Trump, DeSantis, and Pence headline North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro

The North Carolina Republican Party Convention is underway in Greensboro with headline speakers including Former President Donald Trump, Former Vice President Mike Pence, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The four-day convention will be held at the Koury Convention Center. There will be more than a dozen training sessions including fundraising, getting out the vote, and faith engagement, and presentations by the North Carolina Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Faith and Freedom Coalition, and others.

The list of notable statewide political guests is a long one, but Catawba College political scientist Michael Bitzer says this weekend is a crucial first test for the three presidential contenders slated to speak.

"The big question in my mind is — this convention is made up of the party loyalists, the true activists within the Republican Party," says Bitzer. "Are they still loyal to the former president, or are they open to somebody who presents the former president’s policies but is a different person than the original?"

Bitzer says North Carolina will continue to be a competitive battleground state both at the federal and state level. And he adds it will be crucial for whoever wins the GOP nomination for president.

"I think if the Republican nominee, whoever that is, does not win North Carolina, it is very hard for me to see an electoral college coalition being built that does not include North Carolina for a Republican to win the White House," he says.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election, will spend Friday in the Tar Heel State highlighting some of his administration’s initiatives. Planned visits include Rocky Mount to discuss workforce development, and Fort Liberty to share efforts underway to support military families.