I have spent the past thirty years of my life fighting for progressive causes and organizing on behalf of Democrats. I've done endless behind the scenes work to help Democratic candidates win elections only to be attacked and backstabbed by politicians who are more focused on consolidating power than on public service.
I have been the target of a smear campaign intended to politically handicap me. Despite my clear and strong devotion to the Democratic party, lies and manipulated half-truths have sought to paint me as some kind of Republican operative.
I believe that this shady political tactic is being deployed by supporters of my potential 2022 US Senate primary challengers. To them I say, I will not be silenced. I will not be intimidated and bullied out of this election or any election. I have fought too hard - for too long and too much is at stake for North Carolina and for this country.
These attacks have succeeded in making some voters and activists suspicious of me, even angry. There are some incredible folks who've dedicated their time and money to lifting up Democrats here in North Carolina and at a time in which the stakes are so high, they've viewed my alleged actions as a betrayal. That could not be further from the truth.
I want all of those people to know that I am your ally, I have always been your ally and I always will be your ally.
There are four situations that are being manipulated and lied about. I will address them one by one. It’s time to set the record straight.
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The Faith & Power PAC (McConnell backed group’s Dirty Tricks)
A PAC with close ties to Mitch McConnell aired ads “promoting” me during the 2020 Senate primary.
I have absolutely no connection to this PAC. I denounced this PAC immediately, publicly, aggressively, and repeatedly. I asked countless other candidates and party officials to do the same. There was nothing I could do to stop this group. If I could’ve stopped them, I would have.
I did not take a dime of corporate PAC money in the US Senate race. I honored the “no corporate and dark money” pledge in full! I never asked for any and I did not receive any. My campaign, unlike my top competitors, was a people powered campaign that relied on grassroots donations.
The McConnell associated PAC invested in ads intended to benefit my campaign, not because they supported me, but because they knew it would likely make one of two things happen. Either, because it had become clear that Cal was the DSCC and Leader Schumer’s preferred choice, by spending a little money on me, they would bait the DSCC into investing even more money propping up their preferred candidate. Or, it would help me win the primary, which Republican operatives believed would give them a better chance in the general. They succeeded in baiting the DSCC into allocating significant resources to our primary race. This dark money PAC interference in our 2020 primary is not surprising given that these PAC’s have spent the past decade shifting power away from the people and towards the corporate establishment.
I’ll condemn their interference here and now just as I did when it first happened.
This nefarious tactic, of the opposing party interfering in primaries, is blatantly undemocratic, regardless of which party’s doing it. Healthy democracies don’t rely on the tactic of confusing voters.
2. NC Senate District 37 (There was NO endorsement)
Sonja Nichols was Jeff Jackson’s opponent in the NC Senate District 37 race. I did NOT endorse Sonja Nichols. It was erroneously stated on her website that I had - an error that was rectified within a few days. I also released a statement mere hours after the “endorsement” went up on her website in which I clarified that I had not and was not endorsing her. Sonja removed my photo from her website.
Despite my having not endorsed her, Sonja’s a personal associate. We’re both women of faith who are deeply committed to HBCUs and North Carolina’s black entrepreneurs and community. It is also incredibly challenging to run for public office as a black woman, a reality I know all too well. I strongly believe that we need more black women in politics, regardless of party, and I’m committed to not being a part of the problem. Tearing down a black woman just because of policy disagreements, especially a friend, is not who I am. I made all of these things, including my respect for Sonja, clear in my statement. This was not my attempt at a backhanded endorsement. I clarified explicitly and repeatedly that I was not endorsing her. There is, however, a difference between not endorsing someone and tearing someone down. I was not going to endorse Sonja, but I also wasn’t going to tear her down. Time after time again, white male Democrats are praised for their personal relationships with Republicans. It's seen as proof that they can reach across the aisle and get things done. But when I, as a black woman do it, it's considered disqualifying. It's double standards like this that have contributed to a problematic political climate, the result of which is there not being a single Black woman in the US Senate.
I understand that in the midst of a heated election, a few hours of confusion and a statement consisting of praise of a Republican could create the perception that I was somehow undercutting our attempt to flip the Senate. That perception is not the reality.
I apologize for any confusion that may have been caused. I cannot apologize for an endorsement that I did not make and I will not apologize for refusing to be bated into attacking a friend and a woman of color. I am a proud Democrat that has tremendous respect for people who are Republican, Democrat, Unaffiliated, and all shades between.
3. NC Senate District 4 & Senator Toby Fitch (Standing Up to Abuse)
I have been sexually and verbally harassed by Toby Fitch. He has a pattern of this kind of behavior and not just towards me. Toby Fitch has no place in the Democratic Party or in the NCGA. I was also physically and verbally assaulted by Senator Paul Lowe several times prior to and over the course of the year leading up to the March 3rd Democratic Primary.
There is a Raleigh Capitol police report that concludes that I was physically assaulted by Senator Paul Lowe on September 11, 2019. There is a Legislative Services Workplace Harassment complaint with victim statements (plural) against both senate colleagues, predating my USSenate run. Reports were made by multiple women victims to in-house counsel, NCGA Ethics Committee Joint Co-Chairs and NC Senate Majority and Minority Leadership. I have been attacked more for an endorsement I didn’t make (Sonja Nichols) than I have been supported in lieu of the very real harassment and abuse I suffered.
Our beliefs as Democrats compel us to have certain standards for morals and decency. We cannot have lower standards for our representatives than we have for our colleagues, our friends and our neighbors. Power should not make you exempt from the law. Sexual and verbal harassment and assault are wrong regardless of the party affiliation or status of whoever’s doing it.
Did I support Senator Fitch’s opponent Atty. Sammy Webb, a former Democrat and a never Trump Republican over him? Yes.
I will not back down or apologize for standing up to abusers. For standing up for what is right, regardless of the political convenience. This is not an indictment on my character, it is proof of it!
People have tried to use these instances to portray me as someone who is not representative of Democratic values. From rejecting corporate PAC money, to aspiring to a better kind of politics, to fighting back against abusers, these instances reveal my commitment to Democratic values.
I am a critical and independent thinker! I am a competent, committed, qualified and successful coalition and community builder. I am a proud Democrat. I have organized, I have donated, I have knocked on doors, I have tweeted, I have made calls, I have campaigned and hosted fundraisers, I have served in party local, district and state leadership. I have dedicated my life to electing Democrats and supporting the Democratic Party.
I haven’t done any of this for personal fame, gain, power, or fortune. I’ve done it because I believe in expanding opportunities for every North Carolinian and American, in bringing the American dream closer within reach. I will not allow deceitful attacks, to derail me from my life’s goal of doing everything I can to help bend the moral arc of our universe towards justice.
Let’s get back to all the REAL and important work that needs to be done.