What’s next for Wyatt Gable?
21-year-old Republican beat a 10-term incumbent
While his college friends celebrated the end of midterms with a spring break trip to Florida, Wyatt Gable entered the home stretch of his bid to oust a 10-term Republican from the North Carolina House.
Weeks phone banking after class and driving about an hour home on the weekends to knock on doors paid off. The East Carolina University junior, 21, narrowly beat state Rep. George Cleveland, 84, last week in a primary in which he cast himself as “the future of the Republican Party.”
Gable’s victory comes as voters nationwide express misgivings about the ages of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — the frontrunners in 2024. Gable, who described himself as a “big Trump supporter,” said he hopes that his candidacy injects youthful energy into a party often dominated by “older people” at county meetings.
While some voters told him he was too young, Gable said, others considered his opponent too old.
“A lot of people were just ready for a fresh face,” Gable said.
Gable is the president of East Carolina’s chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth group. In addition to his political advocacy restroom access, the business management major said he plays intramural sports.
The education system’s response to the pandemic compelled Gable to pursue office. As an unvaccinated freshman in college, Gable said, he was required to test every week for COVID-19. Failure to do so risked the deactivation of his student identification card, which meant no access to dining halls. He perceived the policy, which sought to limit the spread of the disease, as “total control.”
While sitting in a microeconomics class, Gable said, he sent an email about the issue to Cleveland. Gable said he never got a response.
“I felt like no one really cared or didn’t want to do anything,” he said. “So, I’m going to be the one that does something.”
Gable hopes one day those ambitions could propel him to the governor’s mansion.
Cleveland, a former Marine Corps drill instructor, did not return a message seeking comment.
Gable had help from friends, but estimates that he alone knocked on 1,000 doors and made 400 phone calls. Supporters handed every precinct on election day, Gable added.
He will face Democrat Carmen Spicer in November, and is expected to win the general election in rural Onslow County, home to Camp Lejeune and 120 miles southeast of Raleigh. Trump won three out of every five votes cast in the district for the 2020 presidential election.
In the General Assembly, Gable plans to tackle education. He said high school students should take more home economics, shop and carpentry classes so they’re “prepared for the real world.” He also wants to put more emphasis on physical activity.
“I’m still in college, so who better to work on the education system than someone that’s a part of it?” Gable said.
Gable stressed he would represent constituents of all ages, but it’s important to include younger voices in public service. He wants to use his platform to improve turnout among people ages 18-29 and encourage that demographic to vote Republican.
He acknowledged that the last goal needs work. The GOP has performed poorly in every election cycle since 2016, he said, and voters don’t always believe the party offers many solutions.
“Rebranding as a party and not electing the same cookie-cutter candidates,” he said, “is going to be a big part of it.”