John Nash

06/16/2026

02/23/2026

Current publicly released polling for the March 3rd Republican Primary has been limited to an Emerson College Polling/WNCT/CBS17 survey conducted February 6–8, 2026, which shows a close race for the Republican nomination:

Candidate Support %
Laurie Buckhout (Retired Army Colonel) 26%
Asa Buck (Carteret County Sheriff) 22%
Bobby Hanig (State Senator) 11%
Eric Rouse (Lenoir County Commissioner) 5%
Undecided 35%

Key Voter Demographics:

• Gender Split: Women voters favor Buckhout (26%) over Buck (17%), while men are nearly evenly divided (Buck 27%, Buckhout 26%).

• Unaffiliated Voters: This group breaks for Buckhout (26%) over Buck (16%) and Hanig (16%).

• Top Issues: Republican primary voters cited the economy (37%) and immigration (18%) as the most significant issues facing the state.

Next Public Poll Results:

WUNC News will release their polling results on February 27, 2026

If no candidate receives at least 30% of the vote in the March 3rd primary, a runoff election may be held on May 12, 2026.

02/23/2026

Trey, I share your concerns.

This law lets zoning move only one way (up in density) while locking everything else in place, making it harder for towns to fix real problems, all under the guise of “property rights.”

12/07/2025

This trend is why Unaffiliated voters are becoming the biggest voting block in North Carolina.

This is a chart of North Carolina's voter registration by party. It's fascinating, because underneath it are so many undercurrents:

- Republicans have not grown their % of the electorate since 1988, but have become far more competitive statewide
- Democrats have halved their % of the electorate since 1988, but remain formidable at all levels
- Neither party is growing, and voters are overwhelmingly choosing to register Unaffiliated

It would be incorrect to presume that "Unaffiliated" voters are all swingy independents. In reality, the vast majority are what's called "shadow partisans" who consistently vote in a straight ticket. There are also some registered Democrats who actually vote Republican, and registered Republicans who vote Democratic.

The future of North Carolina's electorate - and probably America's - is unaffiliated voters, and both parties will have to work to appeal to them.

11/28/2025

https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_7dcb173c-8d08-4a82-a168-80d102148c44.html

CEDAR POINT — Following municipal election results earlier this month, Cedar Point swore in a new town commissioner, Don Redfearn, and incumbents Jerry Riggs and Pamela Castellano to the five-member

11/26/2025

My tenure as a Town of Cedar Point Commissioner ended at last night’s Board of Commissioners meeting. I was recognized for my service prior to Commissioners Pamela Castellano Jerry Riggs and new Commissioner Don Redfearn were sworn in by Town Clerk Jayne Beyer.

I have been very honored and privileged to serve the Town in various capacities from 2016 until last night. First as chairman of the CEDARFEST town festival committee; as a member, vice chairman and later chairman of the Planning Board; member of the Board of Adjustment until finally being appointed and later elected as a town commissioner. I served for two years as Mayor Pro Tem.

I want to thank Mayor Scott Hatsell and Commissioners Frankie Winberry, Pamela Castellano, Gary Bray, Jerry Riggs and Don Redfearn, along with Town staff, for their friendship and service.

11/16/2025

I am a strong advocate for the proposed by-pass between Swansboro and Newport as well as the third bridge to help relieve traffic on our already over burdened roads and highways.

CEDAR POINT — A popular Morehead City establishment that serves coffee and cocktails, Mug Shot, is opening a second location in Cedar Point.