The Wake County Democratic Party has announced its endorsements for nonpartisan local elections that will appear on the county’s ballot, including – controversially – the Raleigh City Council race, in which several Democrats are running.
Supporters include a mix of incumbents and newcomers, and the party’s 11-member executive committee has selected some different candidates than in the last local council election in 2022.
The party endorsed Janet Cowell, a former Raleigh City Council member, state representative and state treasurer, for mayor. In 2022, it endorsed North Carolina 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 posted the candidates’ responses to a questionnaire it sent to everyone 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 supported in 2022.
In District B, the party supported Megan Patton, the only Democrat in the race.
In District C, the party supported Tolulope Omokaiye over incumbent council member Corey Branch, whom it also did not support in 2022.
In District D, the party supported Jane Harrison, who is running unopposed.
In District E, the party supported incumbent Christina Jones, whom it supported in 2022.
Stormie Forte and Jonathan Melton received support in the city council elections.
Two weeks ago, a group of prominent Raleigh Democrats sent a letter to party chairman Kevyn Creech and executive director Wesley Knott asking them not to issue endorsements in Raleigh’s municipal elections this fall. In addition, members of the local party’s Jewish caucus wrote letters asking the party not to issue endorsements because they were unhappy with council members Mary Black and Christina Jones, who had advocated for a ceasefire solution.
Creech said the party has been making statements of support in local elections since 2011, after the Tea Party took power on the Wake County Public Schools Board of Education.
But the party has not always endorsed every city council race. For example, in 2019, the party only endorsed the race for Raleigh City Council District E, even though all other city council races were on the ballot.
Creech says the decision not to endorse in some elections this year was due to a protocol change made at the time by the Wake County Democratic Party’s Executive Council, a group of 10 elected party officials and a treasurer that also includes the chairman and executive director. Creech was not a member of the executive council at the time.
In response to the letter the Raleigh Democrats sent to the party, Solidarity with Humanity, a political action committee that works to build power for Palestinians, also sent a letter to executive council members addressing the PAC’s concerns and expressing support for Black and Jones. More than 100 local organizers, leaders and residents signed it.
The letter pointed out that Raleigh’s failed proposal for a ceasefire was “in cooperation with Raleigh’s Jewish And Muslim communities” and appears critical of the Jewish caucus’s call to stop the party from supporting Black and Jones. The letter also criticizes Black and Jones’ “selective targeting” and notes that Ward B Councilwoman Megan Patton and Ward D Councilwoman Jane Harrison also supported the ceasefire resolution (though neither faces Democratic opponents in their City Council elections this fall).
“Smear campaigns that reek of McCarthyism should have no place in the Democratic Party,” the letter said. “Mary Black and Christina Jones have provided exemplary service to their constituents and consistently advocated for community needs. They have consistently demonstrated the courage to both lead and respond to community members, including those whose families have experienced displacement and genocide.”
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Mary Thompson, a former member of the Wake County Democratic Party’s executive committee, says the party’s endorsement process has been “thorough and meticulous for over a decade,” involving hours of reviewing applications, studying issues, interviewing candidates and consulting.
“What unites us is our shared commitment to electing Democrats who will defend our values and advance our common goals,” Thompson wrote in an email to the INDY. “We believe that bullying and threats within the party and from current or former officials are harmful and contrary to our values.”
Read Thompson’s letter below.
“We were disheartened to read the recent article in the Indy discussing the divisions within the Wake County Democratic Party, particularly regarding support for the Raleigh City Council and Mayor. It is important to remember that the Democratic Party is a big tent that encompasses a wide range of views and opinions. Disagreements on specific issues or support are a natural aspect of that diversity and should be welcomed, not criticized.
What unites us is our shared commitment to electing Democrats who represent our values and advance our shared goals. We are confident that Vice President Harris will be the next President of the United States and fully support North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein as our next Governor. In addition, we are committed to ensuring that Democrats win every election on the lower ballot.
It is disturbing that some individuals who signed the recent letter and participated in the interview are now attacking just two of the four council members who supported the ceasefire resolution. It is notable that the two members they are attacking are both women of color. Like other members of the City Council, these women have held community meetings to gather residents’ opinions on various issues facing Raleigh and have made thoughtful voting decisions. Their commitment 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, when I served on the Wake County Democratic Executive Committee, the process involved extensive work—reviewing applications, studying issues, conducting interviews, and deliberating for hours. While not everyone agrees with every endorsement outcome, it is important to respect the process and understand that this county will have opportunities in future elections.
It must be made clear that targeting specific council members and criticizing their qualifications is counterproductive, especially when some critics have benefited from the confirmation process. Furthermore, it is inappropriate to criticize a council member for a scheduling issue during Hanukkah while ignoring previous discussions, such as the future of the mosque on the Shaw site during Ramadan. This inconsistency suggests that more cultural sensitivity is needed in the City of Raleigh.
We believe bullying and threats within the party and from current or former officials are harmful and contrary to our values. All officials must remember that they serve all residents of Raleigh and Wake County. As concerned members of the Democratic Party, we felt it was necessary to raise our voices and advocate for a more respectful and unified approach.”
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