The already delayed 2022 primary election may be held June 7, pending approval from Gov. Roy Cooper.
The NC General Assembly this past week voted to delay the primary to June 7 and the choice now moves to Cooper, who could veto the move.
The bill would move the candidate filing period to March 24-April 1.
Republicans tout the new date as advantageous because it buys time for the General Assembly to address changes in maps for state and congressional races. Many Democrats argue it isn’t a necessary step.
Those maps came under fire recently in the form of gerrymandering lawsuits.
The maps were upheld in Wake County Superior Court and appeals followed.
If Cooper vetoes the bill and the veto is sustained, the primaries would reset to May 17.
If needed, runoff elections would be on Aug. 16 if any federal races require it. If there are no federal runoffs, the date would be July 26.
Cooper told reporters this past week that he’d need to read the bill’s final text before deciding whether or not to veto.
Cooper hasn’t had a veto overturned since 2018 when Republicans lost their veto-proof super majority.