election at 75.93% (8,014 out of 10,555) and just behind 2022’s midterm elections at 62.23% (6,184 out of 9,937).
Across the six precincts, Election Day saw a slow but steady stream of voters rolling through the town halls and volunteer fire departments around the county. From first time voters to lifelong residents, the day came with a sense of purpose.
Matthew and Arien Kuhn, who moved to Oriental in April of 2024, felt strongly about their participation this year. “Balance of power,” Arien, 47, explained her presence at the polls, with her husband Matthew, 53, adding, “I just generally don't like the direction of the country, (I’m) trying to vote for change.”
The pair have been concerned by the current administration’s attitude. “Nobody respects anybody anymore, so hopefully, you know, we get this current administration out and we can bring back just respecting people,” Arien said.
On the other side of the aisle, Phill Burr, 68, and voting out of Reelsboro, is concerned the elections could halt President Trump’s momentum. “There's been a lot of good things that have taken place, and I think there's more good things to come. But, it's not going to happen unless we can hold the House and the Senate.”
Burr’s focus has remained on the Senate this cycle, expressing discontent with current North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis. “I don't feel that he's truly a Republican, so I definitely wanted to get my vote in there.”
Burr also shared his confidence about the results, anticipating a possibly unexpected shift. “I think that the polls and a lot of the information that's put out there is not as clear or accurate as it could be. And I'm confident that we're going to pull the election off,” Burr said.
For others like Rhoda Moore Sawyer in Grantsboro, the election was less determined along hard party lines. “(There’s) some Democrats I like, some Republicans I like. I'm an equal opportunity voter.” A Pamlico County native, Sawyer worked for 15 years as the office manager for the county water system.
While not as focused on political parties, Sawyer was driven to vote on one particular issue. “I like the voter ID, I'm a firm believer in that. If you're going to vote, show them who you are.” The North Carolina Constitutional amendment, which later passed after the election, requires photo identification to vote for all voters, not just those in person.
Among the campaign signs outside every polling station stood tents for either political candidates or parties offering further insight about the election. Inside, voters provided their names and addresses before silence filled the room as they carefully filled in each bubble.
Out of Hobucken, first time voter Cassidy Ireland, 18, described the experience in one word: “Nervous.” Accompanied by their mother Catherine Skinner, 41, the pair waited patiently to get Ireland’s ballot as a poll worker answered the phone.
“I think it's important, especially like, you know, politics have gotten way, stronger nowadays than they were probably 10 years ago. But also I was a kid 10 years ago, so I think every little thing matters a lot more now than it may have back then,” Ireland said.
Skinner, who voted earlier, was driven by religion when making her election picks. “I look at things from more of a biblical standpoint, a religious standpoint. I think that everybody has faults. I think you pick the lesser of the two evils in it, and you kind of have to base it off of what your belief system is.”
Skinner added, “That's kind of where I look at things, whereas, you know, she looks at things a little bit differently, but that's her opinion. And I want her to do what she feels, you know, she's her own person.”
Despite any different perspective the two clearly agreed on one thing: “I'll be glad when these commercials and phone calls finish,” Skinner said with Ireland laughing in agreement. “And the hate between it is so strong, you know? And I wish that wasn't, you know; when you're watching TV, or YouTube ads and stuff, and it's like, ‘this one did this,’ and ‘this one,’ and I'm like, ‘why can't y'all just say what you're for, instead of saying what they've done wrong?’ You know, that's just how it is nowadays, I guess.”
