Two Democratic incumbents representing Mecklenburg County in the North Carolina State House answered to voters this past March when they lost their primaries to two newcomers, indicating constituents weren’t happy with the current representation.
Nasif Majeed and Carla Cunningham recently changed their party affiliation from Democratic to unaffiliated shortly after both lawmakers lost their respective primary elections and as the legislature prepared to return to session.
Both representatives had previously drawn attention for voting with Republicans on several veto override measures. Those votes were significant because they helped advance legislation despite opposition from Democratic leadership and former NC Gov. Roy Cooper. Their positions on these issues had led to criticism within their party during the primary campaigns.
Majeed explained that his choice was driven by concerns about political practices he believes do not align with fair and transparent elections, though he did not go into specific details. He emphasized the importance of honest leadership and accountability, saying he could no longer remain connected to a party that, in his view, failed to address those issues.
“Our community deserves leadership that is honest, accountable, and respectful of the democratic process,” he said. “I cannot, in good conscience, remain aligned where those concerns are not adequately addressed.”
As a result, Majeed will continue serving the remainder of his term as an unaffiliated legislator rather than as a member of the Democratic caucus.
Majeed went against the Democratic party on multiple votes, including voting to override Gov. Josh Stein’s Veto on the North Carolina House Bill 805, also known as the “Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors” act, which defined biological sex strictly as male or female in state law, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
The legislation is loaded with multiple anti-LGBTQ+ bull’s eyes: it limits state funding for gender transition procedures including puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones in prisons and government-offered health plans; extends the time allowed to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit regarding gender-affirming care; and enables students to opt out of certain curriculum based on religious objections. It also requires online entity operators to verify that individuals in sexually-related images are over 18, with written verification.
Majeed lost his primary to Veleria M. Levy, who ran for the North Carolina House on a platform centered around what her campaign calls “Affordability, Access, and Accountability,” framing through a broader concept she describes as a “Circle of Service.” Levy is the former Executive Director of the North Carolina AIDS Action Network, where she led advocacy efforts during a period of unprecedented attacks on healthcare access for vulnerable North Carolinians.
Healthcare is another central pillar of her agenda, reflecting her background in health policy and advocacy. Levy supports protecting and expanding access to services such as Medicaid, women’s health care, and preventive treatment, arguing that affordability and availability of care are critical to both public health and economic participation. She also emphasizes strengthening community-based healthcare systems to ensure services are accessible at the local level.
Cunningham said her decision to leave the Democratic Party reflects a growing disconnect between her approach to governing and the expectations of party politics. In a public statement, she indicated that she wants to prioritize representing her constituents independently rather than aligning with a specific party agenda.
Her decision comes after years of tension with fellow Democrats, particularly over her willingness to side with Republicans on several high-profile votes, including efforts to override gubernatorial vetoes. Those actions drew criticism within her party and became a factor in her primary defeat.
The two bills Cunningham broke from her party with were House Bill 318 and Senate Bill 254.
House Bill 318, also known as the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act and passed in 2025, requires local law enforcement and jail administrators to determine the citizenship status of individuals charged with felonies or certain misdemeanors. It mandates local law enforcement to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including holding detainees for up to 48 hours.
Senate Bill 254, titled “Charter School Changes,” shifts authority over charter schools from the State Board of Education (SBE) to the Charter Schools Review Board (CSRB). It empowers the CSRB to approve charter rules, hire private legal counsel and oversee school renewals. Critics argue this law was an unconstitutional infringement on the State Board of Education’s authority. Critics argued the bill weakened oversight of charter schools by transferring power from the state superintendent to a political body.
“It’s not beneficial for me to line up behind a party agenda,” Cunningham told WBT’s Brett Jensen. “What’s beneficial to my constituents is that I serve them and prioritize what their needs are.”
Their affiliation changes have prompted discussion about potential impacts on the balance of power in the House. Republicans remain close to a veto-proof majority, meaning that shifts in support from individual lawmakers could influence the outcome of future override votes on key policy matters.
Chris Cooper noted in a social media post that, to his knowledge, Nasif Majeed and Carla Cunningham are the only lawmakers in North Carolina who have changed party affiliation after losing a primary election.
He also pointed out that this marks the first time since 2023 that a state legislator has switched parties, when Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County left the Democratic Party to join the Republicans – a move that ultimately gave the GOP a veto-proof supermajority in the North Carolina House.
It’s possible these moves from these Mecklenburg officials could create a similar situation to when Cotham switched, giving Republicans a veto-proof majority. This could result in a potential stalemate between the state’s executive and legislative branches, which just means North Carolinians will suffer while their government is stuck in a standstill.