Inside the 2024 North Carolina Governor's Race with Josh Stein Senior Strategist Morgan Jackson & Campaign Manager Jeff Allen

Pro Politics with Zac McCrary

Senior Strategist Morgan Jackson & Campaign Manager Jeff Allen helped guide Democrat Josh Stein to a historic win in the 2024 open-seat North Carolina Governor's Race over GOP lighting rod Mark Robinson. In this conversation, they both discuss how Stein went from trailing in many of the early polls to winning on Election Day by a historic 15-point margin. They talk the initial phase of the race with Robinson leading the polls, the Stein strategy to define Robinson early, the power of using Robinson's own words against him, the infamous "Nude Africa" scandal, the impact of storms and massive damage in Western NC, what is replicable for other campaigns from Josh Stein's victory, & much more digging into the signature gubernatorial race of the 2024 election.
IN THIS EPISODE

The political origin stories of both Morgan and Jeff...
How NC politics has completely transformed over the past 20 years...
The early machinations that led to a Josh Stein vs. Mark Robinson '24 campaign...
What led to Jeff managing the '24 Stein campaign...
The potential political strengths of Mark Robinson...
The initial core strategy and approach of the Stein campaign...
The story behind the impactful first TV ad showing voters Mark Robinson in his own words... (link to ad)
The Stein strategy to prioritize communications to Black voters...
The story & fallout of the "Nude Africa" disclosures that forced national GOP donors to cut Robinson loose...
The impact of the Hurricane Helene storms that hit Western NC...
How the big Stein margin helped NC Dems win other races downballot...
Their expectations heading into Election Day and reactions from the 15-point Stein victory...
Both Jeff and Morgan share some of their favorite spots around The Tarheel State...

AND...Roy Cooper, crazy uncles, the DCCC, Scott Falmlen, Pete Giangreco, Bill Graham, Bill Hefner, Jesse Helms, Jim Hunt, I-95, Jesse-crats, Mt. Rushmore, Pat McCrory, Myspace, Trey Nix, Barack Obama, Stephanie Pigues, RLG Media, shithouse rats, storm machines, Thom Tillis, Trump-proofing, visceral reactions, Mark Warner, water jets, Kathleen Williams & more!