North Carolina House Democrats Turn Independent After Primary Losses

State Representatives Carla Cunningham (District 106) and Nasif Majeed (District 99), both long-time Democrats from Mecklenburg County, announced on April 27, 2024 that they are leaving the North Carolina Democratic Party to serve as independents. Their decisions followed primary defeats in March 2024—Cunningham lost to pastor Rodney Sadler and Majeed to public-health consultant Veleria Levy, each winning roughly 69 % of the vote. Both legislators cited hostility from party leadership and concerns about “misleading” election tactics as reasons for disaffiliation.

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Cunningham, a 14-year House member, and Majeed, an eight-year incumbent, have repeatedly voted with Republicans. In 2023 they helped override Governor Josh Stein’s veto of a major energy-pricing bill and supported a measure expanding cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—positions that drew primary challenges. Their bipartisan voting pattern aligns with a Republican supermajority in the Senate and a House that is one seat shy of a supermajority, making their votes potentially decisive for future veto overrides.

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• Cunningham described a “troubling wave of hostility” from “individuals outside of District 106” and asserted she will “serve the people, not a party.”

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• Majeed said he has “witnessed and experienced actions … that could be perceived as misleading” and cannot “remain aligned where those concerns are not adequately addressed.”

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• House Minority Leader Robert Reives (D-Chatham) praised their values-based voting and expressed continued friendship.

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• House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) commended them for “putting their constituents first” and refusing “political pressure.”

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Wesley Harris, chair of the Mecklenburg County Democrats, expressed disappointment: “I am disappointed when anyone leaves the Democratic Party, but the voters made it clear what and how they expect to be represented in Raleigh.” He linked their primary defeats to votes that “did not align with what the voters expected.”

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• Service: Cunningham ? 14 years; Majeed ? 8 years.

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• Primary loss margins: challengers ? 69 % each.

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• GOP holds a supermajority in the Senate; the House requires one additional seat for a supermajority.

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• Their independent status leaves the GOP with a possible 78-seat bloc (out of 120) that could regularly override Democratic vetoes if both vote with Republicans.

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Political scientist Christopher Cooper (Western Carolina University) argues the switches “may have limited impact” because the legislators already align with GOP on key votes, though they could affect future issues like permitless-carry. Steven Greene (North Carolina State University) contends the primary challenges were strategic, noting that “if the Democratic Party believed these legislators needed to defect to better represent their constituents, they would not have supported the challenges.”

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• “I have been a Democrat all my life, but I came to realize that I want to serve the people; not a party.” — Carla Cunningham, State Representative

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• “I cannot, in good conscience, remain aligned where those concerns are not adequately addressed.” — Nasif Majeed, State Representative

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• “ He added: “Both of these members have led with integrity, refusing to let political pressure dictate their convictions or undermine the interests of the people they were elected to serve, and North Carolina is better for it.” — Destin Hall, House Speaker

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• “I am disappointed when anyone leaves the Democratic Party, but I think the voters made it clear what and how they expect to be represented in Raleigh, and I sincerely hope that both remember that the remainder of their terms in office this year,” he said.” — Wesley Harris, Mecklenburg County Democratic Chair

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• “Rep. Majeed and Rep. Cunningham saw first-hand how intolerant and vindictive the leadership the Democratic Party led by Gov. Josh Stein and Chair Anderson Clayton is. It's no surprise Republicans have become the majority party of common sense in North Carolina while Democrats continue to shrink under the banner of the radical left,” — Matt Mercer, NC Republican Party communications director

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The North Carolina General Assembly convenes for its 2024-2025 session in July. With the House still one seat short of a supermajority, Cunningham’s and Majeed’s votes could prove pivotal on any future veto-override or contentious legislation. Observers will watch whether the independents maintain their bipartisan voting patterns or shift toward the Democratic caucus for the remainder of their terms.

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