Two NC House Democrats switch to unaffiliated, drawing attention to possible veto overrides
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Two Democratic members of the North Carolina House have changed their party affiliation to unaffiliated.
Reps. Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed, both of whom lost their Democratic primaries last month, made the announcements within days of each other. Their decisions come just as lawmakers have returned to Raleigh for the start of the short session.
"I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party left me," said Majeed, during an interview with ABC11.
Majeed has represented Mecklenburg County in the 99th District for the past four terms. However, he drew ire for his decision to vote on two veto overrides -- HB 805 and SB 266 -- and stated he felt unfairly attacked by state Democratic Party leadership ahead of last month's primary.
"They orchestrated the whole situation, slandered my name. I have a great record of contributions to this community. The way they did that marketing, that psychological marketing, is slander," Majeed said.
He asserted he was loyal to the party, criticizing the framing of his veto-override votes.
"I didn't vote with the Republicans. I voted on the issues," Majeed said.
Cunningham, who also represents Mecklenburg County in District 106, similarly faced criticism for crossing the aisle on key votes to help Republicans override vetoes by Gov. Josh Stein. In a statement Friday, she wrote:
"I have been a Democrat all my life, but I came to realize that I want to serve the people, not a party. Being an independent thinker does not align with party politics, and I will never compromise the needs of my constituents to satisfy a political agenda."
Cunningham, who voted to override HB 402, HB 318, HB 416, and SB 254, declined an interview request Monday.
Majeed said he has not yet spoken with House Democratic Leader Robert Reives about his decision to change his party affiliation, though he spoke warmly of their working relationship. In a statement on the party switches, Reives wrote:
"During their years in public office, Representatives Majeed and Cunningham have voted on bills according to their values, and I expect they will continue to do so. I value their friendship and look forward to continuing to serve with them."
Another Democrat saud she expects nothing to change.
"Representative Cunningham, Representative Majeed, they have always thought and voted once with their own values. Nothing's changed. And so our approach this year is going to be the same as it's been all session. Nothing has changed. We're going to focus on working together and again, addressing these crises that are in front of us," said Rep. Vernetta Alston, a Democrat who represents Durham County.
The switches raise questions about whether Republicans could gain the votes needed to override additional vetoes on legislation involving diversity, equity and inclusion policies; local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and constitutional carry.
"I don't have a decision on those. But like I said, I'm studying and, as always, I'm an independent thinker. I come to my conclusions. The record will speak for itself," Majeed said when asked about potential future override votes.
Alston added that Democrats will continue to navigate those issues in much the same manner.
"We've been thinking and strategizing around vetoes all session. And again, our approach is going to be the same as it was last year. We don't expect anything to be different," said Alston.
House Speaker Destin Hall, a Republican who was asked about the possible role primary losses would have on veto overrides last week, wrote Monday:
"Today's Democratic Party has no room for those who don't toe the line of the far left's agenda. I applaud my colleagues, Rep. Cunningham and Rep. Majeed, for putting their constituents first. Like so many other North Carolinians, they have chosen to move on from a Democratic Party that has left them behind. 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."
The moves from Cunningham and Majeed are the most recent instances of lawmakers switching their party affiliation. In 2023, Rep. Tricia Cotham switched her affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
"There was a bill introduced in the North County General Assembly by Democrats, of course, after Tricia Cotham did her party switch. That would put some sort of penalty on it that went absolutely nowhere," said Western Carolina University Political Science Professor Chris Cooper.
The North Carolina Republican Party welcomed the announcements, hoping to use them to target swing voters in the November midterms.
"We are becoming the big tent party. We value those that vote with their conscience and conviction, not simply those who just toe the party line," said NCGOP Executive Director Zach Almond.
Almond said the party was not given any advance notice of the decision.
"I would not say surprised, but I would say that it caught us off guard a little bit that it happened the other day, especially just a few days into the session," said Almond.
Cooper noted the North Carolina Democratic Party likely anticipated some pushback, though he does not believe it regrets targeting the lawmakers.
"They knew there would be some consequences here in the short session," Cooper said. "But at the end of the day, they got rid of the members of their own party that they wanted to. I don't see them making any change on that. It's hard to imagine, really, how Cunningham and Majeed can make them hurt any more than they already did."
Broadly, Cooper explained, lawmakers bucking their own party is increasingly rare.
"Other than symbolic feel-good bills, it's going to be extremely difficult for people to work across the aisle. It's extremely difficult for any Democrat to cross Governor Stein's party or for Republicans to cross leadership. When we do see bipartisanship (and) we do see it on some issues, they don't tend to be the controversial ones," said Cooper.
The North Carolina Democratic Party and Stein's Office did not respond to requests for comment.
