WUNC Politics
413 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 36 ratingsThe WUNCPolitics Podcast is a free-flowing discussion of what we're hearing in the back hallways of the General Assembly and on the campaign trail across North Carolina.
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Episodes
Social studies teacher from 'the Neglected Northeast' wins NC House seat
April 12, 2024 16:00 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MBRodney Pierce, a middle school social studies teacher from Roanoke Rapids, narrowly defeated longtime incumbent Rep. Michael Wray in last month's Democratic primary. He campaigned with what he describes as an effort to "educate" voters about Wray's record in the N.C. House of voting with Republicans. Because no Republicans filed for the seat, Pierce will represent majority Black Warren, Halifax and Northampton counties in the legislature next year. Pierce spoke with WUNC's Colin Cam...
Meet the ECU student who defeated a 10-term NC lawmaker
March 29, 2024 16:00 - 13 minutes - 18.2 MBWyatt Gable, a 21-year-old student at East Carolina University, unseated 10-term Republican Rep. George Cleveland of Jacksonville, who’s in his 80s and is one of the oldest members of the state House. Gable will face Democrat Carmen Spicer in November, but House District 14 leans heavily conservative and he’s likely to become the youngest member of the state legislature next year. Gable spoke with WUNC's Colin Campbell about how he won a surprise victory in the primary and how to ...
Making sense of NC's primary results
March 06, 2024 21:00 - 51 minutes - 70.2 MBThe results are in for the 2024 North Carolina primary -- and while some of the top-tier races ended up where everyone expected, there were some big surprises further down the ballot, as well as some races that won't get resolved until a runoff election in May. WUNC's Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell sorts through the results in a late-night conversation with host Will Michaels, then joins other panelists on "Due South" with host Jeff Tiberii to discuss the takeaways and look ahe...
Big changes for 2024 voters under new election laws
March 01, 2024 17:00 - 27 minutes - 37.4 MBVoters in this year's primary will have a few new things to get used to. After years of legal wrangling, photo IDs are required to vote, but there's a process in place for voters who show up without one. And voters looking to use mail-in absentee ballots need to be aware of earlier deadlines. WUNC's voting and election integrity reporter, Rusty Jacobs, joins Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to explain what voters need to know as they participate in a big election year.
NC 2024 primary: Races to watch on the Republican Party ballot
February 16, 2024 17:00 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MBVoters in this year's Republican primary will decide whether they want Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson or one of his opponents as their nominee for governor. And elsewhere on the ballot, races for lieutenant governor, Council of State and open congressional seats have drawn a large number of Republican candidates. Candidates spending their personal fortunes on TV ads could have an impact on who wins. To sort through all the races to watch on the GOP side, WUNC spoke with N.C. Rep. Erin Paré...
NC 2024 primary: Races to watch on the Democratic Party ballot
February 02, 2024 17:00 - 41 minutes - 56.4 MBAs North Carolina’s March 5 primary looms, there’s not much competition at the presidential level on the Democratic side. President Joe Biden will be the only name on the ballot here, but there are plenty of races worth watching further down the Democratic Party ballot for governor, Council of State and legislative seats. Will low turnout lead to some surprise results? Will votes in support of Republican legislation cost several incumbent Democrats their seats in the state House and...
Main Street NC: Murphy's struggle to quiet a cryptocurrency mine
January 19, 2024 17:00 - 34 minutes - 47.3 MBThis episode is the sixth installment in our Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. One of the state’s only cryptocurrency mining operations is located a few miles outside Murphy at North Carolina’s far-western tip – and it’s driving the neighbors crazy. Even at a house a mile away, the sound can make it seem like you're next to a busy freeway. It comes from massive computer servers that are running the complex computations needed to power cryptocurrency. The out-of-...
Main Street NC: Star's quest to replace 100-year-old infrastructure
January 05, 2024 17:00 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MBThis episode is the fifth installment in our Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. Dozens of small towns across North Carolina are struggling to replace aging, often failing water and sewer infrastructure. The upgrades are needed to attract industry and residents back to places where textile and manufacturing plants have closed down. The tiny town of Star in Montgomery County, near Asheboro, is leading the way in addressing the problem -- securing more than $35 mi...
Main Street NC: Lumbees help turn Robeson County toward GOP
December 15, 2023 17:00 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBThis episode is the fourth installment in our Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is based in the small town of Pembroke, and this corner of Robeson County has one of the highest concentrations of American Indians in the state. The Lumbee Tribe is also a considerable political force across Robeson – and it’s had to fight hard throughout its history to gain that political power. In recent years, many Lumbees have helped shift Robe...
