District NC-08

North Carolina's 8th Congressional District is predominantly rural and stretches 90 miles through 10 counties. It's bordered by Fayetteville on the east and Charlotte on the west. The district has three distinct regions: Fayetteville and the Fort Bragg region that incorporates Hoke County; Charlotte and the three adjacent counties that are more suburban; and five very rural, very working class counties between the two.

In 2006, first-time candidate, Democrat Larry Kissell, a high-school teacher and former textile worker, took on four-term incumbent Republican Robin Hayes, heir to a textile fortune. Though outspent by literally millions of dollars, Kissell only lost by 330 votes, the closest Congressional race of the 2006 cycle. This year, Kissell is looking for a rematch.

In 2006, the Kissell-Hayes match up was the only billing on the ballot. There were no statewide races and few contested local elections ensuring one of the lowest turnouts in history. This year, the situation is reversed. Open seats for President, Governor and a host of council of state seats almost guarantees one of the highest turnouts in history.

Since 2006, NC-08 has become more favorable to a Democrat. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, NC-08 was comprised of 49.2% Democrats, 31.2% Republicans, and 19.6% Unaffiliated at the time of the 2006 General Election. After the barrage of voter registration drives across North Carolina by presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the district is now comprised of 49.4% Democrats, 29.3% Republicans, and 21.3% Unaffiliated.

Of the 23,016 voters who registered since the 2006 General Election, Democrats (11,943 new voters) and Unaffiliated (11,441 new voters) registrants make up the entirety of the growth in voter registration in the district. The number of Republicans has actually dropped since the last election by 369 voters. Of the new registrants, over half are minorities.

Current polls show Kissell tied, or even leading, Hayes. In a district that lost tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs over the past decade, the current economic situation bodes well for a challenger like Kissell.

Kissell, the full-time high school teacher, has had difficulty raising money. However, as in 2006, he has a broad base of grassroots support and never stopped campaigning. Two years ago, he received very little help from interest groups or party committees. This year, he is already on the DCCC Red-to-Blue program. Given Kissell's sustained grassroots campaign, the favorable change in district registration and the current economic/political environment, Kissell would be a good bet for anyone hoping to increase the Democratic margin in Congress.