Skip to main content
UNC Libraries

North Carolina politics

Ah man stands with mah friends

Ah stands with mah friends, 1979: Powell depicts Jim Hunt, the longest-serving governor in North Carolina history, with his signature pompadour. The cartoon satirizes Hunt’s ambiguous public stances on several issues prior to his re-election in 1980. Some North Carolina politicians rejected his initiative on education, opposing a secular approach to teaching children and the excessive administration of schools by state bureaucracies. Hunt eventually won reelection by blending a North Carolina progressive agenda with some conservative measures.

The gentleman from North Carolina

The gentleman from North Carolina, November 1, 1984: Jesse Helms, a five-term Republican senator (1973-2003) from North Carolina and leader of the 1970s conservative movement, is often portrayed in Powell’s cartoons. Helms was nicknamed “Senator No” due to his opposition to many political issues of his day, including access to abortion, LGBTQ rights, affirmative action, communism, liberalism, tax increases, the Food Stamp Program, court-ordered busing to desegregate schools, and arts funding.

“… And don’t let me ever catch you dumping umpty zillion gallons of yuck into the Neuse again!!!”

“… And don’t let me ever catch you dumping umpty zillion gallons of yuck into the Neuse again!!!” May 3, 1996: In June 1995, Oceanview Farms, a hog farm in Onslow County, North Carolina, experienced the worst hog-waste spill in state history, causing 25 million gallons of waste to spill into the Neuse River. In October 1995, environmental groups also blamed hog industry waste for the deaths of over 10 million fish in the Neuse River. The News and Observer won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service for the reporting of Melanie Sill, Pat Stith, and Joby Warrick on the environmental and health risks of waste disposal systems used in North Carolina's growing hog industry.

Helms no-debate strategy

Helms no-debate strategy, June 6, 1996: This cartoon depicts the 1996 North Carolina Senate race between Republican Senator Jesse Helms and Democrat Harvey B. Gantt, the former mayor of Charlotte. Helms refused to debate or appear in public with Gantt, relying on television advertising to communicate with voters. Ultimately, Helms beat Gantt, winning reelection.

North Carolina’s very own spectator sport

North Carolina’s very own spectator sport, July 31, 2005: Powell frequently satirized the North Carolina General Assembly with his “plod hound” character. The North Carolina General Assembly designated the Plott hound as the official state dog, following a legislative proposal by State Senator Bob Swain on April 10, 1989. Powell’s character played off the new state dog and the speed at which the General Assembly operated.

Education lottery quiz

Education lottery quiz, May 23, 2006: In 2005, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) was established when Governor Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act. The NCEL was controversial, as a majority of state senators opposed the lottery at the time. However, when two opposing senators were absent, the Democratic-majority Senate leaders called for a special vote, which ended in a 24-24 tie. Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue cast the deciding vote as president of the Senate.

“I saved the bases! I saved the bases!…”

“I saved the bases! I saved the bases…” June 24, 2008: Both Elizabeth Dole and Beverly Perdue ran under the claim that they saved military bases across North Carolina from closure during their respective 2008 political campaigns. Perdue ultimately won her campaign and was elected as the first female governor of North Carolina, while Dole lost reelection to the U.S. Senate.

Jones Street Mastopus

Jones Street Mastopus, May 5, 2013: This cartoon features the North Carolina State Legislative Building, the meeting place of the North Carolina General Assembly. Republican lawmakers held a supermajority in the Senate and House of Representatives during the N.C. General Assembly 2013-2014 session. Bills introduced during this session addressed issues surrounding the state budget, tax law, health care, education, financial institutions, insurance, energy and the environment, and the military and veterans.

Old Reliable Place

Old Reliable Place, circa 2015: Powell depicts the longtime headquarters of The News and Observer in downtown Raleigh, nicknamed “The Old Reliable." In 2015, the newspaper announced its headquarters' relocation due to the rising costs of downtown real estate.

C’mon… somethin’ stick!

C’mon… somethin’ stick!, November 2016: Pat McCrory, incumbent Republican governor of North Carolina, attempted to use an accusation of voter fraud to hold on to his office after losing by less than 10,000 votes to Roy Cooper in the 2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election. McCrory alleged improper vote counting and the votes of the deceased and felons swung the vote for Cooper. Officials refuted this claim, stating there were no irregularities in the counting process. On December 5, 2016, McCrory conceded the race to Cooper.

Cooper’s agenda vs. the legislature

Cooper’s agenda vs. the legislature, December 11, 2016: Following his election in November 2016, North Carolina’s Governor Roy Cooper faced significant roadblocks from Republican lawmakers. In an emergency meeting, Republican lawmakers passed laws that decreased the incoming Democratic governor’s power. These laws reduced the number of positions the governor could appoint from 1,500 to 400, while transferring control over elements of state education and information technology systems away from the governor. The laws also mandated that all state cabinet appointments be approved by the N.C. Senate, a condition that had not been in place in the state before.