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Now What?: How North Carolina Can Blaze a Progressive Path Forward
Commentator Gene Nichol offers inspiration and ideas for blazing a progressive path forward in North Carolina, a decidedly purple state.
In the 2024 election cycle, there was good news and bad news for North Carolina progressive politics. The people elected a Democratic Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and managed to obtain a tiny toehold with the General Assembly. However, Trump prevailed in the state and nationally—leaving a large number of progressives with a lot of political energy and no place to go. So, what now? What next? Gene Nichol writes to those who are well aware of the issues that North Carolina and the country at large now face. This book tackles the all-important question of how progressives can continue to move the state forward, tackling the opposition and their own flagging spirits.
In the 2024 election cycle, there was good news and bad news for North Carolina progressive politics. The people elected a Democratic Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and managed to obtain a tiny toehold with the General Assembly. However, Trump prevailed in the state and nationally—leaving a large number of progressives with a lot of political energy and no place to go. So, what now? What next? Gene Nichol writes to those who are well aware of the issues that North Carolina and the country at large now face. This book tackles the all-important question of how progressives can continue to move the state forward, tackling the opposition and their own flagging spirits.
166 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2025
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December 20, 2025
I have read every book written by this author. As usual, this book is filled with high-level analysis, legal assessments, and an abiding dedication to speaking the truth. I have great respect for Professor Nichol. Mine is genuine, decades-long, and borne of admiration, collaboration, and friendship.
From the unearned praise to the leadership of a struggling political party, to the many admonitions to members of that same party to make change they simply cannot, therein lies the rub.
Gene Nichol is a man with a brilliant mind, an empathetic heart, and a social warrior’s credo. What he is not is a political operative. His challenge is articulated near the end of the book when Nichols says, “Sometimes, I even press for constitutional ratifications that no doubt require an altered, even much altered, political landscape.”
Until we Democrats start winning elections, especially in the judiciary, we cannot make the rules. And we cannot win elections by doing it the same way we have for decades.
From the unearned praise to the leadership of a struggling political party, to the many admonitions to members of that same party to make change they simply cannot, therein lies the rub.
Gene Nichol is a man with a brilliant mind, an empathetic heart, and a social warrior’s credo. What he is not is a political operative. His challenge is articulated near the end of the book when Nichols says, “Sometimes, I even press for constitutional ratifications that no doubt require an altered, even much altered, political landscape.”
Until we Democrats start winning elections, especially in the judiciary, we cannot make the rules. And we cannot win elections by doing it the same way we have for decades.
Displaying 1 of 1 review