Early voting begins this week in NC primary election

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina is set to play a pivotal role nationally in the battle for control of Congress in the midterms, and there are also some key races at stake.

The primary is now less than a month away on March 3rd, but campaign mode is in full swing as early voting begins this Thursday, February 12th.

It all comes as North Carolina is proving to become a key battleground state, as both parties are working to turn out their bases after a string of nearly 50-50 statewide races.

"Allison Riggs in 2024 won a Supreme Court justice fight by 734 votes and she would tell you too that that couldn't have happened if we hadn't made sure that there was somebody in every corner of the state talking about Democrats up and down the ballot. And that really helps when you've got somebody competing for someone's vote everywhere," says North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton.

"We've had a previous structural advantage where we turn out our voters at a higher rate than Democrats. So this now gives us a second structural advantage over the Democrats as we go into the general election," says NC Republican Party Chair Jason Simmons.

At the top of the ticket this time is the race for U.S. Senate. With Republican Thom Tillis not seeking re-election, the open race will be critical in deciding which party controls the Senate.

Both parties have primaries, with two front runners on each side. Democrats landing their ideal candidate in former Governor Roy Cooper hoping to flip the seat, while Republicans have been rallying behind former RNC Chair Michael Whatley.

That race is expected to be expensive and hotly contested in November.

But in some seats considered safe for either party, It's the primary that is the main contest. One Congressional race to watch, U.S House District 4, the bluest district in state, including Durham and Orange Counties. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee is in a rematch with Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam in what's becoming a symbol of the debate within the Democratic Party.

Allam is touting endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders who's campaigning for her in Durham this week and positions including Medicare for All, while Foushee is arguing she also had stood up against the Trump administration and has also stood up for progressive ideals.

Some other big open races in Wake County are some at large seats on the county commission.

And the open race for District Attorney as Wake DA Lorrin Freeman announced she is not running for re-election.