Story perspectives

Two NC lawmakers turn independent, become GOP swing votes

4/28/2026

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Veteran Legislators Switch

Two veteran Mecklenburg County legislators became independents, positioning them as potential swing votes in a GOP-controlled North Carolina House.
State Rep. Carla Cunningham and Rep. Nasif Majeed left the North Carolina Democratic Party after primary defeats.
They helped Republicans override Governor Josh Stein’s vetoes, leaving GOP seat shy of a supermajority.
Rep. Robert Reives and Destin Hall praised them while GOP director Matt Mercer blamed leadership.

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Georgia Ballot Splits

Georgia’s primary ballot lists dozens of partisan measures covering voting procedures, immigration enforcement, tax policy, cannabis and MARTA.
Rep. Carla Cunningham lost to Rodney Sadler and Rep. Nasif Majeed lost to Veleria Levy, with 69% of the vote.
Republicans propose hand-marked paper ballots, stricter voter-roll maintenance, limited no-excuse absentee voting, and ICE-cooperation penalties.
Democrats propose tax hikes on clothing, food, school supplies for income-tax cuts, cannabis, MARTA, recalls.

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Veteran Legislators Switch

Two veteran Mecklenburg County legislators became independents, positioning them as potential swing votes in a GOP-controlled North Carolina House.
State Rep. Carla Cunningham and Rep. Nasif Majeed left the North Carolina Democratic Party after primary defeats.
They helped Republicans override Governor Josh Stein’s vetoes, leaving GOP seat shy of a supermajority.
Rep. Robert Reives and Destin Hall praised them while GOP director Matt Mercer blamed leadership.

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