Senate GOP Aims to Topple Basnight

Given the 28-22 Democratic majority in the Senate's upcoming session, Republicans have a chance to vote Basnight, D-Dare, out of the Senate's top position if they get at least four Democrats to vote against him.

Basnight, who has held the top post in the Senate longer than any other legislator in history, often is considered one of the state's most powerful politicians.

Senate Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine, R-New Hanover, claimed last week that two Democrats already have agreed to vote against Basnight, according to The Charlotte Observer. He also said a third senator has promised a vote against Basnight if a fourth will join the coalition.

Ballantine, who could not be reached for comment by press time, has not given the names of the coalition's Democratic supporters -- a smart move, say some Republicans.

"You don't go naming people so that the other side can put pressure on them," said Rep. Fern Shubert, R-Union, who will be the Senate minority whip starting in January. She added that she thinks that "there are lots of folks who would like to see changes made."

But Basnight said he does not believe Republicans' predictions that defecting Democrats will help vote him out. "This is the same group that said they were going to win the Senate," he said. "Their record of predictions is pretty sour."

Basnight first was elected president pro tem in 1993. There was an unsuccessful movement in 1994 to vote him out of the position, he said.

The fact that Basnight held on to his position in 1994 despite a coalition's attempt to vote him out strengthens his chances for retaining the position Jan. 29, when legislators will elect leaders for the new session, said Ferrel Guillory, director of UNC's Program on Southern Politics, Media and Public Life.

"It will be harder to get him voted out because he's been the majority leader since then -- he's got experience dealing with the different players involved," Guillory said.

Basnight said his experience has allowed him to create a good relationship with Republican senators. He said two Republicans have committed to vote for him, but he would not give their names.

The slim majority actually could work in Basnight's favor, Guillory said, because Democrats could vote together in order to maintain their power in the Senate.

Democrats have not been receptive to Republican attempts at a deal, said Amy Fulk, Basnight's press secretary. "Democrats call here and say 'Guess who called me today?' and laugh," she said.

Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, said she has been approached multiple times, beginning at the end of the last session.

"I'm certainly not interested in that kind of agreement," she said.

But Shubert said legislators on both sides of the aisle might be making claims only to see if there is potential for a real coup. "It may be marketing," she said. "It's like saying 'Hey, if you are willing to have negotiations, then we're open.'"

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.