NC Democrat defeated in his primary says he’s sticking with the party

By: Lynn Bonner

Outlets: North Carolina Newsline

Published: April 28, 2026

Words: 347

Last Updated: 4 weeks, 2 days ago

Body Text Preview

Democratic Rep. Shelly Willingham said Tuesday he will not follow two of his colleagues’ example and change his party affiliation after losing a primary.

“Changing party affiliation won’t change me,” said Willingham, who lives in Edgecombe County.

“I’m going to be the same person. I’m going to continue doing what I’ve been doing. And also, my philosophy and my allegiances are where they were before.”

Two former Democrats representing Mecklenburg County districts, Reps. Nasif …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

Email Us