One of the strongest positive messages for Lisa Barnes is that she spearheaded legislation to ensure that children in low-income areas of the state have access to free meals at school. Thanks to her efforts, our state is ensuring all students have access to a reliable source of food and nutrition. (Citation: “Liz Lord: NC Sen. Barnes makes progress on school hunger,” Rocky Mount Telegram, 10/27/23, https://www.rockymounttelegram.com/features/columnists/liz-lord-nc-sen-barnes-makes-progress-on-school-hunger/article_e6a75a68-7440-11ee-8f66-07e5f6f89584.html)

• 70% of voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (46% much more likely).
• 73% of Unaffiliated voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (45% much more likely).
• 61% of Democratic voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (39% much more likely).
• 72% of undecided voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this.
• 79% of persuadable voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this.
• 80% of voters who moved to Lisa Barnes on the informed ballot said they were more likely to vote for her after learning this.

Another strong positive message for Lisa Barnes is that she voted to increase penalties for child abusers and protect children from online predators. (Citation: S199, 10/31/19)

• 73% of voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (56% much more likely).
• 80% of Unaffiliated voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (63% much more likely).
• 59% of Democratic voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (35% much more likely).
• 82% of undecided voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this.
• 87% of persuadable voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this.
• 78% of voters who moved to Lisa Barnes on the informed ballot said they were more likely to vote for her after learning this.

Another strong positive message for Lisa Barnes is that she helped families deal with rising prices by cutting state income taxes in half and making the first $25,000 of every family’s income free of state income taxes. (H259, 9/22/23)

• 67% of voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (50% much more likely).
• 68% of Unaffiliated voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (49% much more likely).
• 55% of Democratic voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (31% much more likely).
• 63% of undecided voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this.
• 72% of persuadable voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this.
• 67% of voters who moved to Lisa Barnes on the informed ballot said they were more likely to vote for her after learning this.

Another strong positive message for Lisa Barnes is that she voted to prohibit biological males from participating in girls’ and women’s sports in middle school, high school, and college in North Carolina. (Citation: H574, 6/20/23)

• 54% of voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (45% much more likely).
• 60% of Unaffiliated voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (46% much more likely).
• Only 31% of Democratic voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this (23% much more likely).
• 47% of undecided voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this.
• 54% of persuadable voters said they were more likely to vote for Lisa Barnes after learning this.
• 70% of voters who moved to Lisa Barnes on the informed ballot said they were more likely to vote for her after learning this.

One of the strongest negative messages that causes voters to dislike James Mercer is his belief that biological males should be able to participate in girls’ and women’s sports in middle school, high school, and college. (Citation: Mercer described himself as “a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat” who wholeheartedly supports the party’s policies on social justice, equity, and equal rights; Henderson Daily Dispatch, 3/18/24)

• Overall, 63% of voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (52% much less likely).
• 64% of Unaffiliated voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (51% much less likely).
• 64% of white women said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (59% much less likely).
• 57% of undecided voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.
• 62% of persuadable voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.
• 64% of voters who moved to Lisa Barnes on the informed ballot said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.

Another strong negative messages that causes voters to dislike James Mercer is this: “While on the board of trustees for a local community college, James Mercer voted for new fees that lead to a 64% increase in total revenue from student fees.” (Citation: from FY 2014 to FY 2024, the Nash Community College budget increased total revenues from fees from $956,250 to $1,569,800, that is a 64% increase; Mercer first voted on a NCC budget for FY 2015; NCC budgets, FY 2014 – FY 2024)

• Overall, 51% of voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (32% much less likely).
• 46% of Unaffiliated voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (21% much less likely).
• 59% of white women said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (40% much less likely).
• 44% of undecided voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.
• 57% of persuadable voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.
• 66% of voters who moved to Lisa Barnes on the informed ballot said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.

Another strong negative message that causes voters to dislike James Mercer is this: “James Mercer runs a nonprofit that failed to disclose its board members or that it had received government funding. During 2022 and 2023, the nonprofit ran a deficit of nearly $23,000 while paying Mercer’s wife over $16,000.” (Citation: On the Mercer Foundation’s 2023 Annual Report, Mercer declared all the information

listed in the report was “true, correct, and complete” under the penalty of perjury on 11/15/23 [2023 Form 990, ProPublica]; On their website, the Mercer Foundation lists multiple government entities as their “2023 Sponsors/Donors,” including Nash County, Edgecombe County, and the City of Rocky Mount [Mercer Foundation]; On the organization’s 2023 Annual Report, the Mercer Foundation reported they had received no government grants and had only received $75,705 in general contributions [2023 Form 990, ProPublica]; According to the Organization’s 2022 Annual Report, the Mercer Foundation received $38,415 of their total 2022 Annual Revenue amount of $69,426 from government grants [2022 Form 990, ProPublica]; between 2021 and 2022, the Mercer Foundation fell from generating a surplus of $10,512 in 2021 down to a deficit of $30,921 just one year later in 2022 [2021-2023 Form 990, ProPublica])

• Overall, 63% of voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (40% much less likely).
• 60% of Unaffiliated voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (39% much less likely).
• 71% of white women said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this (56% much less likely).
• 64% of undecided voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.
• 64% of persuadable voters said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.
• 67% of voters who moved to Lisa Barnes on the informed ballot said they were less likely to vote for James Mercer after learning this.

Finally, James Mercer describes himself as “a dyed-in-the wool Democrat who wholeheartedly supports the Democratic Party’s policies on social justice and equal rights.” With Biden’s growing unpopularity and the voting public’s disillusionment with the national Democratic Party and its platform, this statement will prove to be very damaging in the campaign.