About the League

Historic ERA Hearing

The EQUAL MEANS EQUAL v. Donald Trump hearing is a critical step in our effort to compel the federal government to publish and enforce the Equal Rights Amendment, which has already met every constitutional requirement.

🔊 How to listen to the hearing
Tuesday, December 16, 10:30 am ET
Registration opens December 14
Go to: forms.mad.uscourts.gov/courtlist.html
→ Select Dec 16 / Judge William G. Young
→ Find EQUAL MEANS EQUAL v. Donald Trump
→ Register
→ Log in on December 16th at 10:30 am ET to listen live.

EQUAL MEANS EQUAL attorney Wendy Murphy gave a powerful interview this week breaking down the legal and constitutional realities behind the ERA — why it is already law, why the government refuses to publish it, and what’s at stake on December 16th. You can listen to the interview here.

Photo credit: WLOS Staff

Filing for 2026 primary election begins: Here are the current candidates

By Deanna Sipe, December 5, 2025, WLOS — Candidates wishing to run for office in the 2026 primary elections have two weeks left to file in North Carolina.

The filing includes several open positions for the City of Asheville and Buncombe County.

Asheville City Council

Jeffrey Burroughs has filed to run for the Asheville City Council, along with Dan Ferrell, CJ Snyder, and current councilwoman Maggie Ullman.

Burroughs currently serves as the River Arts District Artists president, while also owning a boutique in the River Arts District. According to Burroughs’ website, a few of the main issues Burroughs is running on are affordable housing, support for small businesses and investing in flood recovery.

Ferrell, according to his website, is a parent of two kids, a former community organizer, and a software engineer. A few of the main issues Ferrell is running on are affordable housing, better food security and healthy communities.

At this time, News 13 does not have information on CJ Snyder’s positions.

Ullman, who has been with the Asheville City Council since 2022, is running again in 2026. Ullman, according to her website, is running on creating resilient, climate-smart infrastructure, affordable housing, and a safe, connected community.

Asheville Mayor

Current councilwoman Kim Roney has filed to run for Asheville City mayor against current Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer.

According to Roney’s website, Roney is running for office on the following issues: affordability, public safety, climate change and neighborhood resiliency.

According to Manheimer’s website, Manheimer is running for a fourth term on what is called “Build Back Better” vision that focuses on economic recovery and revitalization, enhanced community resilience and stability, along with greater opportunities for residents.

Buncombe County School Board

Candidates for the Buncombe County School Board include Rob Elliot, who represents District 3; Judy Lewis, who represents District 5; and Kim Plemmons, who represents District 6. For more information on the school board candidates, visit here.

Buncombe County Sheriff

Gary Parris has filed to run for Buncombe County Sheriff. Parris is a retired U.S. Navy officer. According to Parris’ website, he is running on a campaign focused on creating an environment for safe families, schools, and communities.

Buncombe County Commission

Anna Stearns, Terry Thread-Well and Al Whitesides have filed for Buncombe County Commissioner in districts 1, 2, and 3.

As previously reported, Stearns, a local attorney, is running for Buncombe County District Commissioner in District 1. According to Stearns’ website, the top priorities are Helene recovery, affordable housing, smart growth, children and families. Wells is currently representing District 1 as a Buncombe County District Commissioner. According to Wells’ website, is running for the newly drawn District 2. Whitesides, who currently represents District 1, is now running for District 3.

House of Representatives

Adam R. Smith will challenge Chuck Edwards, who is publicly endorsed by President Donald Trump, in the U.S. House seat representing western North Carolina in the Republican Party. Jamie Ager is filing as the Democratic challenger.

Smith is a former U.S. Army Green Beret who is now running to represent North Carolina’s 11th congressional district. According to Smith’s website, his biggest issues in western North Carolina are the economy, national security and immigration.

Edwards is seeking re-election for the 11th district, stating, as previously reported, “I filed for reelection[…] because the people of NC-11 deserve a representative who understands our values, defends our freedoms, and stands up to Washington overreach. That’s what I’ve done, and that’s what I will continue to do.”

Ager, who is running as the Democratic candidate, is the CEO of Hickory Nut Gap Farm. According to Ager’s website, some of the biggest issues Ager is focusing on are Helene recovery, affordable healthcare and lowering the cost of living.

Candidates have until Friday, Dec. 19, to file for a spot on the ballot.

Read the story on WLOS.

LWV and Partners Sue for Voting Rights

LWV and five state and local Leagues filed a lawsuit against the federal government because of anti-voter actions.

We’re suing the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the US Department of Homeland Security, and other federal officials for enacting — without following the required process — a new rule that bars nonpartisan civic engagement groups from providing voter registration and civic engagement at administrative naturalization ceremonies.

