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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Millions of Americans evaluate their health plan options during open enrollment each fall — often the only time of year people can choose or change their health benefits. Choosing health coverage can feel overwhelming. And with health advice coming from more places than ever,...
Last week, Lynne Russo achieved what many people had told her was impossible: flipping a deep red district in western North Carolina . Russo, a Democrat, won her race in North Carolina House District 117 with more than 50% of the vote, after running a campaign primarily focused on the cost of living and Hurricane Helene recovery. When Russo first decided to run for office, her Henderson County district wasn’t expected to be competitive. A Republican won it by more than 15 points in 2024, and it’s been decades since any Democrat represented the county in Raleigh. Russo said people reminded her of that nearly every day. “People constantly told me this seat is unflippable,” Russo said. “People that I was certain should have given me money or should have believed in my campaign didn’t. It took some inner fortitude to hear that and keep going.” But Russo always believed that if she worked hard enough, she could win. She sold her condo to cover her living expenses so she could run for office full-time, and she estimates she spent around 16 hours a day working on her campaign. She knocked doors, hosted events, held “coffee talks” with constituents, sent
Republicans held onto most of their mountain seats, but two House districts flipped. With political power changing in Raleigh and Washington, cooperation will be key to Hurricane Helene recovery.
Henderson County’s Board of Elections will meet November 13th at 11 a.m. for the county election canvass. The public meeting takes place at the elections office, 75 East Central Street in Hendersonville. The canvass follows the November 3rd general election and brings the county’s post-election review to its certification...