On October 1, 2013, a group of concerned citizens, comprised of Democrats, Independents, and mainstream Republicans, met in the back of a salon in Cameron Village, in Raleigh.
North Carolina had taken a hard political turn the right, though we knew of our State’s history of support for public education, and the role of Governors like Martin and Hunt.
As would be the case with subsequent gatherings in communities across the State, a future Legislator and future local elected official would join in. This effort was born.
We established two main goals: 1) to focus time, talent, and resources on top-tier challengers in the most winnable districts in this gerrymandered State, and 2) to focus on actual solutions to our State’s most pressing concerns.
The following mission statement ensued:
WE ARE committed North Carolinians who know our state to be a place of reason and moderation.
WE SEEK to support a forward-looking agenda, a common-sense approach, and a tone of civility in the public affairs of our state.
WE AIM to promote changes that strengthen North Carolina's reputation as the best place to live, raise a family, educate a child, build a business, and pursue the American Dream.
WE ASK for your gifts, talents, and time as we work together towards this goal.
WE BELIEVE North Carolina is at a crossroads, and that the time to act is now.
Adversity, Resilience, Results:
Since then, with top challengers, their campaigns, and you, we’ve helped propel more than 15 top challengers to great victories, while facing considerable adversity. In 2014 and 2016, our first two cycles, the final weeks of each election were hard.
In 2014, a tide that saw the defeat of U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, close State Senate races were lost: one in Fayetteville we’d win back in 2018, and another in Wake County where Sarah Crawford is highly favored in 2020.
In 2016, a tide that almost prevented Governor Cooper from winning office, Jane Hipps of Waynesville waged a valiant battle in a tough Senate district and subsequently with cancer. She inspired us all. Joe Sam Queen would win back the overlapping State House seat in 2018.
Also in 2016, Warren Judge of Kitty Hawk, one of the most tenured local elected officials in our State’s history, sadly passed away just days before the election. In 2020, it's an honor to back his widow, Tess, for the State Senate.
The point is: This effort and the people of North Carolina have the resilience and experience to win.
For now, we’ll focus on the present crisis.
While the temporary physical distance between us seems daunting, we’re sufficiently steeled and of one mind to get through this. Soon enough, we’ll again marshal the talent and resources to politically fight where we are, for the heart and soul of America.
Now or Never NC