Main Street NC: Hurricane-ravaged downtown rebuilds on higher ground
December 01, 2023 17:00 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBThis episode is the third installment in our new Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. When Hurricane Matthew hit North Carolina in 2016, every business on Main Street in the small Columbus County town of Fair Bluff was underwater. A few had reopened by 2018 when Hurricane Florence brought a repeat of the same flood damage. Mayor Billy Hammond and other town leaders ultimately came up with a dramatic plan to address the issue: Build a whole new downtown-style comme...
Main Street NC: 'Tremendous change' in the state's fastest-growing town
November 17, 2023 17:00 - 20 minutes - 28.4 MBThis is the second installment in our new Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. In the coming months, we’ll be visiting communities across the state to hear from local leaders about the positives going on in their towns, and the challenges they face, from population loss to flooding to aging utility infrastructure. East of Raleigh, the once sleepy suburb of Wendell ranked as the fastest-growing town in North Carolina between 2020 and 2021, with a population that in...
Main Street NC: The state's fastest-shrinking towns seek a turnaround
November 10, 2023 17:00 - 20 minutes - 28.4 MBThis is the first installment in our new Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. In the coming months, we’ll be visiting communities across the state to hear from local leaders about the positives going on in their towns, and the challenges they face, from population loss to flooding to aging utility infrastructure. Our first stop is the Bertie County towns of Aulander and Lewiston Woodville. Lewiston Woodville Mayor Chris Cordon and recently retired Aulander Mayor La...
With new GOP-advantage redistricting maps, where do NC Democrats go from here?
October 27, 2023 16:00 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBThe state legislature wrapped up votes this week on new Congressional and state House and Senate district maps. The maps make it likely that Republicans will add three or four seats in Congress, while solidifying potential veto-proof majorities in the legislature. But with lawsuits looming over the maps, the fight isn't over. Senate Minority Whip Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, joins WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to discuss his concerns about racial and partisan gerrymandering i...
A slew of environmental changes become law as NC lawmakers override vetoes
October 13, 2023 16:00 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBMost of the focus at the state legislature this week was on the vetoed bills that change the rules for elections and take appointment powers away from the governor. But two other veto overrides got less attention – in part because the “regulatory reform” and “clean energy” bills are so complicated. Grady O’Brien of the North Carolina Conservation Network joins WUNC’s Colin Campbell to dig into the details — from a shift toward more nuclear power to efforts to pave the way for a new ...
A long-awaited budget bill passes and casinos strike out
September 22, 2023 16:00 - 34 minutes - 47.3 MBA high-drama week at the North Carolina legislature brought quick action on an overdue state budget, following a decision by Republican leaders to drop a proposal to add four new casinos in rural counties. Rep. Lindsey Prather, D-Buncombe, shares her thoughts on the budget — and its non-monetary policy provisions — with WUNC’s Colin Campbell. She also provides a look behind the scenes at how the budget process works for legislators from the minority party. Then Rockingham County Sh...
Happy hours and Sunday ABC store runs: NC reconsiders alcohol laws
September 08, 2023 16:00 - 31 minutes - 43.2 MBState House lawmakers advanced a 39-page rewrite of North Carolina’s alcohol laws this week. The bill includes major changes to how liquor is sold at restaurants, bars and ABC stores. To sort through the details, Lynn Minges of the N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association joins WUNC’s Colin Campbell. She discusses the economic value of happy hour and cocktails to-go for restaurants and bars, as well as some of the quirky aspects of the state’s alcohol regulations that make it harder fo...
Key senator talks budget delays, vetoes and eastern NC
August 18, 2023 16:00 - 30 minutes - 41.8 MBA hectic one-day session at the legislature resulted in six veto overrides and an effort to weaken the governor’s appointment powers — but no state budget deal. To sort through the action, Senate Majority Whip Jim Perry, R-Lenoir, chats with WUNC’s Colin Campbell. Perry also discusses loan legislation he sponsored that got vetoed, as well as his proposals to change the office of state fire marshal and keep lobbyists off the UNC Board of Governors. And he weighs in on the state’s eas...
Top NC House Democrat criticizes legislature's slow summer
August 11, 2023 16:00 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBWith the passage of a state budget delayed until September, Democrats in the legislature are increasingly impatient with Republican leaders’ slow progress in wrapping up this year’s long session. House Democratic Leader Robert Reives, D-Chatham, talks with WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell about the impacts on state employees and Medicaid expansion. Plus, he discusses his bipartisan work on economic development, controversy over voter ID implementation, rural broadband policy...
