{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Carla D. Cunningham","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nCarla D. Cunningham represented North Carolina House District 106 (Mecklenburg County, north Charlotte) from 2013 until her defeat in the 2026 Democratic primary [1]. Rodney Sadler, a Baptist minister, won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 69.9% of the vote (7,727 votes) to Cunningham's 21.8% (2,404 votes) and Vermanno Bowman's 8.3% (916 votes); Sadler is unopposed in the November 3, 2026 general election [1]. On April 24, 2026, Cunningham left the Democratic Party and re-registered as an unaffiliated voter, North Carolina voter records showed [2].\n\n## Background and education\nCunningham was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina. She attended Central Piedmont Community College in 1981, earned an associate degree from Gaston College in 1996, and a bachelor's degree from Winston-Salem State University in 2009 [1].\n\n## Office history\nCunningham was first elected to the North Carolina House, District 106, in November 2012, unopposed in both the primary and general election, and took office in 2013 [1]. She won re-election in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, several times unopposed, before losing renomination in the 2026 Democratic primary [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nIn the 2023-2024 legislative session, Cunningham served on the Appropriations Committee, the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the Commerce Committee, the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, the Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Committee, and the Wildlife Resources Committee, and was Vice Chair of the Health Committee; she held similar assignments, including Vice Chair of the Health Committee, in prior sessions dating to 2019 [1]. Her 2026 re-election campaign was endorsed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Carla Cunningham - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carla_Cunningham)\n[2] [North Carolina state Rep. Carla Cunningham switches voter affiliation from Democrat to unaffiliated - WBTV](https://www.wbtv.com/2026/04/24/north-carolina-state-rep-carla-cunningham-switches-voter-affiliation-democrat-unaffiliated/)","firstname":"Carla","lastname":"Cunningham","middlename":"D","suffix":null,"token":"7f38023033095ed2"},"token":"ofUqemy7ZBa1e0Ub"},{"candidatename":"Vermanno Bowman","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"**Update: Bowman lost the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for NC House of Representatives District 106 (Mecklenburg County), finishing third in a three-way race with 916 votes (8.3%), behind Rodney Sadler (7,727 votes, 69.9%) and Carla D. Cunningham (2,404 votes, 21.8%). Bowman does not appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot [3].**\n\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Vermanno Dewayne Bowman is a registered voter in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, registered since 2016 (10 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Vermanno Dewayne Bowman's year of birth as 1998; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 14 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Vermanno Dewayne Bowman can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections, March 3, 2026 primary official precinct-level results (bulk file) -- https://dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip","firstname":"Vermanno","lastname":"Bowman","middlename":"Dewayne","suffix":null,"token":"a931a073311bbe26"},"token":"AJrcVz6uhSl6zx0M"},{"candidatename":"Rodney Sadler","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Rodney Sadler is the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 106, in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. The North Carolina House is the lower chamber of the state legislature; members are elected to two\u2011year terms and must meet the constitutional qualifications for state legislators, including age and residency requirements [1].\n\nSadler earned a B.S. in Psychology/Philosophy from Howard University in 1989, a Master of Divinity from Howard University School of Divinity in 1992, and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Biblical Archaeology from Duke University in 2001\u202f[1][2]. He has spent more than two decades in ministry and academia, serving as a Baptist pastor and, most recently, as an associate professor of Bible and director of the Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte\u202f[2][7][15].\n\nHis public\u2011policy activism began with a 2013 civil\u2011disobedient protest inside the North Carolina General Assembly, where he was arrested while praying with other faith leaders against Republican\u2011led legislation on education, health care and voting rights\u202f[1][7][13]. He has continued that work through community organizing, including the Poor People\u2019s Campaign, the Faith in Housing Initiative, and the Reimagining America Project\u202f[15].