NC Rep. Carla Cunningham Files for Reelection, Facing Opposition

Rep. Carla Cunningham, the Democrat who faced a jeering hometown crowd this summer after delivering a controversial speech on the state House floor criticizing immigrants, is seeking an eighth term.

She’ll likely be in a crowded primary field in House District 106 in Charlotte. Rev. Rodney Sadler filed campaign paperwork on Monday and at least two others say they plan to run. Morris McAdoo, a lawyer, has a campaign website. Vermanno Bowman, whom Cunningham defeated in last year’s primary, announced on social media he also plans to run again.

Cunningham worked for decades as a nurse and has been a prominent voice in the legislature on health and mental health matters. She is the widow of longtime House member Pete Cunningham, who resigned his seat in 2007 and died in 2010. Carla Cunningham won her first term in 2012.

Cunningham has emerged as one of the Democrats who votes most often with the Republican majority. This year, she voted with Republicans more than any other Democrat. Republican House leaders have recognized that by awarding her coveted positions in chamber leadership; she co-chairs the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and is a vice-chair of the House Health Committee.

But, until now, she has not faced a concerted Democratic effort to oust her. She defeated Bowman in last year’s primary with more than 84% of the vote. House District 106 is heavily Democratic, so the primary victor is likely to win the seat.

Cunningham delivered her controversial speech on immigration as she voted with the GOP to override Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of House Bill 318. The law puts more requirements on law enforcement to help U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement with deportations.

“All cultures are not equal,” Cunningham said in a speech explaining her vote to override Stein’s veto, adding that immigrants need to assimilate.

At an August town hall filled with angry Democrats, Cunningham defended her vote and the speech, WFAE reported.

Last month, the US Border Patrol began an operation in Charlotte that triggered a wave of fear that temporarily closed businesses and had parents afraid to send children to school.

Cunningham was initially dismissive of reports of the operation. She told NC Newsline, “I’m going to be keeping my eyes on my own safety for right now,” saying she had received threats over her July speech.

However, in an email Friday announcing her reelection bid, Cunningham said her vote was about serious criminal offenders.

“I do not support any practices that intimidate law-abiding immigrant families,” she said in a statement.

Sadler showed up to a rally and march to protest the presence of Border Patrol in Charlotte in Uptown on Nov. 15. After marching through Uptown with protesters, Sadler told Queen City Nerve he was there to show solidarity with Charlotte’s immigrant community.

Read more: CBP Activates in Charlotte as Community Members Rally in Protest

“Our neighbors are under attack and we need to figure out ways to stand together to protect us all,” he said. “We’re stronger when we’re standing together than when we try to stand on our own and this is one of those instances where I think that we have the opportunity to truly come together as a community. I don’t believe that Charlotte’s ethos will support what ICE is trying to do to us.

“We love our immigrant neighbors,” he continued. “They exist in every phase of our lives, every dimension of our existence here in our city and we need to ensure that we’re protecting all of these people who are at risk now. And we also need to recognize that if we don’t protect those who are at risk today, we might all be at risk tomorrow.”

This article was originally published by the States Newsroom, which includes NC Newsline. Ryan Pitkin with Queen City Nerve also contributed additional reporting to the article before publishing here.