Sen. Marc Basnight's legacy building the Outer Banks
July 28, 2023 16:00 - 34 minutes - 46.8 MBBefore Phil Berger was considered the most powerful politician in the state, Democratic Sen. Marc Basnight of Manteo held the same position from 1993 to 2010. Basnight, who died in 2020, was a big advocate for the Outer Banks, and he used his role to help build the tourism juggernaut we have today in that corner of the state. Author Clark Twiddy’s new book, “Outer Banks Visionaries: Building North Carolina’s Oceanfront,” looks at that legacy. He joins WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin...
NC House majority leader talks budget, hurricanes and the next speaker
July 21, 2023 16:00 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MBNorth Carolina’s state budget is now three weeks overdue, and it’s likely August could be the earliest that a spending plan and state employee raises might be finalized. House Majority Leader John Bell, R-Wayne, joins WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to explain the delays. Bell also discusses the status of recently vetoed bills, proposed casino legislation, the slow recovery from hurricanes Matthew and Florence — and whether he’ll run for House speaker as Tim Moore wraps up ...
Big elections changes are in the works for NC – but nothing's final yet
July 14, 2023 16:00 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MBAs the legislature starts to wind down, sweeping proposed changes to North Carolina elections are still on the table – and could have a big effect on the 2024 elections. Republicans want to shift appointment powers for the State Board of Elections, create an earlier deadline for mail-in ballots and make new regulations for early voting — all while elections officials are seeking more funding. WUNC political reporter Rusty Jacobs joins Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to discuss w...
2024 NC primary election preview
July 07, 2023 16:00 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBPrimaries for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are already attracting plenty of candidates — and potential candidates. To help us sort through who’s running and how the campaigns will play out, as well as how much they’ll cost, WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell is joined by longtime political consultant Brad Crone and Anna Beavon Gravely of NCFREE, a nonpartisan research organization. They discuss the impact of Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan’s potential c...
A look at bills you probably missed as NC legislature nears the finish line
June 30, 2023 16:00 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBIt’s been a busy week at the state legislature as we enter what might be the final weeks of this year’s long session. Dozens of bills have passed the House and Senate in the past week alone, and many of them haven’t gotten much attention. To catch up on the noteworthy bills many of us missed, North Carolina Tribune Editor Ray Gronberg joins WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to discuss everything from new HOA regulations to a legislative effort to attract a TV or film producti...
A transgender perspective on NC sports, healthcare bills
June 23, 2023 16:00 - 37 minutes - 51.8 MBBills restricting transgender sports participation and access to healthcare are nearing final passage at the North Carolina legislature, but none of the 170 lawmakers who will decide their fate are transgender themselves. Transgender advocate and Iraq War veteran Vivian Taylor joins WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to discuss her perspective on what the legislation will mean for trans North Carolinians. She also talks about how the current national political climate on trans...
An NC House moderate legislator's experience in a polarized House
June 16, 2023 16:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBRep. Garland Pierce, D-Scotland, is one of the N.C. House’s closely watched moderate Democrats this session — a veteran lawmaker who sometimes crosses party lines on key issues, something that could make a difference on veto overrides this year. Pierce joins WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to explain his thinking on issues like transgender athlete restrictions, election law changes and more. And he talks about his bills to improve the foster care system and prevent a name c...
Are proposed state employee raises enough to fix government's staffing crisis?
June 09, 2023 16:00 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBN.C. House and Senate budget writers are negotiating how much state workers will get in raises — at a time when nearly a quarter of positions in state government are vacant. The House has proposed a 4.25% raise starting in July, while the Senate prefers 2.5%. The State Employees Association of North Carolina is lobbying for a larger amount. SEANC executive director Ardis Watkins and Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson join WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to talk about raise prop...
Can medical marijuana find support in the NC House?
June 02, 2023 18:50 - 25 minutes - 35 MBN.C. House Republicans are meeting soon to discuss whether they’ll pass a Senate bill to legalize medical marijuana. Senate Rules Chairman Bill Rabon is leading the charge, hoping his personal experience using marijuana to survive colon cancer treatments can persuade his GOP colleagues. Rabon, along with bipartisan bill co-sponsors — Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, and Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover — join WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to discuss the details of their proposal...
