Our endorsement for the U.S. Senate Democratic primary in North Carolina

As with this year’s Democratic primary for president, the central issue in the 2020 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate may be electability. N.C. Democrats — along with some independents — are focused on defeating incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis, and at least some may be willing to make some compromises on issues if it means getting the Republican out of office.

Five Democrats want to be the candidate to do so: State Sen. Erica Smith, former state Sen. Cal Cunningham, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Trevor Fuller, Raleigh physician Atul Goel and Steve Swenson from Bunnlevel. While some N.C. Democrats wish the primary included a name with more star power, such as Attorney General Josh Stein, at least three of the candidates have the experience and legislative heft to be more-than-effective U.S. senators.

Smith and Cunningham bring more robust experience as lawmakers and the kind of personal narratives that should appeal to NC voters. Both have rural backgrounds and self-made successes outside of politics — Smith as an engineer and public school teacher, and Cunningham as an environmental business owner and a U.S. Army reserve member with significant service overseas. Both have been capable state lawmakers who have a keen grasp of issues and policies that impact both urban and rural North Carolinians. As with Fuller and Goel, their positions on issues such as immigration reform and gun control are much closer to each other than Republican Tillis.

Fuller, who is serving his third term on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, might have the most significant policy achievement. His successful efforts to provide pre-K to all Mecklenburg children were an important step in addressing economic mobility issues so critical to his county, and his work to navigate the measure from unlikelihood to reality shows the kind of patience, deliberateness and political savvy critical for any successful U.S. Senator. Fuller is far from a one-issue candidate, however; like Smith and Cunningham, the Charlotte attorney displays a thoughtful grasp of issues and an on-the-ground knowledge of how policy in Washington affects people in North Carolina communities.

But there are some notable differences in the Democratic positions. While Cunningham advocates for protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, Smith and Fuller both have voiced support for versions of a Medicare for All framework. While all three believe the country needs to combat climate change by investing in a clean energy economy to reduce carbon pollution, Fuller supports the aggressive and ill-fated Green New Deal proposed by progressives in the U.S. House. Smith tries to have it both ways, advocating for “a Green New Deal” without committing to the measure’s most controversial provisions.

Those policy differences are healthy and reflect the diversity of the Democratic Party in North Carolina. For primary voters who are concerned more with choosing a candidate most equipped to beat Tillis, however, Cunningham offers the clearest path forward. His more moderate positions on issues such as health care will appeal to the persuadable voters that Democrats need for a repeat of the 2018 blue wave, and Tillis surely would prefer to spend the summer telling those center-to-right North Carolinians about Smith’s Medicare for All support and advocacy for marijuana legalization. There’s a reason why a GOP-linked PAC purchased $2.4 million in ads supporting Smith in the primary.

Cunningham offers a wider appeal, a diverse coalition of supporters and the most well-funded Democratic campaign, and he does so without compromising Democratic Party values. His candidacy provides the best opportunity for voters who want to unseat the Republican incumbent. We recommend him for the U.S. Senate Democratic primary.

This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 10:08 AM.