Sam Post – “It is important to acknowledge that despite the challenges we face, Rowan County is home to many resilient Democratic warriors who have fought bravely and never given up in the face of adversity. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our community and their dedication to progressive values should serve as inspiration for us all. However, in order to succeed and build a future, it is crucial that we also bring in new, younger candidates, activists, and voters.”
As webmaster of the Rowan County Democratic Party website, I have seen firsthand the challenges that Democrats here face in terms of organization and motivation. We have a large population, but we struggle to get young people involved in the party and to win elections, particularly at the local level. The state is completely gerrymandered, and people in Rowan County like to live in the country. There used to be more Democrats outside of city limits, but rural areas, all over the country, have become very, very red.
I assert that many of us local Democrats experience ideological intimidation and a feeling that Democrats don’t matter here in Rowan County. We are outnumbered two-to-one by Republicans in an era of urban/rural divide, and it can be hard to get motivated to campaign and organize in the face of this. However, the margins in places like Rowan County can determine who wins statewide elections.
It is important to acknowledge that despite the challenges we face, Rowan County is home to many resilient Democratic warriors who have fought bravely and never given up in the face of adversity. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our community and their dedication to progressive values should serve as inspiration for us all. However, in order to succeed and build a future, it is crucial that we also bring in new, younger candidates, activists, and voters.
As we look towards the 2024 election, there is a lot at stake. If we don’t get our act together and plan accordingly, we risk ending up with a Republican governor or a General Assembly that can override a veto. This could result in some pretty awful laws, such as a ban on abortion, and more corporate hostility against our planet. It is also possible that schools funding will be starved even further, with teachers treated even worse, and with more and more books getting banned. With Republicans now in control of the NC Supreme Court, one-party rule in North Carolina could be complete. We know
something about one-party rule here in Rowan County.
There’s also the specter of more voter suppression. In North Carolina, we had our share before most other states, but if Republicans gain total control in North Carolina, they may think of new ways to make it harder for certain groups of people to vote. We’re dealing with the survival of democracy – or fascism, American style.
In the 2024 election, we have an opportunity to advance the values and priorities that are important to Democrats in North Carolina, such as restoring funding to our public schools, expanding Medicaid, protecting the environment, and putting democracy back into our institutions.
One of the ways we can do that is by getting more Democrats to run for office, even in local elections. Even though it may seem pointless, it’s not. When Republicans have contested primaries, they get all the attention. And when they run unopposed in the general election, they get all the attention again. It’s no wonder they are better at turning out their vote. We need a Democratic candidate in every race, even if it’s just a token campaign. And we need to have primary contests, in order to get our message heard and build a bench for the future.
A lot hinges on the 2024 election. Will we end up like Florida, losing rights? Or Michigan, gaining rights?
For more information about getting involved, visit
By the way, I’m not running for office; I’m hosting a podcast — NCblue2024. We addressed most of these ideas in our first episode with Tangela Morgan and Tarik Woods. I invite you to give it a listen and consider being a guest, where we can explore possibilities for building a better future for our state.
The real question I have is, how do we inspire younger generations to join our cause? Senior citizens, like myself, have been plugging away for decades, but we know that our time is limited. Gen X and Gen Z are the future, and they have a lot at stake. They are often too progressive for traditional political parties, but their passion and energy is exactly what we need to create a brighter future for North Carolina. How do make the
Democratic Party relevant to them?
Sam Post