A Letter to Mecklenburg Voters from North Carolina's Rural Voters Mecklenburg voters, we need to talk. Mecklenburg voters, we need to talk. We write to you as your neighbors and fellow North Carolinians, representing more than a dozen rural counties across the state. We are a multiracial coalition of working- class people who organize together as Down Home North Carolina, where we are members and leaders. Our families live in some of the most difficult and gerrymandered districts in our state. Yet we are committed to the fight to protect all working-class North Carolinians from the regressive forces that seek to attack our rights, livelihoods, and our children's future. We organize our communities to fully fund our public schools, protect our immigrant neighbors, and defend democracy. We fought for and won Medicaid expansion in 2023, we are working to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and we defend the rights of all working-class people, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Last month, our members watched in horror as two Mecklenburg County legislators, Carla Cunningham (D-106) and Nasif Majeed (D-99), voted repeatedly to override Governor Stein's veto. Their decisions will put guns in schools, force our local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE, undermine environmental protections, raise the cost of our energy bills, and curtail the rights of trans people. These votes are a betrayal of our communities. If Cunningham and Majeed persist in undermining Governor Stein, working people across North Carolina will be forced to live under radical and dangerous new laws. Through tremendous effort and sacrifice, Down Home's members have been able to eke out unlikely victories in heavily gerrymandered rural districts. In 2022, we helped elect Diamond Staton-Williams (D-73) of Cabarrus County to the state legislature, giving North Carolinians a one-seat buffer against legislative supermajorities. This protection was stolen when Tricia Cotham (R-105) betrayed Mecklenburg's voters and stripped Governor Cooper of his veto power, leaving us vulnerable to a single-party government that immediately passed a 12-week abortion ban and the largest disinvestment of NC public schools in history. In 2024, working-class people, including members of Down Home NC, knocked more than 630,000 doors in rural counties in order to break the supermajority again, this time by narrowly flipping two State House seats in eastern North Carolina. These victories provided Governor Stein with the power to veto dangerous laws. We believed that we would be protected from the excesses of hostile one-party rule, and our members celebrated as Governor Stein used the veto to knock down radical new laws intended to hurt our families and communities. In the coming days or weeks, Cunningham and Majeed will be called on again to uphold Governor Stein's veto of disastrous new laws that would force state law enforcement agencies to function as ICE agents, flood our streets with unpermitted concealed weapons, and ban diversity and inclusion initiatives from our schools and universities. Their decisions will impact all of our lives. To Representatives Cunningham and Majeed, we call on you to make a public commitment to uphold Governor Stein's vetoes, without exception. If you cannot do this, we call on you to resign from your positions. To our neighbors in Mecklenburg County, we ask you to prepare for March 3rd, 2026. This is the day when primary elections will be held and your best chance to elect truly progressive candidates who will stand with working-class people. All of North Carolina has a problem that only you can solve, and we need your help. If your elected representatives fail to protect us from dangerous legislation, it's your duty and in your power to replace them. We will have your back. Your neighbors at Down Home North Carolina, Dreama Caldwell, co-director Todd Zimmer, co-director Down Home Wilson County Down Home Vance County Down Home Granville County A Letter to Mecklenburg Voters from North Carolina's Rural Voters Mecklenburg voters , we need to talk . Mecklenburg voters , we need to talk . We write to you as your neighbors and fellow North Carolinians , representing more than a dozen rural counties across the state . We are a multiracial coalition of working- class people who organize together as Down Home North Carolina , where we are members and leaders . Our families live in some of the most difficult and gerrymandered districts in our state . Yet we are committed to the fight to protect all working - class North Carolinians from the regressive forces that seek to attack our rights , livelihoods , and our children's future . We organize our communities to fully fund our public schools , protect our immigrant neighbors , and defend democracy . We fought for and won Medicaid expansion in 2023 , we are working to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene , and we defend the rights of all working - class people , regardless of their gender or sexual orientation . Last month , our members watched in horror as two Mecklenburg County legislators , Carla Cunningham ( D - 106 ) and Nasif Majeed ( D - 99 ) , voted repeatedly to override Governor Stein's veto . Their decisions will put guns in schools , force our local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE , undermine environmental protections , raise the cost of our energy bills , and curtail the rights of trans people . These votes are a betrayal of our communities . If Cunningham and Majeed persist in undermining Governor Stein , working people across North Carolina will be forced to live under radical and dangerous new laws . Through tremendous effort and sacrifice , Down Home's members have been able to eke out unlikely victories in heavily gerrymandered rural districts . In 2022 , we helped elect Diamond Staton - Williams ( D - 73 ) of Cabarrus County to the state legislature , giving North Carolinians a one - seat buffer against legislative supermajorities . This protection was stolen when Tricia Cotham ( R - 105 ) betrayed Mecklenburg's voters and stripped Governor Cooper of his veto power , leaving us vulnerable to a single - party government that immediately passed a 12 - week abortion ban and the largest disinvestment of NC public schools in history . In 2024 , working - class people , including members of Down Home NC , knocked more than 630,000 doors in rural counties in order to break the supermajority again , this time by narrowly flipping two State House seats in eastern North Carolina . These victories provided Governor Stein with the power to veto dangerous laws . We believed that we would be protected from the excesses of hostile one - party rule , and our members celebrated as Governor Stein used the veto to knock down radical new laws intended to hurt our families and communities . In the coming days or weeks , Cunningham and Majeed will be called on again to uphold Governor Stein's veto of disastrous new laws that would force state law enforcement agencies to function as ICE agents , flood our streets with unpermitted concealed weapons , and ban diversity and inclusion initiatives from our schools and universities . Their decisions will impact all of our lives . To Representatives Cunningham and Majeed , we call on you to make a public commitment to uphold Governor Stein's vetoes , without exception . If you cannot do this , we call on you to resign from your positions . To our neighbors in Mecklenburg County , we ask you to prepare for March 3rd , 2026 . This is the day when primary elections will be held and your best chance to elect truly progressive candidates who will stand with working - class people . All of North Carolina has a problem that only you can solve , and we need your help . If your elected representatives fail to protect us from dangerous legislation , it's your duty and in your power to replace them . We will have your back . Your neighbors at Down Home North Carolina , Dreama Caldwell , co - director Todd Zimmer , co - director Down Home Wilson County Down Home Vance County Down Home Granville County