\n\nIn the 2026 Democratic primary held on March\u202f3, Sadler defeated seven\u2011term incumbent Rep.\u202fCarla\u202fCunningham, winning roughly 70\u202f% of the vote (7,716 votes) to Cunningham\u2019s 21.8\u202f% (2,401 votes) and Vermanno\u202fBowman\u2019s 8.3\u202f% (912 votes)\u202f[1][6][8][12][14][17][19]. No Republican filed for the seat, so the primary victory effectively secured the District\u202f106 seat for the general election. He received endorsements from Governor\u202fJosh\u202fStein, State Rep.\u202fJulia\u202fGreenfield, the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte\u2011Mecklenburg, the North Carolina Association of Educators, the Sierra Club, the Sunrise\u202fMovement, and numerous labor and progressive groups\u202f[1][2][3][11][12][14][16].\n\nSadler\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes fully funded public schools, affordable housing, a living\u2011wage standard, universal health care, voter\u2011rights protection, and climate\u2011justice policies\u202f[2][10][14]. He frames his candidacy as a \u201cmoral revival,\u201d arguing that government should serve working families rather than corporate interests\u202f[10][13].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Rodney Sadler - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rodney_Sadler)\n- [2] [Rodney Sadler | The Election Hub](https://www.theelectionhub.org/mecklenburg-county/rodney-sadler/2026-primary/mecklenburg)\n- [3] [Endorsements for Rodney Sadler - North Carolina Democratic Party Candidate](https://bluevoterguide.org/NC/candidate_Rodney_Sadler/697896)\n- [4] [Reverend Rodney Sadler was the projected winner ...](https://www.facebook.com/WBTVNews3/posts/reverend-rodney-sadler-was-the-projected-winner-of-the-democratic-primary-for-no/1379658540857311/)\n- [6] [Sadler unseats Cunningham in HD-106 Democratic primary](https://www.carolinajournal.com/sadler-unseats-cunningham-in-hd-106-democratic-primary/)\n- [7] [Meet Rodney | Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler for NC House District 106](https://rodneysadler.com/about)\n- [8] [Rodney Sadler wins 2026 Democratic primary for North Carolina House District 106, ousting Carla Cunningham](https://www.wbtv.com/2026/03/04/rodney-sadler-wins-2026-democratic-primary-north-carolina-house-district-106-ousting-carla-cunningham/)\n- [10] [Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler for NC House District 106](https://rodneysadler.com/)\n- [11] [North Carolina governor backs challenger of sitting Democrat in Charlotte-area primary :: WRAL.com](https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/north-carolina-governor-endorses-rodney-sadler-charlotte-primary-2026/)\n- [12] [Democratic Reps. Cunningham, Majeed lose to challengers in Mecklenburg | WUNC News](https://www.wunc.org/2026-03-03/democratic-reps-cunningham-majeed-trail-challengers-in-mecklenburg)\n- [13] [Community advocate Rodney Sadler ready to challenge North Carolina Rep. Carla Cunningham in 2026](https://www.wbtv.com/2025/09/25/community-advocate-rodney-sadler-ready-challenge-north-carolina-rep-carla-cunningham-2026/)\n- [14] [Democrat who joined Republicans to override Gov. Stein's ICE veto loses primary in landslide defeat | 13newsnow.com](https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/politics/elections/three-democrats-vie-for-nc-house-district-106-in-mecklenburg-county/275-df6cb85e-693e-4738-9977-6c77e74b1893)\n- [15] [Rev. Rodney Sadler in Charlotte, NC \u2013 We are ALL IN, and we are making calls! \u2013 Arlington Democrats](https://arlingtondems.org/event/rev-rodney-sadler-in-charlotte-nc-we-are-all-in-and-we-are-making-calls-2/)\n- [16] [Gov. Josh Stein endorses Rodney Sadler over Carla Cunningham for state House seat | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source](https://www.wfae.org/2026-01-05/gov-josh-stein-endorses-rodney-sadler-over-carla-cunningham-for-state-house-seat)\n- [17] [Veteran Democrat Carla Cunningham suffers huge loss in Charlotte primary](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/veteran-democrat-carla-cunningham-suffers-050514784.html)\n- [19] [Cunningham Loses Immigration-Focused State House Primary](https://www.theassemblync.com/news/politics/elections/cunningham-sadler-charlotte-district-106/)","firstname":"Rodney","lastname":"Sadler","middlename":"Steven","suffix":"JR","token":"bf6ca22195843249"},"token":"dJayhSqJM6TlvS9j"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house","office":"state_house","officedescription":"The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and \u2014 with the Senate \u2014 confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments.","officequalities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"State Representative","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 106"}