Storms Threaten Trump's Southern Stronghold—Election Disaster Looms

The destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, followed by the devastation of Hurricane Milton, is so extensive across the predominantly "red" Southern states that the Trump campaign is now concerned about the potential impact on voter turnout. There are fears that many affected individuals may not be able to reach the polls either before or on Election Day.

In western North Carolina alone, more than half a million voters—around 530,000 people—face obstacles to voting for Donald Trump due to the catastrophic damage in the Appalachian region, which has largely been cut off from the rest of the country.

Tragically, some of these voters are deceased, and many others are injured, which could potentially sway North Carolina in favor of Kamala Harris. A similar situation could unfold in Florida, depending on how quickly recovery efforts proceed after Hurricane Milton.

Veteran journalist Paul Sperry highlighted this concern on social media, quoting a Trump campaign insider: "Trump campaign fears >530k Trump voters in western NC cd be disenfranchised by Helene." According to this source, 26 of the 28 counties affected by flooding in North Carolina voted for Trump in 2020, creating a significant disparity in the number of Trump versus Biden/Harris voters. North Carolina holds 16 electoral votes, making it a key battleground state.

Natural disasters like these storms have historically influenced voter turnout and preferences, as Politico research suggests. Voters affected by such events may change their support based on their perception of disaster relief efforts, or, tragically, may be unable to vote at all.

The Trump campaign faces an additional challenge in North Carolina, where registered Democrats have taken an early lead in mail-in ballot returns. According to VoteHub.us, over 22,000 mail-in ballots have already been submitted, with more Democrats returning ballots than Republicans.

In response, the Trump campaign has organized a "Team Trump Bus Tour" to energize conservative voters in North Carolina. The tour will feature prominent Republican figures, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), and former Trump administration officials Hogan Gidley and Kash Patel. The tour will visit various cities across the state from October 9 to 11, with the goal of rallying support before Election Day.