The Speaker of the House Is on a Watauga Ballot

The Speaker of the North Carolina House, an App State grad, is on a Watauga ballot. Republican Destin Hall runs the chamber, and part of Watauga votes for him. His seat is one of four on High Country ballots that could decide whether Raleigh's Republicans can override Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes by themselves.

Republicans hold 71 of the House's 120 seats. Overriding a veto takes three-fifths of the members present and voting, which is 72 votes in the House and 30 in the Senate with everyone in the room. That leaves the House one seat short. Republicans can sometimes find the 72 if votes cross party lines. Two Mecklenburg County members who left the Democratic Party this spring, Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed, are now unaffiliated, and both have voted with Republicans on some overrides. In the Senate, Republicans hold exactly 30 of 50. One seat in either chamber can change what a veto can stop. All 170 seats are on the ballot this year, and four of them are on High Country ballots, one in the Senate and three in the House.

N.C. Senate District 47 covers all of Watauga, Ashe and Avery. Incumbent Ralph Hise, a Republican, faces Democrat Frank Patton Hughes III.

N.C. House District 93 takes in most of Watauga and all of Ashe. Republican Ray Pickett faces Democrat Charlie Wallin.

N.C. House District 87 takes in part of Watauga, and the rest of the district is Caldwell County. Republican Destin Hall, the Speaker of the House and a 2009 App State graduate, faces Democrat Iris Bender.

N.C. House District 85 includes Avery. Republican Dudley Greene, the incumbent, faces Democrat Suzanne Gavenus.

Watauga is split between two House districts, so check which one is yours before you vote. Results for every one of these post at left917.net/vote once the polls close at 7:30pm on Nov. 3.