US Sen. Warren endorses 2 Democrats in NC Congressional races. Why she picked Allam, Smith
Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren has endorsed two North Carolina primary candidates for Congress.
Warren, a Democrat representing Massachusetts, is endorsing Nida Allam in the state’s 4th Congressional District in the Triangle and former state Sen. Erica Smith in the 1st Congressional District primary in Eastern North Carolina.
Warren tweeted the endorsements Friday morning along with a list of four others for races around the country.
In her endorsement of Allam, Warren said: “On the County Commission, Nida delivered wins like a $15 minimum wage for county workers, and property tax relief that helped families stay in their homes during the pandemic. She’s the right person to fight for North Carolina’s working families in Congress.”
In her endorsement of Smith, Warren said she “is a mother, minister, educator, and experienced legislator. Her plan for a Rural New Deal will lift up family farms, raise the minimum wage, unionize the South, and deliver universal broadband and health care. I’m glad to endorse her for Congress in #NC01.”
The vast majority-blue 4th District is an open candidate field in the primary to replace retiring longtime Congressman David Price. Whichever Democrat wins the primary is highly likely to win the general election in November.
“Nida has led the way as the first Muslim woman elected to office in North Carolina, and as a progressive leader championing real change for working people,” Warren said in a statement from the Allam campaign.
Allam said that Warren “knows what it takes to challenge the status quo and deliver for working families, so it’s an honor to have her support in this race.”
“Sen. Warren and I understand that the system is rigged for those at the top, and if we get the chance to serve together in Congress, I can’t wait to stand united against big corporations and deliver for the people of North Carolina,” Allam said.
The 4th District includes Alamance, Durham, Granville, Orange and Person and part of Caswell counties. Other Democrats running in the primary include Clay Aiken, Ashley Ward, Stephen Valentine, Richard Watkins, Crystal Cavalier and Matt Grooms.
Allam is a Durham County Commissioner who previously worked for Bernie Sanders’ campaign and has held leadership roles in the North Carolina Democratic Party. She is the first Muslim woman to be elected to office in North Carolina. Allam’s other endorsements from Democratic members of Congress include Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar. And on Friday, Rep. Pramila Jayapal also endorsed Allam.
Smith previously ran for U.S. Senate, losing that primary to Cal Cunningham, who lost in the general election to U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. She started a campaign for the 2022 Senate primary but switched to the Congressional race.
Warren was among several candidates who campaigned in the Triangle ahead of the 2020 presidential primary. Warren held an event at Broughton High School outside downtown Raleigh in November 2019 that drew thousands of people.
Butterfield endorses Foushee
Warren’s endorsement of Allam comes soon after another federal lawmaker endorsed in the same race. Congressman G.K. Butterfield, who is retiring from his 1st District seat, recently endorsed state Sen. Valerie Foushee in the 4th District primary.
“Washington is not for the faint of heart, it requires real leadership and a servant’s heart,” Butterfield tweeted in his endorsement message. “Valerie has both and I am proud to stand behind her in this race,” he said.
In the same endorsement announcement, Foushee said she was “honored to have the support of a member of the North Carolina Delegation. Congressman Butterfield has served his district honorably for nearly twenty years. His faith in me and the work I’ll do to fight for working people and families in Congress is humbling.”
Foushee has served four terms in the state Senate and represents Orange and Chatham counties.
The national figure endorsements of Democratic primary candidates comes the same week that former President Donald Trump is coming to campaign for Republican Congressman Ted Budd on Saturday. Trump endorsed Budd in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Richard Burr. Budd is the frontrunner in that race, followed by former Gov. Pat McCrory.
The primary is on May 17.
Reporter Danielle Battaglia contributed to this story.
This story was originally published April 8, 2022 at 9:03 AM with the headline "US Sen. Warren endorses 2 Democrats in NC Congressional races. Why she picked Allam, Smith."
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