“Purposely excluding groups like the League from administrative naturalization ceremonies is a deliberate move by this administration to exclude new citizens from the democratic process and attack the League’s very mission to register and support new voters,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of LWV.

The newly enacted rule violates the First Amendment rights of the League and other civic groups. Also, it fails to adhere to provisions that require federal agencies to follow transparent procedures when adopting new policies.

In League,
Team LWV
League of Women Voters of the US

Don’t miss SUFFS — the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about the women who changed America! Performances will run March 10-15, 2026 in Charlotte. Click here for tickets.

The League of Women Voters North Carolina has arranged for a block of tickets for the March 15th matinee. If you’re interested in attending that day you can find more information here. Seats have been reserved for League members and friends in two excellent sections: Grand Tier and Mezzanine. (*Choose the starred seats.)

Across party lines, North Carolina voters staunchly oppose gerrymandering under any circumstances, instead want fair voting maps

RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina voters overwhelmingly oppose gerrymandering of congressional and legislative electoral districts and want a bipartisan citizens commission to draw voting maps instead of legislators, according to a new survey conducted by a Republican-leaning polling firm.

84% of North Carolina voters say gerrymandering is NEVER acceptable
82% of voters want courts to protect against racial discrimination in redistricting
76% of voters say PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING should be ILLEGAL
94% of voters want districts that FAIRLY represent ALL communities and political viewpoints

In fact, 84% of North Carolina voters say it’s never acceptable for politicians to draw districts to help their own party win more seats, no matter the circumstances. That opposition holds across party lines, including 78% of Republicans, 87% of Democrats and 85% of unaffiliated voters.

A strong majority of voters – 70% – support the establishment of a bipartisan citizens commission to draw fair voting maps for North Carolina, while 17% are unsure. Just 12% of voters prefer keeping the current system with legislators drawing the maps.

Other key findings in the poll: voters want courts to protect against gerrymandering.

Voters want courts to guard against gerrymandering, with 82% saying it’s important for judges to protect against racial discrimination in how electoral maps are drawn – including 66% of Republicans, 93% of Democrats and 85% of unaffiliated voters, as well as 81% of white voters and 93% of Black voters.

Meanwhile, 76% of North Carolina voters say it should be illegal for gerrymandering to be used to discriminate against voters based on their political party.

Voters are wary of politicians in the legislature in charge of drawing districts. Knowing that under the current system in North Carolina one political party controls how voting maps are drawn, 61% of voters say they’re not confident that the state’s congressional and legislative voting districts were drawn by legislators in a fair and transparent way, while just 25% express confidence.

A whopping 90% of voters believe electoral maps should be drawn with transparency and meaningful public input, including multiple public hearings held in communities across the state to allow people to comment on proposed districts. And nearly all voters – 94% – want districts that fairly represent all communities and political viewpoints.

“These findings show that North Carolina voters across parties want fair maps, transparency, and independent oversight,” said Brian Wynne, President of Opinion Diagnostics. “Public support is strong for a citizens’ redistricting commission and for courts to act as a backstop against gerrymandering. Partisan gerrymandering is widely rejected, including by majorities of Republicans as well as Democrats and unaffiliated voters.” ~Common Cause North Carolina

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, volunteer-based, political organization consisting of women and men passionate about our democracy. Born out of the national women’s suffrage movement in 1920, the League continues to work to serve the needs of the voting public and protect the rights of all voters.

Our efforts are two-fold:
Voters Service, Citizen Education – presenting unbiased, nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process and current issues.

Action, Advocacy – following education on the issue(s), action is taken towards enacting policies in the public interest and striking down policies harmful to society.

A just society is derived from a democracy consisting of an engaged and educated public that has faith in the political process.

The League of Women Voters is a membership organization encouraging action and advocacy as a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation. To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, funds are derived from the Florence Ryan Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to building citizen participation in democratic process, studying key community issues at all government levels in an unbiased manner, and enabling people to seek positive solutions to public policy issues through education and conflict management.

The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County currently offers meetings and events for members as well as educational programs for the public. Quarterly member events include two meetings each year, a Holiday Social in winter and an Annual Luncheon & Meeting in May or June. League action teams and committees also hold regular meetings for the members involved in those groups.

Join us! Check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky. And check out our YouTube Channel for past meetings and voting issues we’re involved with. Our Calendar page has upcoming events.

Connect with your State League: North Carolina League of Women Voters
Connect with the National League: National League of Women Voters

Our chapter is centered around Buncombe County and includes several adjoining counties. This is the homeland of the Cherokee and other nations. We recognize the sovereignty and traditional territories of these local tribal nations, the treaties used to remove them, and the histories of dispossession. We honor and respect the many diverse indigenous people who came before us, who are still here, and who are connected to the land on which we reside.