CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Democrat Carla Cunningham fell by a wide margin in Tuesday’s primary after the Mecklenburg County state representative had gone against her own party in the last year.
With all precincts reporting, Cunningham lost to the Rev. Rodney Sadler, nearly 70 percent to nearly 21.8 percent, being ousted by Democratic voters. Her District 106 includes the Highland Creek and Mallard Creek areas of Charlotte, plus southeastern Huntersville.
No Republicans were running for the seat, meaning the first-time candidate Sadler will run unopposed in November.
Cunningham has faced criticism for siding with Republicans more frequently than other Democrats in the NC House. In July, she was the lone member of her party to vote to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of HB 318, a bill that requires increased cooperation between local law enforcement and immigration agents.
In January, Stein announced his support of Sadler.
Later that month, Cunningham led a group that filed a petition to remove Sheriff Garry McFadden from office. The group accused him of misconduct, including making threats and retaliating against employees he viewed as disloyal.
The motion was eventually dismissed by a judge, and McFadden won by a narrow margin on Tuesday.
Vermanno Bowman garnered the third-most votes at 8.3 percent.
