National Attention Placed on NC Superintendent of Public Instruction Race
Michele Morrow (left), and Mo Green (right) Source: Wilmington Star News
One of the most polarizing races on North Carolina’s ballot this year is the fight for Superintendent of Public Instruction, the chief administrative officer for the state’s public school system.
Michele Morrow, the Republican nominee, brought national attention to the race when she upset the incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction, Catherine Truitt, in this year’s Republican primary. Morrow is a registered nurse from Cary who homeschooled her children, running on a platform of parental rights, a reorganization of educational institutions and funding, and opposition to critical race theory. Morrow defeated Truitt by about 4 percentage points, making it one of the closest statewide races of the primary election. Morrow portrayed herself as more conservative than Truitt on issues of critical race theory, school safety, and parental rights. For instance, Morrow claimed that Truitt delayed the implementation of the Parental Bill of Rights, despite Truitt having played a significant role in drafting the bill and getting it passed. Morrow’s platform lists “American Unity and Patriotism” as a key issue in her campaign, stating that NC students are often “exposed to one-sided lessons portraying America as a racist and oppressive nation.”
Mo Green, the Democratic candidate, is the former Superintendent of Guilford County Schools and outgoing executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, a North Carolina philanthropic foundation that supports numerous causes, including improving public education. Green attributes his record in Guilford County Schools as his primary qualification, pointing to improved academic performance and increased graduation rates during his term. His platform centers around increased salaries for public educators, and he joins Gov. Roy Cooper in calling for an average 8.5% raise for all teachers in next year’s state budget.
Mrs. Morrow has expressed support for abolishing the North Carolina Department of Education, and cutting North Carolina off from federal funds. “People need to recognize that the federal government, along with every dollar that they give us, there is an expectation that we are going to push an agenda that comes from them, and that comes with strings,” Morrow said. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina received $1.67 billion dollars in federal support in the 2023-2024 school year. The majority of this funding is allocated towards programs that support low-income students and their schools, school nutrition programs, special needs accommodation services, and career and technical education. Morrow has blamed the U.S. Department of Education for discouraging student suspensions, arguing that expulsions and suspensions would be easier to implement without utilizing federal funding. Although, North Carolina’s suspensions and expulsions have recently increased even with these programs intact.
Mo Green has criticized this idea, saying that North Carolina’s public schools need more federal funding, not less, especially for low-income students. “Their goal is to defund public education, and I will never support that,” Green said. The North Carolina Association of Educators also released a response to the plan, stating that turning down federal funding is a “callous and irresponsible idea that directly harms students in need.”
Mr. Green also opposes public funding for private school vouchers, breaking with the North Carolina General Assembly on the key educational policy debate of the last legislative session. He argues that the Opportunity Scholarship Program passed earlier this year diverts significantly needed funds from all public schools. Green cites the state’s voucher program as his original inspiration for launching his campaign. Although most Democratic lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly similarly oppose the program, the majority of North Carolina Democrats have been found to support them. According to the April Carolina Journal poll of likely NC voters, 55% of Democrats support the Opportunity Scholarship Program while only 31% oppose it.
This key issue has been at the center of national debates on educational policy, presenting two distinct pathways for the future of public education. Mo Green’s vision prioritizes increased funding for public schools, and a focus on the disparity of resources in North Carolina public schools. Morrow endorsed the Opportunity Scholarship Program and said she supports students having access to various educational options. She argues that school vouchers allow for “healthy competition in the free market system.”
Green contends that the transition away from need-based access to school vouchers derails the program from its intended purpose, which was to support students who otherwise could not afford private education options. While Green said that he supports school choice in some regards, such as vouchers for public charter schools, he opposes utilizing public funds for private school vouchers.
“Let’s be abundantly clear, you’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars, which will turn into billions of dollars, through this taxpayer-funded private school voucher program, that are being drained away from our public schools, leaving our public schools with not enough resources to do what it is called upon to do,” Green said. This disagreement defined a significant portion of the Sep. 12 debate between the two candidates, and will continue to be a key issue throughout the election.
The two candidates also diverge on LGBTQ+ issues, holding opposing views on the Parental Bill of Rights passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2023. The law, known as Senate Bill 49, gives parents the right to direct their child’s education and upbringing, and prohibits discussions of gender identity or sexuality in grades K-4. Green argues that the law “places unnecessary burdens on educators and can marginalize LGBTQ+ students.” Morrow supports this piece of legislation, which has played a significant role in her campaign. The law also includes a requirement that parents must be notified about any changes in a student’s name or pronouns in school, including high school, which LGBTQ advocates say can out transgender students to unsupportive families, putting them at risk.
Michele Morrow has espoused various conspiracy theories on social media in the years leading up to her candidacy. Morrow’s social media history includes several references to the QAnon conspiracy, as well as advocating for the televised assassination of former President Barack Obama and several prominent Democrats. Morrow also promoted Islamophobic rhetoric, including one post calling for a ban on Islam and a ban on Muslims in US elected office.
In addition, Morrow filmed a video after attending the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot, urging then-President Donald Trump to “put the Constitution to the side” and utilize military force to maintain power. Morrow was recorded entering a restricted area on the northwest side of the Capitol, but has not been reported to enter the Capitol building that day, and furthermore has not been charged with any crimes.
Mo Green’s first TV advertisement of the campaign, titled “Dangerous,” highlights these controversies. The ad shows Morrow’s video from January 6th, as well as depictions of Morrow alongside Lt. Governor Mark Robinson. Robinson, the Republican nominee for Governor, has also been under scrutiny over his own social media activity, including several racial and sexual comments. Green argues that in this race, the “Soul of Public Education” is on the ballot.
Morrow’s social media activity has led to significant national news coverage of this year’s Superintendent race, which is rarely reported on outside of North Carolina. Morrow’s controversies, along with Robinson, have caused CNN and other national news organizations to increasingly report on North Carolina council of state elections. Slate’s Political Gabfest, a popular American politics podcast, published an episode Sep. 26 titled “North Carolina Crazies,” focusing on the increasingly polarized races playing out in North Carolina.
Morrow’s controversies are representative of a growing trend of political extremism playing out across the United States. In the 2024 election, numerous GOP candidates have been shown to elevate conspiracy theories. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Democrats allowed migrants to enter the country so they could vote in the 2024 election, despite a lack of evidence. Kari Lake, the GOP nominee for Arizona’s US Senate seat, has elevated a conspiracy theory that fraudulent voting machines led to her loss in the 2022 gubernatorial race. Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance, along with Trump, has also given a platform to the unproven claim that Haitian immigrants have been eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. The normalization of violent political rhetoric and conspiracies presents a concerning danger to the future of American democracy.
Despite these controversies, this race is still incredibly close. A September 10 WRAL News Poll found Green leading Morrow with 40% to 38%. About 22% of likely voters polled are still undecided. This race showcases two significantly contrasting visions for the future of education in North Carolina, and it may only come down to a few thousand voters. Election Day is on Tuesday, November 5.