National Democrats say they’re jumping into these 2026 Charlotte-area races
A national Democratic group plans to focus its resources on multiple Charlotte-area North Carolina General Assembly races in an attempt to gain more power in the legislature.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the party’s official committee focused on state legislative races, announced its first slate of 50 nationwide “target races” for the 2026 election cycle. The list includes 13 races in North Carolina — many in and around Charlotte.
Democrats are trying to pick up more ground in the state House and Senate after breaking the Republican supermajority in 2024.
Many of the races on the DLCC’s 2026 target list were pivotal in 2024 and are expected to be hotly contested again in November. The targets include another attempt to oust controversial Republican state Rep. Tricia Cotham and efforts to reelect freshmen legislators.
Democratic candidates who made the list will get support from the DLCC for fundraising, polling, voter outreach and other campaign efforts.
National Democrats aim to protect, flip key Charlotte seats
The DLCC is once again trying to oust Cotham, who spurned Democrats when she changed her party affiliation in 2023. Cotham defeated Democrat Nicole Sidman by less than 220 votes in 2024 despite the DLCC and other groups raising big money for Sidman.
Now, the organization is throwing its support behind former Matthews Commissioner Ken McCool in southeast Mecklenburg’s House District 105.
The DLCC’s other Charlotte-area flip target is in Cabarrus County’s Senate District 34. The group is backing Democratic challenger April Cook, who’s running against former GOP state Rep. Kevin Crutchfield.
Crutchfield defeated current District 34 Sen. Chris Measmer in the March Republican primary. Cook recently announced a breast cancer diagnosis but said her prognosis is “wonderful” and pledged to keep campaigning.
The DLCC will also support the reelection bids of north Mecklenburg state House Rep. Beth Helfrich and southeast Mecklenburg state Sen. Woodson Bradley, who both won competitive seats in 2024 with DLCC support.
The group will work with the campaigns and the House and Senate Democratic caucuses to support data, research, polling, paid communication and direct voter contact, DLCC spokesperson Sam Paisley told the Charlotte Observer in a statement.
“We also help directly fundraise for these candidates and amplify them as must-win opportunities to partners and donors across the country,” Paisley said.
What other NC candidates are on ‘target’ list?
The DLCC’s efforts in North Carolina will extend beyond the Charlotte region.
Additional Democratic candidates on the group’s list include:
- Incumbent Rep. Dante Pittman, who represents Nash and Wilson counties’ House District 24
- Challenger Curtis McRae, running in Granville and Vance counties’ House District 32
- Challenger Evonne Hopkins, running in Wake County’s House District 35
- Challenger Winn Decker, running in Wake County’s House District 37
- Incumbent Rep. Garland Pierce, who represents Hoke and Scotland counties’ House District 48
- Challenger Amy Taylor North, running in Forsyth County’s House District 74
- Incumbent Rep. Lindsey Prather, who represents Buncombe County’s House District 115
- Challenger James Gailliard, running in Franklin, Nash and Vance counties’ Senate District 11
- Incumbent Rep. Terence Everitt, who represents Granville and Wake counties’ Senate District 18
This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 6:32 AM with the headline "National Democrats say they’re jumping into these 2026 Charlotte-area races."
