Endorsements: Our choices for NC House, Senate primaries in Mecklenburg County | Opinion

New maps drawn by Republican lawmakers have shifted things around a bit in Mecklenburg County. Many voters may find themselves in a different district, and several districts won by Democrats in recent years are now more favorable for Republicans.

Only a handful of the county’s state legislative districts have contested primary elections. Here are our recommendations in those races:

House District 98

This north Mecklenburg district leans slightly Republican, and it’s an open seat with incumbent Rep. John Bradford running for Congress. Two Democrats are hoping to secure their party’s nomination.

Beth Helfrich is a former teacher and first-time candidate with strong roots in the community. Lisa Jewel is also a first-time candidate but has been very engaged in the local Democratic party, including as a precinct chair.

Helfrich and Jewel are both passionate about their community and hold similar positions on issues like abortion, education and health care. Both possess the qualities necessary to represent the district well in Raleigh; however, Helfrich has run a more impressive campaign and would be the stronger candidate in what will likely be a competitive general election.

House District 105

This is perhaps the most interesting of Mecklenburg’s primary races, as it will determine which Democrat will face Rep. Tricia Cotham in November. The district was redrawn to favor Republicans and now encompasses Mint Hill and parts of Matthews and south Charlotte.

There are three candidates on the Democratic primary ballot. Yolonda Holmes works for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and is an associate pastor at her church. She came in second to Cotham in last year’s District 112 primary. Nicole Sidman is the director of congregational life at Temple Beth El and was the campaign manager for former state Rep. Christy Clark’s successful 2018 campaign. Terry Lansdell, executive director of BikeWalk NC and member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission, is especially passionate about transportation policy and funding.

While all three are clearly dedicated to serving their community, we believe Sidman has the best chance in November’s general election. She has the strongest grasp of public policy issues and would be a formidable opponent for Cotham. We recommend Sidman.

House District 106

In this north Charlotte district, incumbent Democrat Carla Cunningham faces a primary challenge from Vermanno Bowman, a young progressive who ran against Rep. Kelly Alexander in 2022. Bowman is hoping to bring a fresh voice and perspective to the General Assembly, and he would be a capable lawmaker.

Cunningham however, has served her district well by working across the aisle to ensure constituent needs are met, including by negotiating funding into the state budget. She is an especially strong voice on issues related to health care, and she’s earned another term. We recommend Cunningham.

Senate District 41

Four Democrats are running for this seat currently held by state Sen. Natasha Marcus, who is running for state insurance commissioner after new maps drew her out of the seat. The solidly Democratic district spans from west Charlotte to NoDa, Plaza Midwood and Hidden Valley. There are no Republicans running for the seat, so the primary will decide who will be the district’s next state senator.

Caleb Theodros and Kendrick Cunningham are community organizers and leaders with strong local ties. Theodros is the former chair of the Black Political Caucus, while Cunningham has most recently worked as a gun violence prevention advocate. Also running are former Charlotte Metro Credit Union CEO Bob Bruns and past mayoral candidate Lucille Puckett.

Voters have two exceedingly good choices in Theodros and Cunningham, both of whom bring a wealth of knowledge and political experience to the race. Both are more than capable of being effective representatives for the district, but we give a very slight nod to Theodros, who is especially strong on issues like mental health and economic development.

Senate District 42

The Republican primary in this district that includes Matthews, Mint Hill and Ballantyne has two candidates: Stacie McGinn and Jaime Daniell. With state Sen. Rachel Hunt running for lieutenant governor, there is no incumbent in the race, and new maps make the district even more competitive for Republicans.

McGinn has held positions in the Mecklenburg County Republican Party and Republican Women of Greater Charlotte. Daniell is a small business owner. Both candidates are knowledgeable and hold conservative views on issues like school vouchers that should resonate with GOP voters. We recommend McGinn due to her breadth of experience.

This story was originally published February 19, 2024 at 7:28 AM.