NCBSE #NC09 results were not certified citing G.S. 163A-1180
That statute gives the Board to “take any other action necessary to assure that an election is determined without taint of fraud or corruption and without irregularities that may have changed the result of an election”
That statute gives the Board to “take any other action necessary to assure that an election is determined without taint of fraud or corruption and without irregularities that may have changed the result of an election”
Campaign managers for Harris and McCready were unaware of this development when I contacted them
Executive Director of NCGOP @DallasWoodhouse tells me he believes the issue stems out of Bladen County. Woodhouse expects this to be in court sooner rather than later #NC09 #ncpol @wsoctv
See also from @gercohen
In his motion, NCSBE Vice Chair Joshua Malcolm:
"I am very familiar with unfortunate activities down in my part of the state and I am not going to turn a blind eye to what took place to the best of my understanding which has been ongoing for a number of years."
"I am very familiar with unfortunate activities down in my part of the state and I am not going to turn a blind eye to what took place to the best of my understanding which has been ongoing for a number of years."
Link to the developing story: wsoctv.com/news/north-car…
So far no comments from Harris or McCready on the day's developments #NC09
Political expert @BowTiePolitics:
"We just don’t know what this is right now, but there is something substantial enough to warrant the state board to say, ‘We need to pause and investigate this,’” Bitzer said. “This is pretty significant.” #NC09
"We just don’t know what this is right now, but there is something substantial enough to warrant the state board to say, ‘We need to pause and investigate this,’” Bitzer said. “This is pretty significant.” #NC09
One note that I did not yet add to this thread. The decision to delay certification by NCSBE was unanimous.
NCSBE is made up of 4 republicans, 4 democrats and 1 unaffiliated #NC09
NCSBE is made up of 4 republicans, 4 democrats and 1 unaffiliated #NC09
New- the chairman of the Wake County Republican Party has filed a complaint against Chair of the State Board of Elections and Ethics Andy Penry @wsoctv
Still no word from Dan McCready or Dan McCready's team on the #NC09 developments.
Washington Post: "The investigation appears to be focused on Bladen County, but an official in Robeson County said that county also has been contacted" #NC09 #ncpol
washingtonpost.com/politics/nc-of…
washingtonpost.com/politics/nc-of…
Two of the affidavits reference Dowless working for the Harris campaign. (Harris camp hasn't responded)
One witness claims to have overheard someone saying Dowless would get a $40,000 bonus if Harris won.
Another witness claims Dowless told him he doesn't do checks, just cash
One witness claims to have overheard someone saying Dowless would get a $40,000 bonus if Harris won.
Another witness claims Dowless told him he doesn't do checks, just cash
Broken thread... it continues:
Per @StolpWSOC9: None of the 6 people who signed sworn affadavits donated to Harris or McCready #NC09 #ncpol @wsoctv
Reminder: An easier way to read this thread is here- twitter.com/i/moments/1068…
Well I deleted my old tweet because I tweeted the phone number for Tuesday's NCSBE meeting. Sorry all. Here is the right number: Call-in # for today's 10 a.m. NCSBE meeting is 415-655-0052. Code is 767-369-311.
Listening in on the (currently silent) NCSBE conference call. On the road with @CoreyWSOC9. Any guesses as to where we are headed?
NCSBE has been in closed session for almost two hours #NC09
Greetings from Bladen County
NCSBE coming back into open session momentarily #NC09
NCDP on the decision to delay certification:
"We applaud the board’s bipartisan decision to delay certification and fully investigate the concerning allegations in the Ninth Congressional District." #NC09
"We applaud the board’s bipartisan decision to delay certification and fully investigate the concerning allegations in the Ninth Congressional District." #NC09
In my time in Bladen County I encountered more red flags.
