Stein to join Hunt, Davis as headliners at fall banquet

N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, is slated to be at the Nash County Democratic Party’s Annual Fall Banquet this weekend.

County Democratic Party Chairwoman Cassandra Conover said in a phone interview earlier this week that she received confirmation that Stein intends to be at the event, which is set for Saturday at Nash Community College’s Brown Auditorium.

N.C. Sen. Rachel Hunt, who is the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, and U.S. Rep. Don Davis, D-1st District, will also be at the event, Conover said.

Conover said that the event is sold out and that no more tickets are available for the banquet.

Stein has campaigned in the Rocky Mount area a number of times before, and he also was at a worship service Sept. 22 at Word Tabernacle Church.

The theme of the 2024 Nash County Democratic banquet is “Unapologetically Blue,” which Conover came up with in reference to blue being the color of the Democratic Party. The annual banquet, which was started two years ago, also serves as a fundraising event.

A meet-and-greet with the candidates is set to start at 4 p.m. Saturday, and the program is set to start 15 minutes after that.

Conover also has said that N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, N.C. Auditor Jessica Holmes, Democratic nominee for insurance commissioner N.C. Sen. Natasha Marcus, N.C. Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs and N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Carolyn Thompson are confirmed to be in the lineup for the banquet.

Conover also has said that local candidates are going to be on hand as well, including James Mercer, who is running for the N.C. Senate District 11 seat; Lorenza Wilkins, who is running for the N.C. House District 25 seat; and Dante Pittman, who is running for the N.C. House District 24 seat.

Conover also has said that candidates who are running for seats on the Nash County Board of Commissioners will also be on hand, including District 1 incumbent Commissioner Marvin Arrington, who is running unopposed; District 3 candidate Carnell Taylor; and District 4 candidate Corey Mercer.

Absentee voting for the 2024 general election is in progress. The in-person early voting period is set to start Oct. 17, and Election Day will be Nov. 5.