These 4 NC legislature races in Charlotte area could decide if GOP gets a supermajority

As the Nov. 5 election quickly approaches, Democrats and Republicans have their eyes on a few key legislative races in Charlotte and across the region.

Republicans currently hold a veto-proof supermajority in the state legislature, and Democrats say they are focused on gaining seats in competitive races to change that.

The closest races across the Charlotte region include House District 105, House District 98 and Senate District 42. In Cabarrus County, a redrawn district appears to give Republicans a nearly 10-point advantage, which could oust Democratic Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams.

Although most legislative races aren’t particularly competitive during the general election, flipping or retaining hotly contested seats could determine whether Republicans hold onto the supermajority and, as a result, the ability to override any gubernatorial veto.

Cotham v. Sidman for House District 105

The race between Nicole Sidman and incumbent Rep. Tricia Cotham is key in Democrats’ efforts to break the Republican supermajority, Attorney General Josh Stein told The Charlotte Observer.

Cotham was elected as a Democrat in 2022 by 18 percentage points . A few months after taking office, Cotham switched to the Republican Party, a move that gave Republicans a veto-proof supermajority in the state legislature. Cotham went on to help Republicans defeat Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the state’s new 12-week abortion ban.

A composite of votes cast between 2016 and 2022 show the newly redrawn District 105 to be 51.3% Republican and 46.5% Democratic, according to Dave’s Redistricting . That difference is a little over 2,000 votes. The district sits in southern and eastern Mecklenburg County.

“It’s so competitive,” said Michael Bitzer, politics professor at Catawba College. “It’s all dependent on turnout dynamics.”

Cotham’s priorities in office will be inflation, protecting the community and “putting kids first,” according to her campaign website .

“Tricia sponsored bipartisan legislation to make it harder for repeat offenders charged with violent crimes to be released,” her website states. “She also voted to require sheriffs to cooperate with immigration officials when detaining illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes.”

Cotham’s background is in education, where she was awarded the 2002 Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Teacher of the Year and the 2003 Mint Hill Teacher of the Year awards, according to her website.

Sidman said in an Observer candidate questionnaire the biggest issue facing her potential constituents is the defunding of public schools.

“Cotham’s private school voucher plan takes $800 million dollars from our state budget by next decade and budgets more money for private schools than for teacher raises,” Sidman said. “Together with the (General Assembly’s) elimination of corporate taxes, this voucher program is an unsustainable drain on both state and public school budgets. I would vote to repeal the program and instead move funding back to our public schools where it belongs.”

Sidman is the director of congregational life at Temple Beth El and worked as a campaign manager for former Rep. Christy Clark. Her campaign priorities include protecting democracy, reproductive freedom, public education and stopping gun violence, according to her website .

Bales v. Helfrich for House District 98

In northern Mecklenburg’s House District 98, former Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales faces Democrat Beth Helfrich.

The district typically votes 49.9% Republican and 48% Democratic, according to Dave’s Redistricting. The current representative, Republican John Bradford, unsuccessfully ran for Congress instead of seeking reelection.

Helfrich is a native of District 98 and has been an educator for two decades, according to her campaign website . Her platform is focused on public education, responsible growth and development, and health and safety.

Helfrich said in a questionnaire the biggest issue facing her potential constituents is that the legislature doesn’t reflect most North Carolinians.

“I have spent the better part of a year listening to the people of District 98 and asking what matters most to them: I’ve heard about traffic, healthcare, costs, schools, and reproductive rights. But underscoring all of these critical issues is a larger issue: Our state legislature does not reflect our state,” she said. “Decisions in Raleigh should be driven by the needs and problems of everyday North Carolinians – not political agendas, power plays, or extremism. A supermajority answers only to itself.”

Bales was elected to the Huntersville Board of Commissioners in 2011 and was elected mayor in 2021. She’s lived in Huntersville for 24 years, according to her campaign website .

Bales has also has served on the Lake Norman Economic Development Board of Directors, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the Metropolitan Transit Committee, and more, according to her website.

“Serving Huntersville, first as a town commissioner and now as mayor, has been the honor of my life,” Bales said on her website. “I feel like it has absolutely prepared me to tackle the issues of education, transportation and economic development in our community, and so much of that is decided in Raleigh.”

Bales’ priorities are economic development, workforce development, education, infrastructure, and reproductive care, her website states.

“We are all too aware of how essential it is for north Mecklenburg to have strong, savvy representation in Raleigh,” Bales said. “I absolutely will be that.”

Stacie McGinn v. Woodson Bradley for Senate District 42

The Senate District 42 race in southern Mecklenburg County is the most competitive in the region, Bitzer said.

Stein said Bradley, along with Sidman, could be responsible for breaking the Republican supermajority if elected.

Bradley is a real estate agent with civic involvement at Safe Alliance, Rotary Club of Charlotte, Love Speaks Out, Special Olympics of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau and more, according to her questionnaire responses.

The biggest issue facing her potential constituents is the high cost of living, she said.

“I understand what it’s like to be a struggling single mom who has to work multiple jobs to pay the bills. We must address rising prices and increased cost of living by putting more money in people’s pockets,” Bradley said. “We can achieve this by increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour, implementing a child care tax credit, providing paid family and medical leave, and providing tax credits for first-time home buyers.”

Stacie McGinn is a business executive who serves as general counsel for the Republican Party of Mecklenburg County, according to her questionnaire.

“The three primary issues I have focused on for this campaign are rising crime, the economy and improving the state’s education system,” McGinn said. “I will work across the aisle to kick start our economy and bring down the cost of living. I will support law enforcement and fight for legislation that makes our streets safer. I will work to improve our schools so every child can receive a world-class education.”

According to her campaign website , McGinn supports parental involvement in education, combating rising housing costs and labor shortages, and a tough-on-crime approach.

A composite of votes cast between 2016 and 2022 show the district to be 47.7% Republican and 50.1% Democratic, according to Dave’s Redistricting , a difference of around 2,700 votes.

Jonathan Almond v. Diamond Staton-Williams in House District 73

In Cabarrus County’s House District 73, Republican Jonathan Almond faces incumbent Democrat Diamond Staton-Williams.

At the time of her win, Staton-Williams was credited with saving Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto because she was the last Democratic candidate to be declared victorious. That changed when Cotham switched parties.

The redrawn district typically votes 53% Republican and 44.6% Democratic, according to Dave’s Redistricting.

Staton-Williams, a nurse, served on the Harrisburg Town Council and is involved with the Adult Care Home Committee and the Harrisburg Youth Council, according to her questionnaire responses. Her campaign priorities include education, the local economy, accessible healthcare and infrastructure, according to her campaign website .

“I think one of the biggest issues facing our community is healthcare. Healthcare impacts the economy directly because unhealthy people can’t work, and folks struggling with massive medical debt can’t get ahead financially,” Staton-Williams said in the questionnaire. “Medicaid expansion was a significant first step, but unless we can get more providers, long waiting lists will persist. I have supported bipartisan legislation that would increase access to healthcare providers, and I hope to push this legislation forward in a second term.”

According to his campaign website , Almond is a pro-Second Amendment, pro-military and pro-law enforcement Republican who’s “fighting for family and freedom.”

A restaurant business owner, Almond’s campaign priorities include limiting government, the Second Amendment, lowering taxes and border security, according to his website.

“The Republican-controlled General Assembly has worked hard to lower taxes and make our state business-friendly,” Almond’s website states. “I look forward to working with other leaders to do more to have the brightest future for our Cabarrus families and community. With your vote, I am ready to bring my business and financial management experience to Raleigh .”