Source: Editorial Board
Democrats in the North Carolina House and Senate have legislators to lead the party in each chamber for the next two-year session.
The Senate has elected Sen. Sydney Batch, who represents North Carolina’s 17th Senate district in Wake County. She will replace veteran legislator Sen. Dan Blue, another Wake representative, serving Senate District 14.
Blue has been the Senate minority leader for a decade and is a veteran politician with over 40 years of service to the state, including time in the state House and serving two terms as the House’s first – and only – Black speaker. With his years of political work in the state House and Senate, he’s known as a groundbreaking figure in North Carolina politics, and his departure from the role of the Senate Democratic caucus has brought commentary from Democrats across the state, including state Party Chair Anderson Clayton. In a statement, Clayton thanked Blue “for his years of service and leadership for our party.”
Batch, who is set to replace Blue in January, also spoke positively of Blue when it was announced she would be his successor. She thanked him for “bringing forth his many years of experience gained through a historic tenure in both chambers of the General Assembly to deliver results for the people of North Carolina.” Blue said he was “happy to pass the torch to the capable hands of Senator Batch.”
Batch, previously an attorney and social worker, has served in the North Carolina legislature for five years and, like Blue, served in both the House and the Senate. Elected to the State House in 2018, Batch served two years until losing reelection in 2020. After the loss, she was appointed to the state Senate in 2021, was elected in 2022, and won her reelection this November.
Starting in January of next year, Batch will lead the Democrats in the Senate where they hold 20 of the 50 seats. As far as her focus in her new role, Batch said the caucus “remains focused on creating a North Carolina where every resident can build the life they want for their families and themselves, and we are ready to work to get North Carolina back on the right track.”
On the same day that Senate Democrats voted for Batch to lead them in the next two-year term, House Democrats voted to reelect Rep. Robert Reives of North Carolina’s 54th House District to lead in their chamber. Reives has led the House Democrats since 2021 and has been a part of the House since 2014.
