Fifty-six legislators face no opposition this fall.
Fourteen Senate candidates and 42 House candidates will be elected without primary or general election opponents, based on filings with the State Board of Elections.
Among them: Senate leader Marc Basnight; House Speaker Joe Hackney; Former House Minority Leader Jonathan Rhyne, a Lincolnton lawyer who hasn't been a state lawmaker for 15 years; and Rep. Phil Frye, a Mitchell County Republican who recently was pulled over for driving while impaired.
"This is again another year where we don't have enough people running for office," said Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina. "Hopefully there will be more attention to that and more support for reforms."
He supports creating an independent commission to draw legislative districts, shortening the legislative session, boosting lawmakers salaries and publicly financing legislative races. (N&O)
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