I stopped by Village Oak Apartments where there's a cluster of ABMs
I met a man named Stacy Holcomb. He says the same woman helped him request a ballot and she picked it up
He says she was wearing a Mark Harris t-shirt
I stopped by Village Oak Apartments where there's a cluster of ABMs
I met a man named Stacy Holcomb. He says the same woman helped him request a ballot and she picked it up
He says she was wearing a Mark Harris t-shirt
Another man I met in the complex is Joshua Bronson. He said no one approached him about an absentee ballot by mail but yesterday he had an unexpected visitor.
It was a state investigator.
"He asked me if anybody came by and asked me to register to vote." #NC09
It was a state investigator.
"He asked me if anybody came by and asked me to register to vote." #NC09
My interviews with Shipman, Holcomb and Bronson from my time in Bladen County today are airing at 6 on @wsoctv. I will post a link after the story airs
Included in this story- video from our time in Bladen County and interviews with two people who say a woman collected their absentee by mail ballots #NC09
wsoctv.com/news/local/swo…
wsoctv.com/news/local/swo…
Penry has now set his Twitter account to private. He has not tweeted about his resignation. He most recent tweet was two days ago when he commented on the performance of two UNC basketball players
Last week I stopped by Dowless' home twice and the Bladen County Soil and Water Conservation District office. He wasn't there. A county employee told me he doesn't appear in the office much unless there is a meeting. The employee also wasn't sure if Dowless uses a computer.
Dowless is well known in Bladen County political circles. He worked on the campaigns for several eastern North Carolina politicians. Campaign finance records show his first work was for a DA candidate in 2010. He has made thousands for "get out the vote" efforts #NC09
During the 2016 #NC09 primary, Dowless wasn't on team Harris. He worked for Todd Johnson. Johnson finished last in the primary but first in Bladen County. Dowless was paid $6,456. The purpose? "Get out the vote."
The NCSBE is currently investigating irregularities related to absentee by-mail voting. Johnson dominated Pittenger (then incumbent albeit in a newly drawn district) and Harris.
Johnson received 98% of ABMs in Bladen County.
221 of 226 votes.
Johnson received 98% of ABMs in Bladen County.
221 of 226 votes.
Two affidavits reference Dowless working for the Harris campaign in 2018. As first reported by @jimmorrill, Dowless was working for Red Dome as a contractor. Payments to Dowless don't show up on campaign finance reports but Red Dome was paid more than $428,000 by Harris
One man who signed an affidavit says Dowless told him he is doing "absentees" for Harris.
In the 2018 primary, Harris dominated incumbent Robert Pittenger on this front in Bladen County.
Harris received 96% of the absentee votes over Pittenger.
In the 2018 primary, Harris dominated incumbent Robert Pittenger on this front in Bladen County.
Harris received 96% of the absentee votes over Pittenger.
In the 2018 general, Harris received 61% of the ABMs in Bladen County over Dan McCready. Analysis by @BowTiePolitics shows how that compares to the other counties in #NC09
Dwight Sheppard, a fire inspector in Bladen County, told me in an interview last week that Dowless has people pick up ABMs after they are filled out. Sheppard signed one of the affidavits about Dowless but he did not make this claim in it.
Dowless has another tie to Charlotte.
#CLTCC republican district 2 candidate in 2017 Pete Givens paid Dowless $800 for "consulting fees."
Givens is friends with Harris. Harris also threw a fundraiser for him.
#CLTCC republican district 2 candidate in 2017 Pete Givens paid Dowless $800 for "consulting fees."
Givens is friends with Harris. Harris also threw a fundraiser for him.
Dowless is not only tied to Harris in the 2018 election. Campaign records show Bladen County Sheriff James McVicker hired him. The purpose- "get out the vote." Dowless was paid at least $7,000.
One more note on Red Dome. According to the North Carolina Secretary of State's office, the group was dissolved in August 2017. This doesn't mean the group can't operate, but it does mean the group isn't in good standing with the SOS.
Story from tonight, video included: Who is McCrae Dowless? Man who appears to be at center of 9th District investigation
wsoctv.com/news/local/man…
wsoctv.com/news/local/man…
