Editor’s note: The Richmond Observer strives to provide fair and objective coverage of any and all political issues, situations, and/or developments, regardless of party affiliation. As part of this commitment, the Observer is offering for your review the following news release statement from the North Carolina Democratic Party:
Raleigh – The North Carolina Democratic Party announced that for the first time ever a Democrat will be on the ballot for all 170 legislative seats, giving voters in every single district in North Carolina a choice this fall. The historic total is unprecedented, surpasses totals for previous midterm and presidential election years, and shows the strength of the NC Democratic Party and the growing enthusiasm among Democratic voters and candidates.
“This is a historic day. Democrats entered this midterm with one goal: recruit a candidate in every single district to break the Republican super-majority this fall,” NCDP Chairman Wayne Goodwin said. “Thanks to a slate of quality, diverse candidates from the mountains to the coast, every North Carolina voter – for the first time ever – will have a choice in this year’s election.”
“Our belief is that if you want to build a strong statewide party, you need to put a local face on the party, no matter the district,” House Democratic Leader Darren Jackson said. “Today we took a giant step towards building that strong statewide party. Today is yet another example of the engagement and energy that is going to bring North Carolina Democrats to the polls in November and break the Republican majority.”
“The enthusiasm that we have seen across the state is unlike anything I have ever seen before – and I’ve seen a lot of waves over the years,” Senate Democratic Leader Dan Blue said. “There is something unique about this cycle. Folks are engaged; they want something better than what they have gotten from the General Assembly in the past several years. But, the most important indication of a blue wave coming in 2018 is that this enthusiasm is turning into action.”
Today’s filing of 120 House districts and 50 Senate districts is historic compared to previous years:
- In 2016, a presidential year, Democrats had candidates in 92 House districts and 38 Senate districts.
- In 2014, the most recent midterm, Democrats had candidates in 87 House districts and 38 Senate districts.
- In 2010, the previous midterm, Democrats had candidates in 91 House districts and 39 Senate districts.
This is one of the most diverse fields of candidates ever assembled by either party. Among the full slate of Democratic legislative candidates, 77 are female (59 in the House, 18 in the Senate) and 71 are people of color (49 in the House, 22 in the Senate). In addition, there are six LGBT candidates running in the House.
77 women candidates highlight one of the most diverse fields of candidates ever for either party.
Today’s historic announcement comes after the party announced it is in the best position ever heading into a midterm election, starting 2018 with a record $2.4 million cash on hand. Both announcements speak to the party’s strength and the continued and growing enthusiasm among Democrats and Independents turned off by Republican efforts in DC and Raleigh to rig the system for their political benefit.
Democrats will also be on the ballot in 12 of the 13 Congressional races, have a top tier candidate for Supreme Court in Anita Earls, and are contesting county commission and sheriff races across the state.
Contact: Robert Howard, RobertHoward@ncdemocraticparty.org
