RALEIGH — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon are two of the headliners at this week’s NCGOP Convention being held June 5-8 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.
Other notable attendees include Jason Miller, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, on Thursday.
McMahon will speak during the Grand Old Party Dinner on Friday, along with U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).
On Saturday, attendees will hear from Congressman Brad Knott (R-Raleigh) and RNC Chairman Michael Whatley during the First in Freedom luncheon. Congressman Addison McDowell (R-Advance) will also be giving remarks during a separate breakout session.
Youngkin will be the keynote speaker for Saturday’s Old North State dinner. North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek and N.C. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley have also been announced as speakers for that evening.
Closing out the convention is the Sunday Prayer Breakfast featuring Ralph Reed, founder and chairman of Faith and Freedom Coalition.
Some of the business to be handled during the convention is the election of party officials, with the reelection of NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons expected.
Simmons was endorsed by Trump for reelection as chair, as well as by four former NCGOP vice chairs. He was also endorsed by North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd, as well as Congressional House members Virginia Foxx (R-Banner Elk), Greg Murphy (R-Greenville), David Rouzer (R-Wilmington), Chuck Edwards (R-Flat Rock) and Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain).
Simmons said ahead of the convention that he was “very appreciative” of Trump’s support and that of the state’s congressional delegation, but he also unscored the support he’s received from leaders at the county, district and grassroots levels.
Simmons said he was looking forward to the convention and bringing conservatives together to celebrate the party, citing the “commonsense” America First agenda “that continues to focus on the economy, education and public safety.”
Simmons also commented on the increase in voter registrations to the Republican Party and how those registrations are expected to overtake those of the North Carolina Democratic Party.
“I think you’ll continue to hear those messages throughout the weekend about how Republican policies continue to make North Carolina the greatest place to work, live and retire,” said Simmons. “And especially as we continue to move forward this year, where we will overtake Democrats on voter registration.”
When asked when the last time Republican registrations had led over Democrats in the state, Simmon said, “I would say never.”
“We’ve yet to see anything that would be indicative of Republicans being in the lead on voter registration,” said Simmons. “When you look back just over the last eight years, Democrats had a voter registration advantage of 645,000 when President Trump won in 2016, and today that advantage is less than 22,000 and we will overtake them again this year on voter registration.”
“And we continue to make that a priority as we continue to grow the party in all geographic and demographic areas and especially focusing on those legacy Democrats who recognize that their party has left them,” added Simmons.
“You see that playing out time and time again,” Simmons said. “Most recently highlighted in Robeson County with high-profile voter registration switches with two county chairmen, which now gave control to the Republicans in Robeson County for the first time ever on that County Commission board.”
Andy Jackson of the conservative John Locke Foundation has indicated the data the largest shifts in voter registrations are unaffiliated voters and estimates the NCGOP could possibly overtake the N.C. Democratic Party by January 2026.
Simmons also remarked on how the NCGOP’s state conventions have evolved in terms of attendance size, going from small meeting rooms 30 to 40 years ago to needing convention center space that can accommodate more than 2,000 attendees.
“Every year, you continue to see more participation, more growth, more excitement, more involvement and especially obviously in office or election years like this one,” Simmons said. “And presidential years, those two tend to be very large conventions.”
Simmons also said the party was going to have to consider space requirements beyond the Koury Center’s capacity for future conventions if attendance continues to grow.
