Local Democrats urge party to stay out of Raleigh city council and mayoral races

More than 20 local Democrats signed a letter urging the Wake County Democratic Party to abstain from making endorsements in Raleigh's local elections this year, INDY Week reports .

Why it matters: Multiple Democrats are running in some city council and mayoral races on the ballot this year.

• If the party doesn't endorse candidates in those races, it will be the first time since 2011, per INDY Week.

Driving the news: Democrats who signed the letter include former party chair Mack Paul, precinct chair and Trophy Brewing owner David Meeker, former mayors, former city councilors, a former county commissioner and others.

Between the lines: The letter, obtained by Axios, pointed to housing and the Israel-Palestine conflict as issues that are already dividing the party, and cited fallout from the county party's endorsements in 2022 as a reason to avoid endorsements this year.

• That year, the party declined to endorse Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin in her race for re-election, a move that made her reconsider whether she'd share her campaign cash with Democrats who could've used the boost.
• "I don't believe the Wake Democratic Party should endorse Democrats running against Democrats. It causes division in the party when we need to be focused on unity and get out the vote," Baldwin told Axios Monday.
• "I am fine with the Party endorsing a Dem running against a Republican. But not a good idea pitting Dems against each other."

What they're saying: Endorsements in 2022 "created a lot of divisions within the Democratic Party that have taken two years to repair and aren't quite there yet," the letter said.

• "We want the Wake Dems to stay united, working together on the State and National elections, and not let the local issues divide us."

The other side: "The problem with this is that they are not thinking beyond Raleigh," Wake County Democratic Party Chair Kevyn Creech told INDY Week in response to the letter, which was sent to her and executive director Wesley Knott.

• "If we don't do what we need to do, not only is it impossible to keep our school board sane, and that affects everybody, but also it doesn't allow for people without huge connections and lots of dollars to have a shot at running."