The Senate budget's salary challenge, and an abortion veto override
May 19, 2023 16:00 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBThe N.C. Senate’s budget is approved, setting up negotiations with the House over tax cuts and how much state employees will get in their paychecks. But the budget debate was overshadowed by this week’s veto override on new abortion restrictions. Sen. Kandie Smith, D-Pitt, joins WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell to sort through a busy week at the legislature. Smith also talks about her bill to add video streaming in the Senate and her bipartisan legislation to find alternativ...
Tackling NC's mental health challenges with $1 billion
May 12, 2023 16:00 - 24 minutes - 34 MBState legislators are considering how to spend about $1 billion in federal funding to address mental health care. Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, co-chairs health committees in the Senate and talks with WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell about his ideas for fixing mental health. Burgin also discusses new patient protection measures for hospital mergers and sales that he’s proposing with Attorney General Josh Stein. And he explains why he wants a Legislative Reform Commission to co...
Abortion, transgender restrictions dominate a busy crossover week at NC legislature
May 05, 2023 16:00 - 31 minutes - 43 MBNorth Carolina’s legislature passed more than 100 different bills this week as it rushed to reach a “crossover” deadline. The agenda included several controversial pieces of conservative social legislation: A ban on abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, a ban on gender transition surgery for people under 18, and a repeal of the state’s concealed-carry gun permit requirements. To sort through the hectic action, WUNC’s Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell spoke with Hannah Schoenbaum,...
With shrinking revenues, NC lawmakers seek new ways to pay for transportation
April 28, 2023 16:00 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBA shift to electric and fuel-efficient vehicles has left North Carolina with a shortage of revenue to pay for roads and other transportation needs — even as the state’s population booms and traffic gets worse. WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell talks with Sen. Mike Woodard, D-Durham, about a bipartisan effort to find new sources of revenue to replace the gas tax. Woodard also discusses his proposal to address what he calls “one of the stingiest” unemployment benefit programs i...
House speaker talks abortion, marijuana – and a trip to Ukraine
April 21, 2023 16:00 - 18 minutes - 24.8 MBN.C. House Republicans are getting close to a consensus on how they’ll approach new abortion restrictions, medical marijuana legislation and private school vouchers. Speaker Tim Moore chats with WUNC’s Colin Campbell about where things stand and what to expect in the final months of the legislative session. And he shares details about his unusual trip to Ukraine during the legislature’s spring break.
Asian American legislators will form new AAPI caucus
April 14, 2023 16:00 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBRep. Maria Cervania, D-Wake, is one of the first two Asian American women to be elected to the North Carolina legislature. She talks with WUNC’s Colin Campbell about why that representation is important, and why she’s creating a new Asian American Pacific Islander caucus. Cervania also discusses her opposition to legislation requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, her bill to increase funding to combat e-cigarette use in teens, and her thoughts on Gov. Roy Cooper’s role in the Hou...
Key NC House leader talks budget, party switch, and gambling
April 07, 2023 16:00 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MBDays after Rep. Tricia Cotham cited personal attacks as part of her decision to switch to the Republican Party, state Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, shares his thoughts on today’s bitter political environment with WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell. Saine also talks about the highlights of the newly approved House budget, whether the favorable political landscape for sports betting could lead to casinos, and how the tiny crossroads community of Cat Square got its name.
The legislative session begins, and a podcast host says goodbye
January 25, 2023 21:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBState lawmakers are easing into their months-long session with bill filings, press conferences and committee meetings. Among the items on the horizon are budgets, abortion regulations and mental health funding. State Representative John Bell IV (R-Wayne), Senator Sydney Batch (D-Wake) and Rose Hoban, founder and editor at NC Health News, all share expectations for this legislative session. And later, Capitol Bureau Chief Jeff Tiberii signs off, with some reflections following eight ...
A 2022 North Carolina politics year in review
December 16, 2022 21:50 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBThere was, a lot, that happened in state politics across the last 12 months: Redistricting fights, budget deals, a landmark Leandro ruling, a primary was delayed, Congressman Cawthorn and Governor McCrory suffered bad defeats, Roe was upended, and neither Medicaid nor sports gambling was yet expanded. In a review of 2022, Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer think back on the year, dole out some coal, and reflect on the departures of three long-serving members of Congress.
Where do NC Democrats go now?
December 14, 2022 21:35 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBAfter losing every statewide race during the November midterm, Democrats are licking their wounds and considering what they should do next. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, a number of progressives discuss what the party can do better, policy worth pursuing, and who might be the face of their efforts.
Power returns, Tillis negotiates, and justices consider a new normal
December 09, 2022 21:45 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBThis week in state politics, a major redistricting case landed before the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, power turned back on and a curfew was lifted in Moore County, where gunfire vandalism to two substations left many in the dark. Clark Riemer and Rob Schofield discuss those stories, as well as what to make of the comprising role Senator Thom Tillis has carved out for himself on Capitol Hill.
