See NC Rep. Carla Cunningham’s full statement announcing party affiliation switch
Charlotte state Rep. Carla Cunningham announced Friday she’s changed her party affiliation as her time in the North Carolina General Assembly comes to an end.
Cunningham, who lost a three-person Democratic primary in March after bucking her party on a veto override vote, is now registered as an unaffiliated voter.
Read her full statement, issued by spokeswoman Claudia Charles, below:
Full Carla Cunningham party switch statement
Representative Carla D. Cunningham of North Carolina House District 106 today announced her decision to change her party affiliation from Democrat to Unaffiliated. After four years of growing misalignment with party leadership and following her historic vote for the state budget that triggered Medicaid Expansion into law; Representative Cunningham has chosen to place the people above the party.
“I have been a Democrat all my life, but I came to realize that I want to serve the people; not a party. Being an independent thinker does not align with party politics, and I will never compromise the needs of my constituents to satisfy a political agenda,” said Representative Cunningham.
In recent months, Representative Cunningham has faced a troubling wave of hostility from individuals outside of District 106, fueled by the actions of the NC Governor and the North Carolina Democratic Party. She has responded with resolve: “It is clear that my values as a Black woman no longer align with their agenda. I have my family’s full support, and I move forward with absolute conviction.”
Representative Cunningham is equally steadfast in her belief that parents hold the sacred right to guide their children through life; shaping their values, protecting their well-being, and navigating their futures without government overreach. She is equally committed to ensuring that the urgent needs of hardworking, struggling Americans are elevated above all else.
“There are families in this district who are fighting every single day just to survive. We have a moral obligation to place the needs of struggling Americans above all competing agendas; including policies that would extend the resources and protections of this government to those who have entered this country unlawfully, at the expense of citizens who have long been underserved,” she stated.
As an Unaffiliated representative, Cunningham’s message to all elected officials is clear: “We were elected to serve the people, not the party. It is vital that we work together for the betterment of every North Carolinian; and I will always stand on the side of the people.”
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 7:36 PM with the headline "See NC Rep. Carla Cunningham’s full statement announcing party affiliation switch."
