LUMBERTON, N.C. -- Robeson County is a political mixed bag, and could be a place to watch come Election Day in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District.
- The special election in the 9th District pits McCready against Republican Dan Bishop
- The population is split fairly evenly between whites, African Americans, and Native Americans
- Election Day is Tuesday, September 10
The county went for Obama twice, and Trump in 2016. Democrat Dan McCready carried the county last fall -- however, those results were ultimately tossed out after a case of absentee ballot fraud.
The special election in the 9th District pits McCready -- who was also the candidate on last fall’s ballot -- against Republican Dan Bishop. Mark Harris, the Republican on the 2018 ballot, declined to run again.
“I’m really kind of torn,” said Audrey Cox, an unaffiliated voter from Lumberton. She says she is looking for a candidate who is focused on “the strong interest of the people, not just about what might be a personal gain for their platform.”
Robeson County is diverse. Recent demographic data shows the population is split fairly evenly between whites, African Americans, and Native Americans.
The county’s Republican Chairman, Phillip Stephens, indicated that can make politics in the county somewhat complicated.
“None of these demographics vote in blocks. This county is one of the most diverse counties in the nation -- it’s a third of each demographic,” Stephens said. “If you took all the white voters, for example, and they all voted for Trump, Trump would still not have won this county.”
Stephens said Trump won in the county in part because of his economic message. The county has struggled economically, with recent hurricanes adding an extra gut bunch.
Among the voters Spectrum News spoke with, the reasoning behind their votes varied, from a reflection of their views of Washington to personal connections.
“I’ve just been so disappointed by the way the Democrats are acting in Congress. I just don’t have confidence in them any more,” said Peggy Sessoms, an unaffiliated voter from Lumberton who says she is backing Bishop.
Edward Scott, a Democrat from Lumberton, is backing McCready. “He strikes me as an upright man, an army vet, went to Iraq, I’ve been to Vietnam, so we're on the same wavelength,” he said.
Early voting is currently underway in the 9th District race. Election Day is Tuesday, September 10.