Is SCOTUS holding a democracy grenade with Moore v. Harper?
December 06, 2022 23:00 - 21 minutes - 29 MBOn Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in a case from North Carolina – Moore v. Harper. The case stems from congressional redistricting that began a year ago. At the heart of the argument from North Carolina Republican lawmakers is something called the independent state legislature theory. In practice, it holds the potential to significantly upend who has power of federal election administration. On this episode of the Politics Podcast, Jeff talks with Charle...
Legislative leadership unchanged, a major federal elections case heads to SCOTUS
December 02, 2022 21:44 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBThis week in North Carolina politics, rank-and-file Republican state lawmakers again threw their support behind a couple of well-known leaders. On Capitol Hill, Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis voted with Democrats on the Respect for Marriage Act. And next week, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a case with the potential to significantly alter federal elections. In our weekly review, Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer discuss the details.
Is a 'Digital Civil War' on the horizon?
November 30, 2022 18:35 - 15 minutes - 21.1 MBThe landscape of a post-Roe world is still taking shape. There are many questions lingering about access to reproductive healthcare, as well as personal information and online privacy. On this episode of The Politics Podcast Matt Perault, Director of the Center on Technology Policy at UNC Chapel Hill, details some of the policy inconsistencies and forecasts what could happen next.
Unpacking the midterms results
November 16, 2022 21:44 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBWhile a red wave didn’t materialize nationally, conservatives in North Carolina found very favorable results. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, three analysts offer insight on the electorate, and where state and American politics may head next.
Election impacts
November 11, 2022 21:50 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBNorth Carolina’s election results were largely favorable to Republicans on Tuesday night. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Clark Riemer and Rob Schofield discuss what influenced the outcomes, why down-ballot candidates performed well, and where each party has room for improvement.
Election Day breakdown: GOP just shy of supermajority in NC House
November 09, 2022 17:35 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBRepublicans had a strong night in North Carolina on Tuesday, winning all seven statewide contests, and securing one supermajority in the state Senate. However, they fell one seat shy of a second veto-proof majority in the state House. On this episode of WUNC’s Politics Podcast, Will Michaels and Jeff Tiberii breakdown what the new landscape means and what could happen next.
Governor Cooper forms commission, Election Day predictions
November 04, 2022 20:30 - 15 minutes - 21.5 MBWith just a few days before the polls close and the 2022 Midterm results are announced, Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer offer some expectations for Tuesday night and discuss what stood out in this election cycle. Meanwhile, Governor Roy Cooper has tapped former UNC System Presidents Margaret Spellings and Tom Ross to review appointment procedures, but is it a commission Republicans will cooperate with?
A forecast for election night
November 02, 2022 20:04 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MBWith Election Day looming, WUNC’s Jeff Tiberii talks with a mix of journalists, a political scientist, a strategist, and a leading House Republican. They offer takeaways on what race is the most important on the ballot and what they will be watching most closely on Tuesday night, as well as a possible headline for November 9.
Early voting in full swing, SCOTUS briefs pour in
October 28, 2022 08:30 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBA million ballots have now been cast in North Carolina. But what, if anything, does the early turnout tell us? And in Washington, D.C., many briefs were filed in a case out of North Carolina that SCOTUS will hear in December. Clark Riemer and Rob Schofield discuss those stories in our weekly review of state politics.
An authentic longshot candidate
October 27, 2022 02:00 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MBCourtney Geels is running for the U.S. House of Representatives this midterm. Her chances of victory are exceedingly slim, yet the Republican is still campaigning with a purpose, hoping to pull off an upset of the century. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Geels discusses why she decided to run for Congress, what she has learned, and some of the issues most important to her.
Political winds shift, another shooting aftermath
October 21, 2022 20:35 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBThis week, many continued to grieve following a horrific act in northeast Raleigh. With one-stop early voting underway, the proverbial political winds might have shifted. And, new details in the state’s incentives package that lured Apple to RTP. Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer discuss those stories in their review of the week in state politics.
Important and obscure: North Carolina's judicial elections
October 19, 2022 21:15 - 22 minutes - 31 MBVoters will decide two state Supreme Court races this midterm, with the results potentially shifting partisan control of the bench. The fact that North Carolina even has partisan judicial elections is uncommon. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Michael Crowell discusses some of the pitfalls for how our state handles judicial elections, and why these races are so important.