The Wake County Democratic Party has released its endorsements in nonpartisan local races that will appear on county ballots, including, controversially, for Raleigh City Council races in which multiple Democrats are running.
The endorsements include a mix of incumbents and newcomers, and the party’s 11-member executive council picked some different candidates than it did in the last council election in 2022.
The party endorsed Janet Cowell, a former Raleigh City Council member, state lawmaker, and state treasurer, for mayor. In 2022, it endorsed N.C. State University professor Terrance Ruth over incumbent mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin. Ruth is running for mayor again this year. The party did not explain why it endorsed which candidates, but it published candidate responses to a questionnaire it sent out to all on its website.
The party also endorsed Mitchell Silver, a former Raleigh city planner, for the District A race against incumbent Mary Black, whom it endorsed in 2022.
In District B, the party endorsed Megan Patton, the only Democrat in that race.
In District C, the party endorsed Tolulope Omokaiye over incumbent council member Corey Branch, whom it also did not endorse in 2022.
In District D, the party endorsed Jane Harrison, who is running unopposed.
In District E, the party endorsed incumbent Christina Jones, whom it endorsed in 2022.
Stormie Forte and Jonathan Melton got the endorsement in the city council at-large races.
Two weeks ago, a group of prominent Raleigh Democrats sent a letter to party chair Kevyn Creech and executive director Wesley Knott asking them not to make endorsements in local elections in Raleigh this fall. Additionally, members of the local party’s Jewish caucus wrote letters asking the party not to endorse over frustrations with council members Mary Black and Christina Jones, who had advocated for a ceasefire resolution.
Creech explained that the party has been making endorsements in the local elections since 2011, following a Tea Party takeover of the Wake County Public Schools Board of Education.
But the party has not always endorsed in every city council race. For instance, in 2019, the party only endorsed in the Raleigh City Council District E race even though all the other city council races were also on the ballot.
Creech says the decision not endorse in some races that year came from a change in protocol made at the time by the Wake County Democratic Party Executive Council, a group of 10 elected party officers, and one apportioned treasurer, that include the chair and executive director. Creech was not a member of the executive council at the time.
In response to the letter that the Raleigh Democrats sent to the party, Solidarity with Humanity, a political action committee dedicated to building power for Palestinians, also sent a letter to executive council members addressing the PAC’s concerns and stating its support for Black and Jones. More than 100 local organizers, leaders, and residents signed it.
The letter noted that Raleigh’s failed ceasefire resolution proposal was written “in collaboration with Raleigh’s Jewish and Muslim communities” and seems critical of the Jewish caucus’s request to get the party not to endorse Black and Jones. The letter also criticizes “selective targeting” of Black and Jones, noting that District B councilor Megan Patton and District D councilor Jane Harrison also supported the ceasefire resolution (though neither have Democratic opponents in their city council races this fall).
“Smear campaigns that reek of McCarthyism should have no place in the Democratic Party,” the letter states. “Mary Black and Christina Jones have demonstrated exemplary service to their constituents and have consistently worked to address the needs of the community. They have consistently shown the courage to both lead and respond to community members, including those whose families experienced displacement and genocide.”
Dem_letter_response-formattedMary Thompson, a former member of the Wake County Democratic Party Executive Committee, says the party’s endorsement process has been “thorough and meticulous for over a decade.” It involves hours spent reviewing applications, studying the issues, conducting candidate interviews, and engaging in deliberation.
“What unites us is our shared commitment to electing Democrats who will champion our values and advance our collective goals,” Thompson wrote in an email to the INDY. “We believe that bullying and threats within the party and from current or former officeholders are harmful and contrary to our values.”
Read Thompson’s letter below.
“We were disheartened to read the recent piece in the Indy discussing divisions within the Wake County Democratic Party, particularly regarding endorsements for Raleigh City Council and Mayor. It’s important to remember that the Democratic Party is a big tent, encompassing a wide range of views and opinions. Disagreement on specific issues or endorsements is a natural aspect of this diversity and should be embraced rather than criticized.
What unites us is our shared commitment to electing Democrats who will champion our values and advance our collective goals. We are confident that Vice President Harris will be the next President of the United States and fully support North Carolina’s Attorney General Josh Stein as our next Governor. Additionally, we are determined to see Democrats win all down-ballot races.
It is troubling that some individuals who signed the recent letter and participated in the interview are now targeting only two of the four council members who supported the resolution for a cease-fire. It is worth noting that the two members they’ve chosen to target are both women of color. Like other City Council members, these women have held community meetings to gather resident feedback on various issues facing Raleigh and have been thoughtful in their voting decisions. Their dedication to the community deserves recognition, not undue criticism.
The endorsement process within the Wake County Democratic Party has been thorough and meticulous for over a decade. In 2022, while I served on the Wake County Democratic Executive Committee, the process involved extensive work—reviewing applications, studying issues, conducting interviews, and engaging in hours of deliberation. While not everyone agrees with every endorsement outcome, respecting the process and understanding that this country will have opportunities for future elections is essential.
Targeting specific council members and critiquing their qualifications, particularly when some critics have benefited from the endorsement process, must be clarified and counterproductive. Furthermore, it is inappropriate to criticize one council member for a scheduling issue during Hanukkah while ignoring past discussions, such as the future of the mosque on Shaw property during Ramadan. This inconsistency suggests a need for greater cultural sensitivity within the City of Raleigh.
We believe that bullying and threats from within the party and from current or former officeholders are harmful and contrary to our values. All public servants must remember they serve all Raleigh and Wake County residents. As concerned members of the Democratic Party, we felt it necessary to speak out and advocate for a more respectful and unified approach.”
Follow Editor-in-Chief Jane Porter on X or send an email to [email protected].