Ren Larson, Author at The Assembly NC

How North Carolina Got a Trump-Backed Voting Chief

State Auditor Dave Boliek walks past a protestor near the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh, N.C. on February 5 2025. (Cornell Watson for The Assembly)

Republicans have wanted to regain control of the state election apparatus for years. With state Auditor Dave Boliek, they’ve found their man.

How the N.C. Legislature Bankrolls Anti-Abortion Centers

Gateway Women’s Care is a crisis pregnancy center with three locations in the Triangle. (Kate Medley for The Assembly)

Over the past three years, the state legislature has given $30 million to crisis pregnancy centers, with little oversight or outcomes.

Company Misspent $6.2 Million in State Funds to Lure Olympic Groups, Audit Finds

A field hockey player works out at the U.S. Performance Center gym. (Photo by Travis Dove for The Assembly)

A review finds the U.S. Performance Center misspent nearly a quarter of the funds it was given by the legislature.

Democrats Break the GOP Supermajority in the Legislature–But Barely

North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh.

State House Democrats gained one seat Tuesday, diminishing Republicans’ advantage and giving Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein more leverage.

Critics Accuse Democratic Ag Candidate Sarah Taber Of Overstating Qualifications

Sarah Taber, Democratic candidate for commissioner of agriculture, talks to fairgoers. (Matt Ramey for The Assembly)

Taber is facing a five-term incumbent with deep ties to farmers around the state.

Bringing Home the Bacon

The legislature’s use of secretive grants sometimes called pork barrel spending has exploded. (Illustration by Nicole Pajor Moore)

In the last four years, lawmakers gave $2.3 billion to hundreds of organizations without a competitive process. Will the next auditor do anything about it?