How Phil Berger lost — and what it means

How Phil Berger lost — and what it means

Longtime state Senate leader Phil Berger — one of the most powerful figures in Raleigh for more than a decade — lost his primary by just 23 votes. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, editor Tony Mecia sits down with former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory to unpack one of the most surprising political upsets in recent memory.

McCrory walks through how it happened, from local backlash over a proposed casino to shifting voter sentiment and the limits of political influence. They also discuss:

  • What Berger’s loss says about money in politics
  • The role of endorsements (including from President Donald Trump)
  • How power in the state legislature could shift in the months ahead
  • How political dynamics in North Carolina have evolved — and what this moment might signal for future races

This conversation was recorded as a webinar on March 26, 2026, as part of PBS Charlotte’s Unspun series, hosted by former Gov. Pat McCrory. Unspun airs at 8 p.m. on Friday nights on PBS Charlotte. An online version, Unspun Unscripted, with viewer questions is on the last Friday of the month at 10 a.m.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(204)

Charlotte's new political era

Charlotte's new political era

Charlotte's political landscape is shifting.Mayor Vi Lyles is preparing to leave office after nearly nine years, a new mayor is stepping in and City Council is wrestling with some of the biggest issue...

26 Juni 22min

Everybody's moving to Charlotte, with filmmaker Duvale Murchison

Everybody's moving to Charlotte, with filmmaker Duvale Murchison

The Charlotte region adds roughly 150 new residents every day, but beyond the statistic are thousands of individual stories about why people choose to make the region home.In this episode of The Charl...

19 Juni 33min

Charlotte's moment at the table, with Kristen Wile of Unpretentious Palate

Charlotte's moment at the table, with Kristen Wile of Unpretentious Palate

Kristen Wile has spent more than a decade documenting Charlotte’s restaurant scene, and in that time she’s watched the city transform from a place searching for its culinary identity into one drawing ...

12 Juni 36min

Charlotte through a developer’s eyes, with Adam McMichael and Paul Zarian

Charlotte through a developer’s eyes, with Adam McMichael and Paul Zarian

Charlotte’s growth has made it one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. But what does the city look like through the eyes of the developers betting millions of dollars on its future?In t...

5 Juni 37min

Reporters Roundtable: Charlotte's month of May in review

Reporters Roundtable: Charlotte's month of May in review

May was one of the busiest months Charlotte has seen in recent memory. Mayor Vi Lyles announced her resignation, city leaders reversed course on the controversial I-77 toll lane expansion, data center...

29 Maj 35min

Turning tragedy into support for Charlotte families, with Meg McElwain

Turning tragedy into support for Charlotte families, with Meg McElwain

After losing her 2-year-old son Mitchell to leukemia, Meg McElwain found herself navigating unimaginable grief while also trying to help her surviving son process the trauma that had reshaped their fa...

22 Maj 37min

The story behind Charlotte’s most talked-about restaurants, with Jamie Brown

The story behind Charlotte’s most talked-about restaurants, with Jamie Brown

Charlotte’s restaurant scene has changed dramatically over the past two decades, and few people have helped shape it more than Jamie Brown. Alongside her husband, Jeff Tonidandel, Brown has built some...

15 Maj 35min

Redefining the New South in Charlotte, with Richard Cooper

Redefining the New South in Charlotte, with Richard Cooper

The Levine Museum of the New South is preparing for a major new chapter — one that museum leaders hope will help redefine how Charlotte engages with history, community and public conversation. After y...

8 Maj 24min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
svenska-fall
tv4-nyheterna-story
p3-krim
rss-krimstad
motiv
de-fyras-gang
aftonbladet-daily
flashback-forever
spar
rss-expressen-dok
rss-sanning-konsekvens
politiken
rss-vad-fan-hande
krimmagasinet
rss-krimreportrarna
kungligt
svd-dokumentara-berattelser-2
olyckan-inifran
rss-flodet