North Carolina Republicans focus on “direct political battles” to ramp up ground-based campaigning in battleground state

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republicans are employing both data-driven and direct approaches to target key voters in this battleground state where electoral votes are historically decided by just a handful of people.

Republicans have won North Carolina in the last three presidential elections, but consistently by just a few thousand votes, with former President Trump winning by about 4% in 2016 and 1% in 2020. The last Democrat to win the state was former President Barack Obama in 2008, by less than 14,000 votes.

As Republicans step up their get-out-the-vote efforts this term, front-line campaign leaders told Fox News Digital they are focusing resources on encouraging early voting and reaching the key 1 to 2 percent of voters that could decide the election outcome.

North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons told Fox News Digital they've had an “overwhelming” response to the door-to-door canvassing and grassroots efforts.

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“We've been actively engaging with all of our grassroots activists and we're getting a really enthusiastic response. People are excited. As I travel from one end of the state to the other, I see Trump Captains really engaging with North Carolina voters and getting the message across about why it's important to get out there this year more than ever,” Simmons told Fox. “They're going door to door every day, they're making phone calls, they're talking to North Carolina voters about the issues that matter most to them.”

Republicans in the state are also using the data to try to boost voter turnout among residents who didn't vote in past elections.

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“This is really about digging into the data and identifying voters who agree with us, particularly those with low to moderate propensity to support, and getting in front of them and talking to them about the issues that matter most to them and encouraging them to make a plan and get out and vote,” Simmons said.

After speaking with voters across the state, Simmons said the economy, inflation and the southern border are top concerns for North Carolina voters.

Republicans have also stepped up their efforts to encourage early voting this election cycle, and Dallas Woodhouse, state director for the conservative training organization American Majority, said data shows more early voting would benefit Republicans in 2024.

“We have field teams out right now educating conservative voters about the importance of early voting, voting by mail in North Carolina and the safety of voting by mail. We're trying to reverse some of the trends that have made it difficult for conservatives in 2020 and 2022,” Woodhouse said. “What we know is that the earlier you vote, the more efficient it is for candidates and parties. And when you wait until the last minute, you run the risk of illness or inclement weather, and the cost per vote goes up significantly.”

Woodhouse said American Majority plans to visit 500,000 homes in the state and reach 1 million voters by phone and 1.5 million voters by text message by Election Day.

A campaign worker from American Majority, a conservative training group, is in North Carolina. (Fox News Digital)

“All you can do is go out there every day and fight, spread the message of free markets, limited government and a strong national defense, and encourage people to put their actions to the vote.”

Woodhouse added that the election in North Carolina “will be a close game.”

“The reality is that North Carolina is so close. … So there's a direct political battle going on voter by voter, house by house, to get every single voter out to the polls.”

North Carolina lieutenant governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson has recently come under fire following a CNN report alleging he had previously made lewd comments, including calling himself a “black Nazi” on a porn site in the late 2000s. Just days after the allegations, his campaign released a statement saying various senior staff members had resigned.

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on September 25, 2024. (Evan Vucci)

“The comments and allegations made by Mark Robinson are deeply disappointing, disturbing and concerning,” Simmons told Fox about the recent controversy. “But ultimately, it's up to him to speak to North Carolina voters and show them that these are not his words or his values, and we will continue to speak to North Carolina voters about the issues that matter most to them.”

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Both President Trump and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Harris, have been campaigning across upstate states with just weeks to go until the November 5 presidential election.