Steve Cortes, Founder of the League of American Workers, said Republicans now hold a voter registration advantage over Democrats in North Carolina for the first time amid voter anxiety over economic conditions.
“North Carolina News: some great, some really challenging,” said Cortes. “Republicans have a registration edge — first time ever. Dem brand implodes. Big deal. Concurrently, voters are super stressed about the Economy & they blame the governing GOP.”
According to an X post by Cortes on January 19, 2026, which links to his article in the Daily Signal, a statewide poll conducted by the League of American Workers shows Republicans outnumbering Democrats in registration for the first time in state history. The article notes that the economy is the top concern for voters, with 76 percent citing grocery prices and 34 percent grading the economy with an F. Cortes attributes this shift to voter dissatisfaction with Democratic policies.
Multiple sources, including the Carolina Journal, reported that registered Republicans now outnumber Democrats in North Carolina as of early 2026. This shift occurs amidst economic challenges where voters identify high prices and healthcare costs as primary financial stressors. Affordability issues in childcare, housing, food, and healthcare continue to impact families across the state.
In a broader context within the United States, Gallup data indicates that a record 45 percent of adults identify as political independents in 2026. Democrats have lost ground in voter registration across all 30 states that track party affiliation between 2020 and 2024. This trend suggests increasing disaffiliation from major parties amid broader political dissatisfaction.
Cortes is also a senior political advisor to CatholicVote and has served as a senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance. He is known for his commentary on Fox News and CNN and regularly releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.
