NC’s 2022 primary, filing delayed. Who filed in Chatham before then?

Filing for all candidates was halted as gerrymandering lawsuits play out that could lead to redrawn districts

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PITTSBORO — Ten candidates filed for seats representing Chatham in the 2022 elections at the Chatham County Board of Elections before filing was halted and the primary election delayed until May by the North Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s order follows a Monday court order which temporarily blocked filing for the U.S. House, N.C. Senate and N.C. House races shortly before filing was set to begin. By Monday evening, that order was reversed, allowing candidates to again file in those state races.

But by Wednesday, filing for all candidates — not just for primaries using the disputed maps — was halted as gerrymandering lawsuits play out that could lead to redrawn districts that would change the breakdown of state races.

Rep. Robert Reives II, Chatham's representative  in the N.C. House, said in a release before filing was resumed Monday that N.C. residents deserve fair district lines and that the maps passed by legislature last month "were generally viewed as the most gerrymandered in the country." 

"I appreciate the thoughtful consideration of last week’s three judge panel and our state’s appellate judges," he said. "My hope is that this process will lead to better maps and a better opportunity for voters to participate in the democratic process.” 

All the new maps would give Republicans a sizable advantage in future elections even if the two parties roughly split the statewide vote 50-50, outside political analysis shows, with the new Congressional map expected to give Republicans a 10-4 or 11-3 advantage in 2022.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement Wednesday that the court order “restores faith in the rule of law.”

“...it is necessary for the Court to rule on the constitutionality of these unfair districts before the next election,” he said.

Dates for a new filing period have not been set. The primary, along with any rescheduled municipal elections from November 2020, will now take place on May 17, 2022, instead of March 8.

Read the order: N.C. Supreme Court Order No. 413P21 (PDF).

In Chatham, six Democratic candidates filed for local contests on the first day of filing on Monday, with two more candidates filing each on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Candidates for the following offices were eligible to file during this period for Chatham County. Additional candidates representing Chatham along with other districts filed for office at BOE buildings outside of Chatham.

Now that filing is suspended, this list will be updated online as new candidates announce intended campaigns.

State Contests

State Senate 20: Chatham is currently represented in the state Senate by Rep. Valerie Foushee, who has announced a bid for Congress. Following redistricting, Sen. Natalie Murdock is the incumbent for Chatham’s 2022 voting district. She filed for the office last Wednesday.

House District 54: Currently held by Dem. Rep. Robert Reives II, who is running again. So far, former Rep. County Commissioner Walter Petty has also announced a campaign.

Reives filed for the office on Wednesday, before filing was suspended.

“I am proud to file for re-election to continue serving the people in House District 54. I have been humbled by the opportunity to represent my friends and neighbors in Raleigh, and I look forward to continuing that service,” he said in a release. “Chatham County is my home, and I understand the issues families are discussing at the dinner table because my family does the same. I want to serve for another term to ensure that we are creating a community and state that is better off for our children.”

N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 03: Dem. Lucy Inman and Rep. Richard Dietz both filed last Monday.

N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 05: Republicans April Wood and Trey Allen filed for the seat on Monday, so did Dem. Sam Ervin IV.

N.C. Court of Appeals Judge - Seats 08, 09, 10, 11: Rep. Julee Tate Flood filed for Seat 8 on Monday. Republicans Beth Freshwater Smith and Donna Stroud filed for Seat 9 on Monday. 

Dem. Gale Murray Adams and Rep. John Tyson also filed for Seat 10 on Monday; Dem. Darren Jackson and Rep. Michael Stading filed for Seat 11 that day as well.

N.C. Superior Court Judge District 15B Seat 1 and 2: Dem. Alyson Grine filed for Seat 1 on Wednesday and Dem. Allen Baddour filed for Seat 2 on Tuesday.

N.C. District Court Judge District 15B Seat 1:  No one filed for this office during the brief filing period.

District Attorney District 18: Dem. Kayley Taber filed Tuesday.

Local Contests

Chatham County Board of Commissioners Dist. 3: Currently held by Dem. Commissioner Diana Hales, who is not running for reelection. Dem. Lewis Hendricks announced a bid for the seat and filed for it on Monday.

Chatham County Board of Commissioners Dist. 4: Currently held by Dem. Commissioner Jim Crawford, who will resign at the board’s Dec. 20 meeting. On Monday, two Democratic candidates filed for the seat: Albert Reddick and Katie Kenlan.

On Tuesday, Democrat Travis Patterson also filed for the office.

Chatham County Board of Commissioners Dist. 5: Currently held by Dem. Commissioner Franklin Gomez Flores, who filed for the seat Monday.

Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court: Democratic Incumbent Dana Hackney filed for the office on Monday.

Chatham County Sheriff: Currently held by Dem. Sheriff Mike Roberson, who filed for the office Monday.

Board of Education Dist. 3: Currently held by Vice-Chairperson Del Turner, who filed on Tuesday. She will not be on the ballot in the primary, as the Board of Education race is nonpartisan.

Board of Education Dist. 4: Currently held by Board member Jane Allen Wilson, who filed for the seat on Wednesday and will also not be listed on the ballot in the primary.

Board of Education Dist. 5: Currently held by Chairperson Gary Leonard.

Delayed Municipal Elections

Town of Cary Town Council At-Large: Ken George and Ed Yerha filed Monday.

Delayed Municipal Elections Filing (Filing was scheduled for Jan. 3, 2022, noon - Jan. 7, 2022, noon, but is likely delayed by the court order)

Town of Siler City Mayor: Siler City Commissioner Chip Price announced Monday evening he would be running for mayor in Siler City’s municipal election in March. 

Town of Siler City Town Commissioner At-Large: Price has served as at-large commissioner for 10 years. If he were to win his election bid for mayor, the seat would be wide open.

Town of Siler City Town commissioner Dist. 1: Commissioner Tony Siler announced he would not seek reelection this year, meaning the Dist. 1 seat will be wide open.

Town of Siler City Town Commissioner Dist. 5: Lewis Fadely holds the seat.

Reporter Hannah McClellan can be reached at hannah@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @HannerMcClellan.