Breaking Brett Jensen kicks the show off by talking about early voting turnout and the ongoing state budget stalemate in North Carolina. Jensen reviews updated early voting numbers across Mecklenburg County, noting strong participation once additional polling sites opened beyond uptown Charlotte. He then shifts focus to Raleigh, where lawmakers have yet to finalize a state budget. After playing a report from Queen City News, Jensen explains why the lack of a budget isn’t surprising, revealing that political insiders told him months ago this delay was expected.

Jensen is joined by school board candidate Justin Shealy for an exclusive 1-on-1 interview to discuss his campaign for the District 6 seat on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. Shealy, who represents the southern part of Mecklenburg County including Steele Creek, Pineville, and Ballantyne, talks about his grassroots approach, focusing on door-to-door outreach and direct voter engagement during early voting. He acknowledges challenges running as a Republican in a nonpartisan race against two Democratic opponents, including one candidate he says has deep insider connections to CMS leadership. Shealy emphasizes his status as a newcomer to politics and a parent invested in improving schools, pledging to bring “a common-sense approach” and independence from special interests.

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