Cawthorn case put on hold
Staff Reports
Candidate filing for North Carolina’s 2022 primary elections, as well as rescheduled municipal elections, will resume at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, and end at noon on Friday, March 4, under an order issued Tuesday by the Superior Court of Wake County.
The order by a three-judge panel upheld state legislative and congressional district maps being challenged in redistricting-related lawsuits, allowing election season to move forward.
“State Board of Elections staff will immediately begin preparing for the continuation of the candidate filing period, including securing a location to ensure the health and safety of staff and candidates,” said Karen Brinson Bell, State Board executive director. “We will provide all details to the public as soon as possible at ncsbe.gov and through an announcement distributed to the media.”
County and municipal candidate filing will also resume on Feb. 24 and take place at the county board of elections offices. Contact the specific county office for hours of operation and COVID-19 protocols.
Case against Cawthorn on hold
Meanwhile, a separate court order on Tuesday ordered the suspension of the consideration of any challenges to candidates for U.S. House, N.C. House, and N.C. Senate, until final resolution of the litigation in the redistricting cases, North Carolina League of Conservation Voters v. Hall.
Such a challenge was filed against U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-11) on Monday, Jan. 10. A group of 11 North Carolina voters challenged Cawthorn’s ability to run as a candidate in light of his participation in a rally Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. that argued against the presidential election and preceded the Capital riot.
Cawthorn filed to run as a candidate for the 13th district last month. The voters argue he can’t run as his participation in the Jan. 6 rally disqualifies him under the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution. The amendment states that no candidates can serve in Congress who: “having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress . . . to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same.”
The State Board was planning to appoint a panel to hear that challenge during a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 12, as required by state law.
In accordance with the court’s order, the State Board canceled its meeting, and consideration of that pending challenge is postponed until resolution of the redistricting cases.