Democrats who helped Republicans override governor's vetoes lose primaries

Three Democratic lawmakers who voted with Republicans to override Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes were defeated in Tuesday’s primary election, according to unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. 

Carla Cunningham (District 106, Mecklenburg), who gave the deciding vote to override the veto of the anti immigrant bill HB318, lost her seat to the Rev. Rodney Sadler, who garnered more than 71% of the vote. 

Cunningham, who during the HB318 debate gave a controversial antiimmigrant speech, obtained just over 20% of the vote. 

The same fate befell legislator Nasif Majeed (District 99, Mecklenburg) who lost the race to Valeria Levy who obtained more than 67% of the votes. 

Majeed, who got just over 27% of the vote, was the one who gave Republicans the deciding vote to override the governor’s veto of HB 805, legislation that restricts the rights of the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender people in the state. 

Rep. Shelly Willingham (23rd District, Edgecombe County), who was also instrumental in overturning several vetoes by the governor, lost his seat when he fell in the primary to challenger Patricia Smith. 

According to NCSBE data, Smith won 55.68% of the vote to defeat Willingham who reached 44.32%. 

Willingham was instrumental in helping Republicans override vetoes of HB193, which authorizes employees and volunteers to carry guns in private  schools; and HB549 which empowered the state auditor to access the records of agencies and organizations that receive public funds. 

Also, along with Cunninham, Majeed and former Congressman Cecil Brockman, Willingham helped override other vetoes by signing into law proposals that limit the power of the governor and the state board of education, and eliminate the state’s goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, among others. 

Brockman resigned from his position last October after being arrested and charged with child sexual abuse.

Amanda Cook won the Democratic primary in District 60, which Brockman represented.