North Carolina’s Political Strategies: A Swing-State Blueprint for Wisconsin Democrats Under Devin Remiker

June 16, 2025 | Boncopia.com

A New Leader for Wisconsin’s Democratic Fight

On June 15, 2025, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (WisDems) elected Devin Remiker as its new chairman at its state convention in Wisconsin Dells, setting an ambitious course for the 2026 midterm elections. As a swing state with a history of tight races, Wisconsin shares striking similarities with North Carolina, another battleground where Democrats have made gains through innovative strategies. North Carolina’s political tactics—focusing on voter mobilization, contesting all races, and leveraging demographic shifts—offer a playbook for Remiker and WisDems to secure a Democratic “trifecta” in 2026. By examining North Carolina’s strategies, WisDems can refine their approach to energize voters, counter GOP tactics, and maintain Wisconsin’s competitive edge.

Devin Remiker’s Vision: Driving WisDems Toward 2026

Devin Remiker, a 32-year-old former WisDems executive director, won the chairmanship with 485 votes in a ranked-choice election, defeating Joe Zepecki and William Garcia. Building on outgoing chairman Ben Wikler’s legacy, which raised $262 million and secured victories in 10 of 13 statewide races since 2019, Remiker’s platform emphasizes year-round organizing, grassroots engagement, and leveraging Wisconsin’s newly fair legislative maps. His call to “hit the gas” targets key 2026 races, including the governor’s seat, 17 state Senate seats, and a state Supreme Court position.

North Carolina, like Wisconsin, is a purple state where elections hinge on narrow margins. Barack Obama’s 2008 win by 14,000 votes (0.3%) and Joe Biden’s 2020 loss by 74,000 votes (1.3%) mirror Wisconsin’s close contests. North Carolina’s strategies, particularly under young Democratic Party chair Anderson Clayton, provide actionable insights for WisDems to navigate Wisconsin’s competitive landscape.

North Carolina’s Political Landscape: A Purple State in Flux

North Carolina’s political history reflects Wisconsin’s swing-state dynamics. A Democratic stronghold from 1880 to 1964, it shifted Republican post-Civil Rights Act, with the GOP’s “Southern Strategy” capitalizing on white conservative unease. Since 1968, Republicans have won 10 of 12 presidential elections, except for Obama’s 2008 victory and Jimmy Carter’s 1976 win. Yet, North Carolina remains competitive, with Democrats winning seven of eight gubernatorial elections since 1980, including Roy Cooper’s 2016 and 2020 victories by 10,300 and 235,000 votes, respectively.

The state’s voter base is evenly split, with 38% unaffiliated, 32% Democrats, and 30% Republicans as of September 2024, per the N.C. State Board of Elections. Its political geography—urban Democratic strongholds in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Durham, conservative rural areas, and shifting suburbs—parallels Wisconsin’s divide between Milwaukee/Madison and rural counties. North Carolina’s growing diversity (28% Black, 7% Hispanic, 5% Asian) and rapid population growth, up 400,000 since 2020, mirror Wisconsin’s urban and suburban trends, offering opportunities for Democratic gains.

North Carolina’s Political Strategies: Lessons for WisDems

North Carolina’s Democratic strategies, driven by Clayton’s leadership and grassroots efforts, provide a model for WisDems. Here are key tactics and their relevance to Wisconsin:

1. Contesting Every Race

Under Anderson Clayton, North Carolina Democrats contested 168 of 170 state legislative races in 2024, up from 75% in 2022, flipping three seats and likely denying Republicans a supermajority. This “every race” strategy, backed by research showing a 0.4%–2.3% boost in top-of-ticket votes when all seats are contested, strengthened Democratic turnout in urban and suburban areas. WisDems can adopt this approach by fielding candidates in all Wisconsin legislative districts, leveraging fair maps to boost turnout in competitive areas like Green Bay and Eau Claire, as North Carolina did in Mecklenburg County.

2. Mobilizing Young and Diverse Voters

North Carolina Democrats, led by Clayton, targeted young voters (42% of registered voters under 43) and Black voters (23% of the electorate), with high turnout in Raleigh and Charlotte driving Obama’s 2008 win. Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign focused on these groups, though turnout dipped among Black voters. WisDems can replicate this by intensifying outreach to Milwaukee’s Black and Latino communities and young voters in college towns like Madison, drawing on North Carolina’s campus organizing model to register and mobilize students.

