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

Just two of Mecklenburg County’s six state Senate seats are contested this election cycle, with the other four uncontested seats virtually guaranteed to be won by Democrats. Both contested seats could determine whether Republicans maintain a supermajority in the chamber next year.

Here are our recommendations in those races:

District 37

Iredell County comprises most of this district, but the bottom of it dips into northern Mecklenburg County. It’s currently represented by Republican Vickie Sawyer, who is seeking a fourth term.

As a state senator, Sawyer has helped craft legislation that this editorial board has strongly disagreed with, including North Carolina’s 12-week abortion ban and a bill preventing transgender athletes from participating in sports in accordance with their gender identity. But she has also been a productive member of the legislature, one that is attuned to the needs of her district and the greater Charlotte region. She’s also co-chair of the Senate’s transportation committee, which will be critical if the county hopes to get the legislature’s support to put a transit tax referendum on the ballot next year.

Sawyer is challenged by Democrat Kate Compton Barr, who is perhaps more aware than anyone that she has little chance of winning in this deeply red district. Barr is running for a simple and admirable reason: because she believes that voters in her district deserve a choice on their ballot.

We commend Barr for giving voters a choice, but we recommend Sawyer for another term.

District 42

This south Mecklenburg district currently has no incumbent, as state Sen. Rachel Hunt is running for lieutenant governor. It’s one of the few competitive districts in Mecklenburg County, with a nearly 50-50 partisan lean in past elections.

The Democrat running in this district is Woodson Bradley, a community advocate with an inspiring story of surviving domestic violence and sexual assault. Bradley describes herself as a true moderate and “bridge builder,” a rare commodity in an increasingly polarized legislature.

Her opponent is Stacie McGinn, an attorney who has held positions in the Mecklenburg County Republican Party and Republican Women of Greater Charlotte. McGinn holds strong conservative positions on issues like school choice and tax policy, but she also boasts a strong knowledge of legal and policy matters.

Voters have two strong choices in this district, but we give a slight nod to McGinn for her breadth of experience and knowledge of relevant issues.