Tag Archive for: #nchouse32

TownTalk: NC House 32 Contest Update

Vance and Granville counties are in the middle of a recount in the too-close-to-call contest for House District 32, which has Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn leading incumbent Republican Frank Sossamon by 233 votes.

Cohn led by 185 votes on Nov. 5, but that number grew to 233 following the Nov. 15 canvass to include provisional and absentee ballots.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Haley Rawles said Tuesday her team would begin the recount process at 8:30 this morning (Wednesday); information from the N.C. Board of Elections indicated that the Granville County recount would commence at 12 noon today, with an estimated time of 1-2 days for completion.

In a telephone interview Tuesday, Cohn said he was pleased with the overall process and said he has been pleased with the way both counties’ boards of elections have handled things.

“Given all the changes this year, staffing issues, all the normal hurdles…I could be more pleased with the effort they’ve put into this election cycle,” he said.

“You find out who you are as a person,” Cohn notes, “going through a highly competitive and highly scrutinized campaign like Frank and I went through.”

Cohn commended his campaign staff for knowing exactly what needed to be done, a heavy focus on the city of Oxford – where Cohn is a city commissioner – as well as Creedmoor, Butner and all of Vance County that sits within the boundaries of District 32.

Through outreach, engagement and “good old-fashioned door knocking,” Cohn said he was able to get his message to constituents.

The Republican majority in the House hangs in the balance, pending the outcome of this contest, but Cohn said he is focused on “governing from the middle.”

“The (Democratic) Party has to tack back toward the center because that’s where the bulk of the American people and North Carolinians are at – they’re more centrist than partisan on one side or the other,” he said.

“We have to co-govern with our GOP colleagues and find common ground,” he said, adding that if he goes to Raleigh to represent District 32, he’ll focus on “governing from a place of mutual understanding and try to work together, as opposed to throwing roadblocks.”

In his role as a city commissioner, Cohn said he has a new-found understanding of “how much we can’t do at the local level.” Municipalities have less and less control over things like zoning and planning, he said. Those changes have to come at the state level, he said. “In order to advance the things that we need in Vance County and in Granville County with infrastructure upgrades, we need to have more representation at the state level in order to get some of those initiatives passed if we want to continue to grow in both counties.”

CLICK PLAY! 

N.C. House Of Representatives District 32 Election Result 2024

UPDATE: Thursday, Nov 7

The N.C. House District 32 race is one of several tight contests that played out across the state during Tuesday’s election. And although Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn ended the night with 182 more votes than incumbent Frank Sossamon, it remains unclear whether there will be call for a recount.

Local elections officials still have to review provisional ballots, which must be verified before they are counted and added to the official results.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Haley Rawles said the provisional ballot meeting will take place in Vance County Thursday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.

According to information released earlier Thursday by the N.C. State Board of Elections, Vance County had a total of 163 provisional ballots cast – 141 on Nov. 5 and 22 during the early voting period.

In Granville County, a total of 417 provisional ballots were cast – 380 on Nov. 5 and 37 during the early voting period.

The Local Skinny! Frank Sossamon Speaks At Local GOP Rally

Frank Sossamon is no stranger to public speaking, having spent his career as a pastor. And during remarks at a recent Vance County GOP rally, Candidate Sossamon encouraged fellow Republicans to get out and vote in the November general election.

Sossamon, a political newcomer, is running for N.C. House District 32 on the Republican ticket.

He spoke to the partisan crowd of about 300 for about five minutes and said he has been traveling throughout the district, which includes Vance and much of Granville County.

“Overall, the reception has been extremely good,” Sossamon said.

A candidates’ forum will be held Thursday, June 30 at Sadie’s Coffee Corner in Henderson from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Sossamon will be there, as well as Republican candidate for Vance Sheriff Patrick Bailey and others. Local GOP Chairman Jimmy Barrier will be the moderator and the rising crime rate is set to be the topic.

“We want to receive information and give information about crime,”Sossamon said. Other forums are being planned at locations across the county, he added.

And there’s a fundraiser for Sossamon planned for Wednesday, Aug. 17 at the Henderson Country Club.

Sossamon spoke for about five minutes and, among other things, called the May primary turnout in Vance County “dismal.” He reminded those in attendance about talk of a “Red Wave” in November, referring to the election of Republican candidates in races up and down the ballot.

“It won’t be a Red Wave unless you jump in the water,” he said.

CLICK PLAY!