Election 2024: Education superintendent race remains a toss-up
(The Center Square) – With just 29 days until Election Day, Republican Michele Morrow and Democrat Mo Green are neck-in-neck for the position of superintendent of public instruction.
Yet, as voters begin to vote across the state, both candidates are feeling confident.
“I am very confident in the ability of the serious voters of North Carolina to truly consider the issues and the differences between me and my opponent,” Morrow told The Center Square. “They will understand that his solutions are no solutions at all, just more of the same. When we compare actual issues and ideas, I win. And when I win, our students, teachers and parents will win.”
Green is also confident in his chances of winning the election.
“From Western NC to the coast, our communities are filled with champions of public education,” he posted to social media. “When we work together & share the stakes of this election, we will meet this moment.”
A WRAL News Poll from early September found that Green led Morrow by 2%, with 22% of likely voters still undecided. The 2% was well within the +/- 4.9% margin of error.
Both candidates have said the stakes this election are very high for the state of education in North Carolina.
“Together, we will meet this moment: the very soul of education is on the ballot,” Green said on social media.
Morrow said students are being left behind by failing policies.
“Right now, frankly, our graduates are not leaving our schools well-prepared to survive in that adult world, much less thrive,” she said. “We must educate our children. We must teach them to think versus telling them what to believe. We must fix the education system which is, by any measure, failing. Our future depends on it.”
While Morrow has prioritized parental rights, Green has said he is opposed to a “taxpayer funded private school voucher program.”
“Our children in our public schools absolutely need these dollars,” he said on social media.
In the spring primary, Murrow unexpectedly beat Republican incumbent Catherine Truitt. Morrow told The Center Square that North Carolina schools need a change and revitalization for the better and, as an outsider to the current system, she can bring that.
“I want the voters of North Carolina to consider the current state of our schools and ask themselves one simple question: Are you happy with the way things are – the violence, the drugs, year after year of academic failures, chaos in the classroom, the misspent money making people like Mo Green wealthy?” she said. “If you’re happy with all of that, then vote for Mo. If you are ready for a better tomorrow, vote for Michele. It’s as simple as that.”
Green has maintained throughout his campaign that Morrow lacks the experience to be superintendent. He again voiced this in a debate between the candidates.
“I brought to bear lots of issues, and lots of experience, respecting however and in fact revering our educators to try and lift them up and move them forward,” he said. “There actually is one person who has walked the walk, who has improved student outcomes, raised graduation rates, and the district recognized as a national district of character.”
