Dan Forest Coverage

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Already looking to get a leg up on campaign 2022?

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Political analyst: 'It was a very good night for Republicans in North Carolina'

David Mclennan, political science professor at Meredith College, says that Republicans did so well in North Carolina this election due to partisanship in the state.

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest talks to supporters after losing governor race to Roy Cooper

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest speaks to supporters at a watch party in Selma after losing the election for governor to incumbent Gov. Roy Cooper.

Cooper re-elected, Republican Robinson becomes NC's first Black Lt.Gov.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper jumped out to an early lead over Republican Dan Forest in the governor's race and never relinquished it Tuesday, winning election to a second four-year term to lead North Carolina.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Forest supporters remain at event despite Cooper being re-elected as governor

WRAL's Aaron Thomas was in Johnston County with the campaign for governor for Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. Gov. Roy Cooper has been re-elected as governor, according to NBC News.

Democrats confident Cooper, Cunningham can wins respective elections

WRAL's Joe Fisher was at Democratic headquarters in Raleigh, where officials were closely watching the race for governor, where Gov. Roy Cooper currently leads. The race for US Senate between Democrat Cal Cunningham and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis remains tight.

VP Pence pushes for support of police in campaign stop with Lt. Gov. Forest

Vice President Mike Pence has made several stops in the Tar Heel state this week. That continued with multiple rallies on Saturday.

Rosalia Fodera, WRAL multimedia journalist

Fact check: Did Dan Forest miss 'almost half' of education board meetings during pandemic?

During the North Carolina gubernatorial debate, Gov. Roy Cooper said Lt. Gov. Dan Forest had missed "almost half" of the N.C. Board of Education meetings since the pandemic started. Forest said he has "been to almost every one of those meetings." Here's what PolitiFact found.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Forest not making dent in Cooper's lead

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is maintaining a comfortable lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest with days left in the campaign, while the race for North Carolina's No. 2 position remains tight, according to the results of a WRAL News poll released Thursday.

Poll: Cooper maintains wide lead over Forest

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has opened up a wider lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest in the battle to lead North Carolina for the next four years, according to the results of a WRAL News poll released Wednesday.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor, & Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Coronavirus case linked to GOP rally in western NC

State health officials said Wednesday that at least one coronavirus case has been linked to a political rally Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest held in western North Carolina two weeks ago.

From Forest, a promise to protect senior citizens from COVID, but no details

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest talks about protecting the vulnerable, but he won't answer questions about how he would do that if elected governor, and he hasn't reached out to advocacy groups.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Fact check: Cooper says Forest would allow 'rich' to use state aid for private schools

In a gubernatorial debate, Gov. Roy Cooper said Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest would allow "rich" families to use public tax dollars on a private school education. PolitiFact finds there's some truth to his claim, but it also lacks context.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Editorial: COVID-19 pandemic shows freedom is not affirmation of selfish entitlement

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 -- The ways to deal with controlling the spread of COVID-19 are not about limiting freedom but affirming the notion freedom that inspired our nation's founders. Freedom is "doing as we like, subject to such consequences as may follow, without impediment from our fellow creatures, as long as what we do does not harm them," said John Stuart Mill in "On Liberty." It is selfish entitlement that gives anyone license to, by choice or purposeful neglect, ignore and put at risk the liberty and life of others. No society that values freedom can survive on these terms.

Fact check: Does CDC study show '85 percent' of COVID-19 patients wore masks? Not exactly.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and President Donald Trump all misrepresented the findings of a recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Bill McCarthy, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: Is Cooper right about North Carolina, Georgia COVID-19 numbers?

In North Carolina's only gubernatorial debate of the year, Republican candidate Dan Forest praised Georgia's response to the coronavirus outbreak while Democratic incumbent Roy Cooper compared COVID-19 stats in both states. PolitiFact North Carolina checked Cooper's numbers.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Unmasking the truth

Thursday Oct. 15, 2020 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Analysis: Cooper more aggressive than necessary, Forest deftly handled attacks

Meredith College political science professor David McLennan provides analysis on the debate between Gov. Roy Cooper and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest.

Pandemic dominates debate between Cooper, Forest

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest exchanged verbal jabs Wednesday night about the coronavirus pandemic, masks, schools and violent protests during their only scheduled debate before Election Day.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

New NC group advertising in governor's race

Dogwood Coalition up on the air advertising against Cooper.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Cooper, Forest engage in lone gubernatorial debate

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest hold their only in-person debate before Election Day.

'You cannot win this state if you're a Republican and you do not win men'

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has opened up a wider lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest in the battle to lead North Carolina for the next four years, according to the results of a WRAL News poll released Wednesday.

Poll: Cooper extends lead over Forest

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has opened up a wider lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest in the battle to lead North Carolina for the next four years, according to the results of a WRAL News poll released Wednesday.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor, & Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Editorial: Selfish lack of compassion drives Trump's COVID-19 response

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020 -- President Donald Trump remains blissfully blind to the truth. "Don't be afraid of Covid. Don't let it dominate your life." Who needs to be afraid when you have the best medical care on the planet and a legion of medical professionals at your house, poised to respond to the least sniffle or very real urgent medical need? Trump doesn't get it and it only reinforced the misinformation his disciples spread.

Rancor over NC pandemic response fills governor's race

They weren't in the same place or even speaking at the same time on Thursday, but Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest were slamming each other over how North Carolina has handled the coronavirus pandemic.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor