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Presidential candidates are sitting ‘neck in neck’ in North Carolina, experts say

Donald Trump won the Tar Heel State in 2020, but that could be different for 2024.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Political experts say the race for president will be a close call as both candidates fight for North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes.

“I haven’t seen a poll that is outside of the margin of error for the two candidates in months,” explained Shannon Heck, the development director for the nonprofit voter advocacy group Democracy NC.

In 2020, former president Donald Trump won North Carolina. But with a growth in population over the last four years, officials say, that could shift this time around.

“For Donald Trump and the Republicans at the presidential level, they have to have North Carolina in their window. There are very few scenarios that point me to him being able to get 270 electoral votes without North Carolina’s 16,” Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College shared. “We can basically lock 43 states into position between Harris and Trump. The last remaining seven – including North Carolina - are just too close to call,” Bitzer continued.

Now, candidates for both parties have been hyper-focused on a presence in the Tar Heel State while advocates are working overtime to get voters to the polls in what they say could be an extremely close race.

“We have dips and lulls in North Carolina voter participation. This is a critical election, I think everyone believes that,” Heck said.

“Folks may feel like their vote doesn’t count," said Bitzer. "n the end, it really does though."

The last day for early voting is Saturday, November 2nd.

Contact Anna King at aking2@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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