PFFPNC’s Super Tuesday Results
On balance, PFFPNC had a solid day on Super Tuesday from the top of the ballot down to the General Assembly races and on both sides of political aisle.
At the top of PFFPNC’s watch list was the North Carolina Senate race in Wayne and Lenoir counties, where Sen. Jim Perry was in a battle with a fellow Republican candidate who took cheap shots at fire fighters in the closing days of the campaign. Perry, photographed with PFFPNC President Scott Mullins and Political Director Josh Smith, defeated his opponent by a 66-34 percent margin.
“Senator Perry is a friend to fire fighters and is working hard for us in the Senate, particularly on presumptive cancer, so his race was a top priority for PFFPNC,” Mullins said. “And it was icing on the cake to see a candidate go down who attacks fire fighters in mail pieces. It made knocking on 2,000 doors and working polls on election day for Senator Perry so much more worth it.”
PFFPNC went on to win most of its General Assembly races including Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford), Rep. Bobby Hanig (R-Dare/Pamlico/Currituck/Hyde), Rep. Michael Wray (D-Halifax/Northampton), Rep. Dennis Riddell (R-Alamance) and Rep. Jamie Boles (R-Moore). The only General Assembly losses for fire fighters Tuesday night was Mark Hollo, a Republican, who was running for NC Senate in Catawba and Alexander counties, and Ben Scales, a Democrat, running for the NC Senate in Buncombe County.
At the Council of State level, PFFPNC had a split decision for its endorsed candidates in the races for Lieutenant Governor. Sen. Terry Van Duyn (D-Buncombe) qualified for a runoff election in the Democratic primary and Republican Greg Gebhardt lost.
In federal races, the IAFF’s endorsed presidential candidate Joe Biden, now the front runner, had a historical night on Tuesday by sweeping the southern states, showing surprise wins in Minnesota and Massachusetts and holding to a very strong second place finish in California.
PFFPNC’s endorsed candidates for US Senate Cal Cunningham easily won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday night and now faces incumbent Senator Thom Tillis in November. Also victorious was Deborah Ross and Kathy Manning, who won the Democratic nominations in the 2nd and 6th congressional districts respectively.
The Firefighter, Volume 2 is now available for reading
The latest edition of The Firefighter, PFFPNC’s quarterly magazine, is now out and available for reading. 
Produced by PFFPNC in collaboration with the IAFF and the government relations/communication team at New Frame, this issue of the Firefighter includes photos from around the state, from Asheville to Statesville to New Hanover, as well as education articles on cooking and fire safety.
Click here to read the latest edition of The Firefighter.
PFFPNC mourns the loss of Rep. Linda Johnson
PFFPNC mourns the loss of Rep. Linda Johnson, a Cabarrus County Republican lawmaker, who died on Tuesday from cancer.
The 20-year veteran legislator was a high-ranking appropriations chair in the House who reveled in visits from fire fighters across North Carolina. 
“Her door was always open for us and we were always greeted with a hug,” wrote PFFPNC DVP Ben Bobzien, who exchanged text messages and phone calls with Rep. Johnson just days before she died. “She was full of integrity, loyalty and strength, and I will miss her and her friendship. I pray for her family’s comfort and healing through this difficult and sad time.”
PFFPNC DVP Jeff Tracey, who also serves as president of the Cabarrus Professional Fire Fighters Association, praised Rep. Johnson for using her power at the appropriation table to protect money dedicated to the Line of Duty Death cancer benefit.
“She was a friend to fire fighters right here in her home district, and she was a friend to every fire fighter across North Carolina,” he said.
Rep. Johnson’s death was felt across North Carolina’s political world and across partisan lines, including Gov. Roy Cooper, who released a statement praising her public service to the state and Cabarrus County and ordering flags fly at high-staff.