On this episode, Nancy speaks with Vernetta Alston, a state legislator in North Carolina. In 2017, Vernetta pivoted from a career as a criminal defense attorney to run for public office on the Durham city council. She was then appointed to fill an empty seat in the North Carolina General Assembly last spring and now she is in the enviable position of being an unopposed incumbent in her race. Vernetta and Nancy talk about the state of the state in North Carolina, home of the Bathroom Bill and extreme partisan gerrymandering. Vernetta explains what’s at stake if Republicans keep their majority in the legislature and what is possible if Democrats win. Vernetta also talks about life in the state capitol with the Republicans in power, having to deal with politics rather than policy, and how state legislatures affect people’s daily lives. Finally, Vernetta tells us why we all need to care about what happens in North Carolina in this election, no matter where we live.

Swing Left has a good resource for learning more about key North Carolina races, and you can donate to those races here.