Six-term Edgecombe County Democrat Shelly Willingham is facing a rare primary opponent after his party defection led to the passage of several harmful Republican- led bills. In 2024, the voters of North Carolina broke the Republican supermajority in the state House, and with that, Republicans would need the vote of at least one Democrat to pass legislation and override the governor’s veto.
They found that in Willingham, who, since being reelected, has voted with Republicans 83% of the time– the second highest rate of all Democrats in the General Assembly. With the help of Willingham, state Republicans were able to pass bills that officials and advocates warned would have detrimental effects to the residents of North Carolina, from higher electric bills to looser gun laws.
“This bill will make our children less safe”
Willingham originally voted against House Bill 193, which made changes to firearm laws. However, after being revised by the NC Senate, Willingham voted in favor of it and was the only House Democrat to do so. The bill allows for volunteers and staff to carry concealed weapons onto school grounds. The bill also allows individuals to carry concealed weapons at places of worship that double as educational institutions.
Stein vetoed the bill, starting his veto message with a simple but strong statement, “This bill will make our children less safe.”
State Republicans overrode the governor’s veto with the help of Willingham: he was the only Democrat to vote to override the veto. Ultimately, this bill would not be law without him.
A bill that would raise Duke customers’ bills, possibly without a payoff
Last year, Republicans introduced Senate Bill 266, a bill that would allow Duke Energy to cut its carbon reduction goals and charge ratepayers for the construction of power plants that may never finish. Duke Energy is Willingham’s second-highest campaign donor, donating over $20,000 to the lawmaker since 2018. Willingham joined Republicans and thirteen other Democrats, some of whom are also recipients of campaign funds from Duke, in passing the bill.
Stein vetoed it and pointed out how the bill would allow Duke to shift the cost of electricity from companies onto the backs of regular people, with it possibly costing ratepayers in the state up to $23 billion by 2050. Regardless, state Republicans overrode the governor’s veto with the help of Willingham, Representative Carla Cunningham, and Representative Nasif Majeed.
A bill that makes it harder for the state to keep its residents healthy
Willingham also used his position to pass a bill that strips power from the Democratic Governor and puts it in the hands of the Republican-led General Assembly. House Bill 402 gives legislators final say on state agency projects expected to cost over a certain amount within a specified time frame, a power formerly held by the Governor and Council of State members. Willingham was joined again by Cunningham and Brockman as the only Democrats to vote for this bill.
Stein vetoed the measure, noting that the bill adds burdensome red tape around the state agencies and county commissions that work to keep us healthy and safe. Willingham and Cunningham were the only Democrats in either chamber to override the veto.
In the 2024 general election, North Carolinians came together in profound numbers to elect Democrat Josh Stein to lead the state as Governor and several Democratic Representatives to serve in the State House to support him. The voters of Edgecombe County sent Willingham to the legislature to be a Democratic voice, but as he votes with Republicans an overwhelming majority of the time, he’s seeming less like a Democratic voice and more like a Republican echo.
He used his power to raise electricity bills, weaken the state’s ability to protect its citizens, and allow guns into more spaces with one of the state’s most vulnerable populations.
In addition to his votes, Willingham also uses his power to help himself, with campaign finance records revealing more than $16,000 spent on flights and hotels and even $3,000 spent on car washes, according to NCSBE campaign finance records.
Willingham now faces minister and small business owner Patricia Smith in the upcoming primary election. Smith states she’s running for the House seat to bring accountability back, and with Willingham’s Republican streak, that might just be what happens at the ballot box.
The 2026 primary elections are just a few weeks away for many counties across our state, giving millions of eligible North Carolina voters the chance to determine who will face off in November’s general election.
As the primary elections come closer, here are some important dates to keep in mind:
- Voter registration deadline is Feb. 6th
- In-person early voting starts Feb. 12th and ends on Feb. 28th.
- The primary election day is March 3rd.
For more information about this year’s primary elections, go to NCSBE.gov
