Bull City Political Nerd

08/10/2025

Heads up for residents in the following area of Durham:

“Trinity Park neighborhood and areas approximately one mile north, south, east and west. South of Stadium Heights, east to Colonial Village, Duke Park, and Old North Durham. South to HWY 147 and west to Old West Durham and Watts Hospital – Hillandale up to Interstate 85.”

After experiencing record-high levels of West Nile virus (WNV) in Durham this year, we will conduct the final round of targeted ultra-low volume mosquito spraying, as recommended by the NC Department of Health and Human Services, next week, October 15-16 (dates may change depending on weather). Learn more below and in our news release here: https://dconc.gov/DurhamCo-News/Public-Health/Final-Round-of-Targeted-ULV-Spraying-to-be-Conducted-October-15-16.htm

Edit: Find a map of spray areas here:https://dconc.gov/Public-Health1/Documents/ULV-spraying-map-1025.pdf

08/10/2025

Full results are in. Image below.

Takeaways:
➡️Mayor Williams and Councilmember Chelsea Cook are in strong positions to win re-election.
➡️Mayor Pro Tem Middleton is in danger of losing re-election, especially since 3rd-place finisher Ashley Robbins strongly opposes Middleton. Challenger Shanetta Burris is very close to the magic 50%.
➡️Ward 1 is a true toss-up with Matt Kopac and Councilmember Freeman in a nailbiter. Endorsements from those who didn't win and general election turnout will be crucial.
➡️The influence of the PA PAC and the INDY is noticeable. All of the top vote getters are PA PAC-endorsed. The INDY endorsed the same as PA PAC, except for Ward 2 (INDY did not endorse for that race)

08/10/2025

In an earlier post, I miscalculated the turnout results (I likely did not add in mail-in votes)

Corrected numbers show turnout actually increased compared to 2023.

2025 Primary -> 25,102
2023 Primary -> 23,958

08/10/2025

Mail-in votes and early votes are in:

➡️Mayor Leonardo Williams with a strong lead over Anjanee Bell and Pablo Friedmann
➡️Councilmember Freeman and Matt Kopac locked in tight race
➡️Shanetta Burris and Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton locked in tight race
➡️Councilmember Chelsea Cook in strong lead over Diana Medoff

07/10/2025

Polls are closed for the Primary!

07/10/2025

One major control tower was unmanned for much of yesterday.

The impact of the government shutdown hit travelers across the United States Monday, as air traffic controllers called out sick, closing a control tower and leading to delays at major airports.

07/10/2025

It’s Election Day for the 2025 Municipal Primary Election, and the polls are now OPEN! ✅

Not sure if you know your precinct's polling place? Check out the NC State Board of Elections voter look-up tool ➡️ https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/

Lastly, don't forget to fill out the Election Day Voter Experience Survey ➡️ https://airtable.com/appBc6PI4Bk5CSu2k/pagblCGz7BYD3lKl7/form

05/10/2025

"The idea originates with Steven Harris, a resident of the Trotter Ridge subdivision, who said excessive wildlife feeding has attracted scurries of squirrels, resulting in more than $50,000 in damage on his street. He first addressed the council during the Nov. 7, 2024 work session, implicating one neighbor with 'approximately 20 wildlife feeders,' according to a city report. The bushy-tailed woodfolk have chewed through car wires and fuel lines, as well as nested in chimneys and vehicle engines."

05/10/2025

What is the city's role in crime prevention?

05/10/2025

Voters can see through Trump's distractions.

04/10/2025

Comparing the Early Voting locations to 2023

(Both the Main Library (2023) and Board of Elections (2025) are not shown because the locations were not active in both elections.)

Congrats to the NCCU location for that last-day surge!