GOP leaders defend Cabarrus candidate against racist, anti-immigrant comments online
A Republican Cabarrus County commission candidate’s campaign video in a conservative-leaning Facebook group posted Jan. 12 drew a slew of racist comments and prompted vocal defenses from local GOP leaders.
Krushani Patel, a candidate seeking a seat on the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, posted the video in Cabarrus County Citizens Against Tax Hikes, an active 2,700-member group with posts and discussions about county politics from a mostly Republican perspective. Local elected officials, candidates and state lawmakers often comment and post in the forum.
Her video discussed the importance of civic engagement for building strong communities an urged people to get involved in local politics. Patel is one of 12 candidates running for three available commission seats.
Instead of staying focused on policy, Patel said, the discussion veered into personal attacks after commenters singled her out as an immigrant and speculated about her religion. Patel was born in India, she told The Charlotte Observer, and has lived in Cabarrus for nine years.
The comments spurred additional debate, including from a state legislator and county commission chair who defended Patel and condemned the rhetoric.
Patel said she initially felt “disappointed and saddened” by what she read, particularly because it unfolded in a public space where many community members engage in political conversations.
“I am a human before I am a candidate,” Patel said. “My campaign is about respect, about accountability and about bringing people together.”
Patel said the experience did not discourage her from staying in the race but was still emotionally painful.
“Seeing those comments was very painful, but also it has hurt my family and my community,” she said. “America is a country of immigrants... I have the same rights to run for office as anybody else would have.”
In a thread condemning the offensive remarks, Cabarrus County GOP chair Jim Quick pushed back on comments questioning Patel’s place in the party.
“Every bona fide Republican deserves the opportunity to be heard and express their views and vision for the office they hold without harassment or bigotry.” Quick wrote. “Cabarrus is not like Durham or other municipalities across North Carolina where Democrats are filing as a Republican to cause confusion in our primaries. Everyone is free to vote their preferences but let’s do it with respect for each other.”
Republican Commission Chair Laura Blackwell Lindsey stepped in to defend Patel.
“Krushani is a very sweet person. Elections are so nasty! If you have issues with peoples platform that’s one thing, but the rest of the nonsense needs to go,” Lindsey wrote.
State Rep. Brian Echevarria also criticized the rhetoric, calling the comments “ignorant” and noting that he had learned over time to ignore what he called “the devil’s messengers.” As one of only two Latinos in the North Carolina General Assembly’s 2025 session, Echevarria said his own primary opponent tried to use his race against him when he ran for state office.
Patel said the public defense from local leaders and residents meant a lot to her, and she hopes it reflects the county’s true character more than the online discourse did.
“I was deeply grateful for those leaders and residents who came out and spoke up for me,” Patel said. “Their response showed that Cabarrus County is better than the hate expressed online, and really that support mattered more than they may realize.”
Patel said she is continuing to focus her campaign on county issues, including budgeting and taxes, rather than feeding the hostility she saw online.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
