Back in the last millennium, the paradox of North Carolina politics was: How can the same state elect Jim Hunt and Jesse Helms?

Today, it’s: How can the same state elect Donald Trump and Josh Stein?

They’re not just political opposites; they’re two of the most opposite people on planet Earth.

Call us TrumpenStein.

The explanation is simple: North Carolinians view national elections (President and Senate) and state elections (Governor, Council of State, legislature) through different lenses.

This year, the big issues in the presidential race were inflation, the economy and immigration. These issues favored Trump, and he carried the state by 3.2%.

But Stein won by nearly 15%. He got more votes than Trump, 3.07 million to 2.89 million.

Why?

Yes, because his campaign ruthlessly exposed Mark Robinson’s unfitness for office.

But also, because a different set of issues dominated state races: public education, reproductive rights and health care.

They were winning issues for Stein and other Democrat running statewide, like Rachel Hunt, Jeff Jackson, Mo Green, Elaine Marshall and Allison Riggs.

If it wasn’t for the extreme gerrymandering Republicans have imposed, Democrats today might have narrow majorities in both the House and Senate.

Also, as a veteran observer of North Carolina politics reminded me, Stein did something Kamala Harris didn’t do – something Democratic Governors Jim Hunt, Mike Easley and Roy Cooper have done for 50 years: He showed that he’ll be tough on crime.

Stein’s TV ads highlighted his record fighting drug trafficking and featured shots of him with law-enforcement officers (photo).

This is a familiar formula for North Carolina Democrats: good for business, tough on crime and progressive on public education, health care, reproductive rights, the environment and human rights.

This year, as so many times before, it was a winning formula.