Observer endorsements: Our choices in Mecklenburg County’s NC House races

Mecklenburg County does not have many competitive House races this election cycle, as many of the county’s seats are uncontested or considered safe for Democrats. Our endorsement in the county’s most competitive race, between Rep. Tricia Cotham and Nicole Sidman, can be found here.

Here are our recommendations in other contested races:

District 98

This northern Mecklenburg district has no incumbent, as N.C. Rep. John Bradford unsuccessfully ran for Congress. Bradford was the only Republican representing Mecklenburg County in the House.

Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales, a Republican, is running to replace him. Bales has a strong grasp of the issues facing her district, and is particularly passionate about education. Her opponent is Democrat Beth Helfrich, a first-time candidate with a strong community presence who is also well-versed in issues like education and health care.

Both candidates would be capable representatives for their district, but Mecklenburg County would benefit from having at least one Republican representing it in the House. We give a slight nod to Bales.

District 99

Incumbent Democrat Nasif Majeed and Libertarian candidate Rob Yates are running in this east Charlotte district.

Majeed says he is especially passionate about affordable housing and teacher pay. He values bipartisanship and building relationships with his colleagues across the aisle, which is vital as a member of the minority party.

Yates has interesting ideas on issues like criminal justice reform and upward mobility, and he says he’d be willing to work with members of both parties if elected. But Majeed has been a capable representative for his district. We recommend Majeed.

District 103

Democrat Laura Budd seeks a second term in this district, which now includes Matthews and the Ballantyne area. Budd has had a successful first term in the legislature, proving herself to be a thoughtful legislator who is willing to work across the aisle to improve the lives of North Carolinians.

Her opponent, Joshua Niday, does not have the same sophisticated grasp of issues facing his district. We recommend Budd.

District 104

Incumbent Brandon Lofton seeks another term in this district that includes the SouthPark area. He faces a challenge from Krista Bokhari, wife of Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari. Bokhari is a thoughtful conservative who presents herself as much more moderate than many in her party. She would be a good addition to the legislature.

But Lofton is one of his party’s most impressive members. He’s taken on a leadership role within his caucus, and he has worked across the aisle on regulatory and child care legislation. He says he wants to temper the political climate in Raleigh, and we think that’s needed. He’s earned another term. We recommend Lofton.

This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 12:49 PM.