Follow the trail to the issues, conversations and information connecting the region.

Dear reader,

Personally, this weekend’s glorious sunshine was just the taste of spring that I needed to make it through the rest of winter. While on a hike at Pinnacle Park in Jackson County, I saw the season’s first trout lilies.

This primary election wasn’t a clear win for either party (think red waves of the past) as some incumbents from both parties warded off challengers while some others were knocked out, including some Dems who were voted out because of their voting records against Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s vetos. 

Statewide, primary early voter turnout was up 23% compared to 2022, the last midterm primary cycle. Unaffiliated voters participating early largely cast ballots in contested Democratic races, according to Western Carolina University’s Chris Cooper, political expert and director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy. 

Meanwhile, in Western North Carolina, strong turnout brought mixed success for incumbents: N.C. Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) lost to challenger Jimmy Rogers in the District 118 race, while N.C. Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) prevailed over two challengers. Both face Democrats on the ballot in November.  

The biggest election takeaway in the region is Jamie Ager’s win in the Democratic primary for NC-11. Ager was the party favorite and other candidates voiced concern that he had an unfair advantage heading into the primary. He is now the Democrats' greatest chance to flip a congressional seat - possibly in the whole southeast. 

Find out more takeaways below from my conversation with Chris when we met up on Wednesday to unpack the results of the election. 

5 takeaways in WNC from primary election results: Turnout, incumbent's safety, and more   

This week’s two-vote margin in eastern North Carolina for the N.C. Senate District 26 Republican nomination spells a protracted process as the votes are still being counted in the race between Sheriff Sam Page and state Senate leader Phil Berger. 

In contrast, in western North Carolina, last night was effectively the conclusion of many local races - including some that won’t make it onto the ballot in November. 

Western Carolina University Political Science Professor Chris Cooper sat down with NC Local to talk through the top takeaways for the region from the primary election. 

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• U.S. Senator Thom Tillis blasted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over "failure" in FEMA disaster response for Hurricane Helene. (WATCH: PBS or READ: The Assembly)

• FEMA frustration boils over as Waynesville faces $3.8 million gap (Smoky Mountain News) 

• Watauga native to be inducted into 2026 Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame (Watauga Democrat) 

• On Friday, the Town of Franklin issued a clarification about a check presented to the town by Congressman Chuck Edwards on Feb. 7. The check came with news of an appropriation to be used for the Water Treatment Plant Clearwell and High Service Pump Station. Initial reports incorrectly stated the amount of the grant. After review, the town has been approved for $2 million rather than the previously reported $4.32 million.  The town is working on the additional steps needed with the EPA regional office to receive the funds. There is a 20% match required for the grant.  Construction on the project began in Jan. 2026. (Town of Franklin press release) 

• Dogwood Health Trust announced community meetings with the Independent Monitor that oversees Mission Health System, as required by the 2019 sale of Mission to HCA Healthcare. The two meetings are scheduled on March 9 in Brevard and March 10 in Asheville. Here is the registration and more information about the meetings. 

• Asheville City Council primary: All incumbents, plus Ball, Young and Burroughs, move forward (BPR) 

• Orange Peel announces name, first show for new outdoor venue (Asheville Citizen Times) 

• Immediate Jeopardy lifted at Mission Hospital but facility remains in “noncompliance”(AVL Watchdog) 

• The Smoky Mountain News posted on social media Wednesday that the Town of Canton is contracted to buy part of the former paper mill property (Smoky Mountain News) 

• Former Asheville Moog property sold for $9M. Now home to Helene-impacted businesses (Asheville Citizen Times)

My Favorite Trail: 

Katerina Spasovska is an Associate Professor at Western Carolina University, Communication Department.  

Welcome to a regular feature of The Trailhead: My Favorite Trail. Each installment will feature a WNC trail. This week, Katerina shared her favorite spots . Want to share your favorite trail for a future newsletter? Email me! 

Katerina(right) shared this photo from the top of the Whiteside Trail with her niece in 2025 . 

Her favorite trail: The Whiteside Mountain Loop between Cashiers/Highlands on the Macon and Jackson County line.  The loop trail is two miles up a steep incline then back down.

Spasovska says she enjoys going to Pinnacle Park (the lower forest therapy trail and the six-mile climb) near Sylva often with her family, but her new favorite is Whiteside Mountain Loop. 

She got to explore the trail last summer when her niece visited from Canada.

“[My niece] is an avid hiker, so wanted to explore some hikes in the area, and this was part of a whole day adventure on hiking and waterfalls seeing,” Spasovska said in a text. 

Spasovska is the faculty advisor for the Western Carolina Journalist. Her students produced a newscast about Jackson County’s primary election results on Whee TV that was anchored by Halle Stanley and Kendall Link. Check out their coverage here.