RALEIGH, N.C. — Any time new legislative voting districts are drawn, they generate a lot of interest among potential candidates. And with the political climate as hot as it's ever been, contenders are lining up this year for their chance at elected office.
That’s even more the case for open seats, created when new districts are added to an area or when incumbents are retiring. Several of these new seats are in the Triangle area. In other cases,
a redrawn district may shift geographically or may more heavily favor a different political party.
In districts that are considered “safe” for one party, the primary is the truly competitive election, rather than the general. These seats feature some of the state's toughest primaries. But this year, there’s also a lot of primary interest in swing districts, especially in the Sandhills.
These are the 13 legislative primaries in our viewing area we’ll be watching May 17.
Wake County
House 66, Democrats – This is a new, open district in the northern part of Raleigh. It’s expected to be a safe Democratic seat. State Senator Sarah Crawford decided to run for this seat instead of her current district. She’s facing Democrats Wesley Knott, a former party precinct chair, and teacher and businessman Frank (Jeremiah) Pierce. The winner will take on Republican nominee Ives Brizuela de Sholar this fall.
House 37, Democrats – This southern Wake seat is currently held by Republican state Rep. Erin Pare. Three Democrats are vying to challenge her. Mary Bethel is a retired longtime non-profit lobbyist on aging and disability issues, Christine Kelly is a former member of the Holly Springs town council, and Elizabeth Parent is a political newcomer and farm advocate. The district slightly favors Republicans.
Senate 13, Democrats and Republicans – Another new district in the northwestern part of the county, this is also expected to be a safe Democratic seat. Democratic Raleigh city councilman Patrick Buffkin is facing a challenge from civil rights attorney and longtime party worker Lisa Grafstein.
On the Republican side, two political newcomers are vying for the nomination: retired engineer David Bankert and business consultant Jeff Werner.
Senate 18, Republicans – 2020 GOP Secretary of State nominee E.C. Sykes is running against political newcomer Dmitri Slabyak. The far-northern Wake and Granville Co. district is a swing seat that slightly favors Democrats. The winner will face Democratic nominee Mary Wills Bode in November.
Orange County
Three of NC’s toughest primaries this cycle are for Orange County’s three Democrat-held legislative seats. That’s because they’re all open this year: Longtime Rep. Verla Insko is retiring, Rep. Graig Meyer is running for Senate, and Sen. Valerie Foushee is
running for the 4th Congressional district.
House 50, Democrats – This Democrat-leaning district includes most of Orange County outside Chapel Hill, as well as all of Caswell County. Hillsborough town commissioner Matt Hughes, a longtime party insider, is running against another longtime party insider, Orange County board of commissioners chairwoman Renee Price.
House 56, Democrats – Civil rights attorney and former Chapel Hill town councilman Allen Buansi is facing off against another civil rights attorney, Jonah Garson, a former Orange County Democratic Party chairman, for this safe Democratic district centered on Chapel Hill. The two candidates have split the top endorsements from local and state Democratic leaders. It’s expected to be a close race
Senate 23, Democrats – This district, including all of Orange, Caswell and Person Counties, is expected to be a safe Democratic seat. Four-term state Rep. Graig Meyer is up against Jamie DeMent Holcomb, a local entrepreneur, farmer and cookbook author who once worked for Congressman Brad Miller.
The two Republicans seeking to challenge the winner are political newcomer Landon Woods and Bill Cooke, who does not appear to have a campaign website.
Cumberland County
Cumberland County also has some very competitive primaries. Longtime state Reps. Billy Richardson (D) and John Szoka (R) are retiring, some former lawmakers are seeking to return, and Democratic infighting has also played a big role.
House 45, Democrats – This southeastern district has been represented for a decade by Republican Rep. John Szoka, but redistricting this year left it leaning Democratic. Three Democrats are competing for it: Fayetteville city councilmember Chris Davis is up against local educator Dr. Frances Jackson, the party's nominee for the district in 2020, and retired veteran and probation officer Keith Byrd.
House 43, Democrats and Republicans – The eastern Cumberland district was redrawn, becoming a swing district that slightly favors Republicans. Longtime former Democratic state Rep. Elmer Floyd, who lost his seat in the 2020 primary, is trying for a comeback. He’s once again facing the candidate who bested him, Fayetteville State professor and longtime party activist Kimberly Hardy, as well as Prince Christian, an anti-gun-violence activist and patient health advocate at Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC.
Meantime, incumbent Republican state Rep. Diane Wheatley has a repeat challenger from her own party: Clarence Goins, a far-right candidate she defeated in the 2020 primary.
Senate 19, Democrats and Republicans – This district, which favors Democrats, covers most of the county. It’s the
epicenter of an internal battle among Democrats. Gov. Roy Cooper endorsed former Fayetteville city councilwoman Val Applewhite over incumbent state Sen. Kirk deViere, drawing sharp criticism from other Democrats in the district.
On the Republican side, former state Sen. Wesley Meredith, who lost this seat to deViere in 2018, is hoping for a comeback bid, but he first has to face political newcomer and veteran Dennis Britt in the GOP primary.
Johnston County
Senate 10, Republicans – The county’s rapid growth netted it this new whole-county district, expected to be a safe Republican seat. Attorney and longtime party worker Benton Sawrey is up against another longtime party worker, former Trump surrogate Jill Homan, as well as Open NC activist Matt Ansley. The winner will face Democratic nominee Gettys Cohen in November.
Wilson, Wayne and Greene
Senate 4, Democrats and Republicans – This district includes all of Wilson, Wayne and Greene Counties. It favors Democrats. Longtime Democratic state Sen. Toby Fitch faces a challenge from state Rep. Raymond Smith, who was drawn into a district with state Republican House Majority Leader John Bell during redistricting.
On the GOP ballot, former state Sen. Buck Newton is seeking a comeback after stepping down in 2016 for an unsuccessful run for Attorney General. He’s competing against former Wayne County school board member Joe Democko.
Robeson County
House 47, Democrats and Republicans – This district has been represented for 12 years by state Rep. Charles Graham, who is now running for the 7th Congressional District. Covering most of the county, it’s now a swing seat, slightly favoring Republicans. On the Democratic ballot, Aminah Ghaffar, a Lumbee community activist and political newcomer, faces Charles Townsend, the former two-term mayor of Fairmont.
For the Republicans, former Lumbee tribal councilmember Jarrod Lowery is up against longtime law enforcement officer and teacher Mickey Biggs.