3. Issue-Driven Campaigns

North Carolina Democrats emphasized preserving democracy, healthcare, and reproductive rights. A 2024 Quinnipiac poll found 20% of voters prioritized democracy, while 23% cited immigration and 22% the economy. Josh Stein’s 2024 gubernatorial win over Mark Robinson leveraged Robinson’s controversial statements on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, framing Democrats as defenders of personal freedoms. Wisconsin Democrats have used abortion rights effectively, with 57% of voters opposing restrictive laws per a 2023 Marquette Law School poll. Remiker can amplify messaging on education funding, healthcare, and voting rights, appealing to Wisconsin’s urban and suburban voters, as North Carolina did in Charlotte.

4. Countering GOP Voter Mobilization

North Carolina’s GOP has strengthened its position through voter registration (adding 118,000 Republicans since 2020) and early voting (4 million votes in 2024). Republicans capitalized on rural turnout and moderate voters, flipping the state for Trump in 2024. WisDems face similar GOP efforts, such as voter ID measures. Remiker can counter by promoting early voting in urban and suburban areas, as North Carolina Democrats did, and addressing GOP election integrity narratives with transparent voter education, inspired by North Carolina’s response to restrictive laws like Senate Bill 202.

5. Rural and Suburban Outreach

North Carolina Democrats have ventured into rural areas, with Clayton opening offices in conservative regions to “lose by less,” as noted in X posts. Suburban growth in Wake and Mecklenburg counties, driven by college-educated voters (up 1.4 million since 1990), has shifted these areas Democratic. WisDems can emulate this by targeting suburban Waukesha and Ozaukee counties, while investing in rural outreach to reduce GOP margins in northern Wisconsin, learning from North Carolina’s efforts in the Black Belt.

Challenges and Opportunities for WisDems

North Carolina’s 2024 presidential loss, despite high early voting, highlights risks for WisDems. Lower Black voter turnout and GOP gains with moderates, as seen in North Carolina’s 2-point rightward shift, mirror Wisconsin’s 2024 loss to Trump. GOP-led voting restrictions, like eliminating the absentee ballot grace period, pose challenges, similar to Wisconsin’s voter ID measures. Remiker must ensure robust voter education to maintain access.

However, North Carolina’s successes—winning the governor’s race and key Council of State offices—offer hope. Wisconsin’s fair maps, like North Carolina’s competitive districts, create opportunities to flip legislative seats. Remiker can leverage Wisconsin’s urban strength and suburban trends, as North Carolina did in Charlotte, to build a winning coalition.

Remiker’s Roadmap: Applying North Carolina’s Lessons

Remiker’s leadership team, including First Vice Chair Sarah Godlewski and Second Vice Chair Joshua Taylor, can adapt North Carolina’s tactics with Wisconsin’s fundraising strength. Key priorities include:

• Contesting All Races: Field candidates in every legislative district to boost turnout, as North Carolina did in 2024.

• Young and Diverse Mobilization: Target Black, Latino, and young voters in Milwaukee and college towns, inspired by North Carolina’s campus strategy.

• Issue-Driven Messaging: Focus on democracy, healthcare, and reproductive rights, mirroring North Carolina’s gubernatorial campaign.

• Countering GOP Turnout: Promote early voting and combat voter ID narratives with education, as North Carolina addressed restrictive laws.

• Suburban and Rural Outreach: Flip suburban counties and reduce rural GOP margins, as North Carolina achieved in Wake County.

Why This Matters

North Carolina and Wisconsin are swing-state peers, with shared histories of close elections and growing diversity. North Carolina’s strategies—contesting all races, mobilizing diverse voters, and leveraging issues—offer WisDems a blueprint to secure 2026 victories. As Remiker leads WisDems forward, adapting these tactics could shape Wisconsin’s political future and inform national Democratic strategies in battleground states.

Thought-Provoking Questions for Readers:

1. How can WisDems under Devin Remiker replicate North Carolina’s strategy of contesting all races to boost turnout in Wisconsin’s competitive districts?

2. What lessons from North Carolina’s focus on young and Black voters can WisDems apply to engage Wisconsin’s diverse communities in 2026?

3. Can WisDems counter GOP voter mobilization as effectively as North Carolina Democrats, and what issues might drive their campaign in Wisconsin?

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Sources: Information compiled from Wisconsin Examiner, NBC26, WisPolitics, Marquette University Law, U.S. News, EdNC, NAACP, Charlotte Observer, Ballotpedia, BBC, Wikipedia, Brookings, ABC News, NCDP, New York Times, The Conversation, Washington Post, PBS News, LSE USAPP, Brennan Center, Swing Blue Alliance, and posts on X. For more on U.S. News & Politics, visit Boncopia.com.