Three Democrats vie for NC House District 106 in Mecklenburg County

Three Democrats face off in the race for NC House District 106, which covers northeast Mecklenburg County. 

Whoever is elected in the primary will likely go on to run unopposed in the general election since the Republican primary for this race was canceled. 

On Tuesday, voters will choose either to re-elect Carla Cunningham or vote in a new representative, either Vermanno Brown or Rodney Sadler. 

RELATED: 2026 North Carolina primary election | How to watch live coverage on WCNC+

Cunningham is running on a platform of comprehensive health care solutions, prioritizing mental health and substance use services and enhancing support for vulnerable populations. 

Cunningham touts her seven terms in office and achievements in legislation that invested $835 million in behavioral health, retiring school lunch debt and directing millions in resources to Mecklenburg County nonprofits. 

Cunningham has been a controversial figure in the past year, from voting with Republicans to spars with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff McFadden. 

In a pair of bills, Cunningham was one of the only Democrats to vote with Republicans to override Stein’s veto of House Bill 318 and Senate Bill 266. 

HB318 strengthened immigration enforcement by requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE and SB366 weakened climate protections by eliminating Duke Energy’s requirement to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030. 

“All cultures are not equal,” Cunningham said on HB318. “Some immigrants come and believe they can function in isolation, refusing to adapt.” 

Cunningham has also been in legal and political battles with McFadden. 

While HB318 was moving through the General Assembly, Cunningham says the sheriff threatened her and attempted to extort and bribe her for a vote. At the time, McFadden voiced strong opposition to the bill. 

Following the vote, Cunningham, along with former sheriff’s office employees, filed a petition to remove McFadden from office due to alleged corruption, retaliation and mismanagement of the county jail. The petition was ultimately dismissed but just a month after, Cunningham was a part of the NC House Oversight Committee that questioned Charlotte officials on public safety following the death of Iryna Zarutska and other violent crimes on transit, including McFadden. 

The North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Cunningham. 

Brown, born and raised in Orangeburg, South Carolina, is running on a platform of Medicare for all, investing in public education and affordable housing, to name a few issues. 

On education, Brown supports implementing the Leandro plan to fund public schools across the state and opposes the expansion of private school vouchers. 

“Every child deserves a fully funded school modern classrooms and teachers who are respected and paid what they are worth no matter their ZIP code,” Brown’s campaign website said. 

Brown says growing up in a working class family taught him the importance of education. 

On affordable housing, Brown aims to modernize zoning laws to build denser housing in areas it’s currently illegal, ban predatory leasing, hidden fees and junk charges, place limits of extreme rent hikes and put a cap on the amount of housing that property corporations can buy. 

Brown also lists climate, raising the state minimum wage, ending homelessness, criminal justice reform, instating term limits in the General Assembly and improving infrastructure as important issues. 

Sadler has been endorsed Gov. Josh Stein and several organizations, including the Black Political Caucus. 

Sadler has an extensive resume as a reverend, professor of Bible at Union Presbyterian Seminary and director of the Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation, however, he has never held office. 

A community advocate, Sadler says he was arrested for peacefully protesting “against the immoral leadership of the Republican-controlled legislature” at the North Carolina General Assembly in 2013. 

“We should never have a government that lifts up the wealthy on the backs of the poorest among us,” Sadler said 

Sadler is running on a platform of funding public schools, reducing housing costs and utility bills, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, public safety, affordable health care and protecting voter rights. 

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.