Well, team, last night did not go as expected. It’s shocking, devastating, and anger-inducing. We need to give ourselves time to mourn, regroup, and refocus. We have a long road ahead, and it isn’t going to be easy. But it’s never easy — especially in Brunswick County.
Bob Bannerman sent a note this morning entitled “Silver Linings.” It’s a good place to start.
In North Carolina - and in Brunswick County - we elected Josh Stein to be our next governor, versus choosing a depraved mini-Trump grifter to take the helm.
We elected Mo Green to be our next Superintendent of Public Instruction, sparing our public education system from being ravaged by a crazed, know-nothing insurrectionist.
We won critical victories in these Council of State races: Rachel Hunt as Lieutenant Governor, Jeff Jackson as Attorney General, and Elaine Marshall as Secretary of State.
We broke the MAGA supermajority in the General Assembly by one. Stein will be sworn into office with veto power.
Take comfort in knowing that our state will enter 2025 in better political shape than we’ve been in since April of 2023. (That’s when Tricia Cotham betrayed our party to give the radical GOP in Raleigh a veto-proof majority.)
Locally, we rallied together to get Bob Fulton on the ballot for county commissioner. It was no small feat, but we buckled down, pushed forward, and did it — amassing more than 6,000 signatures against all odds. That took determination and teamwork.
In our county, we fielded impressive, hard-working candidates for a large number of races, including a rare “slate” of commissioner contenders. Though most were first-timers, they rose to the occasion, put their all into it, and made us proud. They shined a light on important issues for our county and district, and made their opponents blink. Again, no small feat in Brunswick. They deserve our undying gratitude.
Democrats have become more visible in Brunswick County. We show up and show out at events, host our own Community Heroes Expo, sponsor local organizations that do good works, elevate our voices with letters to the editor in local papers, and garner the attention of the press on a wide range of issues.
By doing so, we've inspired more folks to step out of the shadows, find their voices, and join us in fighting for what’s right and just. We know we’re not alone, and our growing community is strong, compassionate, sincere, and determined to help others.
I am deeply humbled, honored, and grateful to have volunteered with all of you, forming life-long friendships and building a community filled with camaraderie, common goals, and good hearts. Thank you to every single volunteer who has contributed to our efforts.
We’re not celebrating today, but we will, soon enough. This isn’t over, and we’ll get through it — together. As Vince Lombardi said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” The Brunswick County Democratic Party will be getting back up, stronger than ever. We hope you’ll join us when we do.
--Shelley Allen
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