Voters will not only be electing a President November 2. Congressional, state, and local races, as well as judicial races and state constitutional amendments, will be on the ballot.

Perhaps the most watched statewide race is the contest between Rep. Richard Burr and Erskine Bowles for the U.S. Senate Seat now held by John Edwards.

Burr has represented the 5th Congressional District, which includes over half of Iredell County, since 1994. He has compiled a reliably conservative voting record and earned the reputation of being an effective member of Congress.

Bowles his making his second bid for the Senate, having run unsuccessfully two years ago. He is trying to pass himself off as a moderate problem solver, but his background indicates that he is very liberal. He served for several years as Bill Clinton’s chief of staff.

Due to greater statewide name recognition, Bowles began the race as the front-runner. Recent polls show the contest to be very close. The U.S. Senate is now almost evenly divided. The outcome of the North Carolina race could determine which party has the majority.

Republican nominee Virginia Foxx faces Democrat Jim Harrell in the 5th Congressional District. Harrell is a strong candidate, but Foxx should win handily due to the partisan makeup of the district. Republican Patrick McHenry should win an easy victory over a weak opponent in the 10th Congressional District.

Incumbent Governor Mike Easley faces a challenge from former state Senator Patrick Ballentine in his bid for re-election. Easley has been one of the worst governors in the state’s history, but as of the time this is written he enjoys a substantial lead in the polls.

Iredell County covers parts of three state Senate and four state House districts. Despite the number of seats up for election, there are no real contests. The incumbents are either unopposed or facing only token opposition.