After city council loss, former Durham councilwoman aims for state Senate seat

Just weeks after losing her bid for a third term on the Durham City Council, DeDreana Freeman is eyeing a new role in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Freeman, who represented Ward 1 for eight years, officially filed on Wednesday to run for N.C. Senate District 22. Her entry into the race sets up a Democratic primary challenge against freshman incumbent Sen. Sophia Chitlik in March.

The move marks a quick political pivot for Freeman, who narrowly lost her council seat to newcomer Matt Kopac in the November general election.

“It has been an incredible honor to serve Durham, and I am ready to bring that same passion for justice to the state level,” Freeman said in a statement.

The road to March

During her tenure on the council, Freeman established herself as a staunch advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice. She frequently served as a voice for Durham’s marginalized communities, notably opposing large-scale developments that residents feared would displace historically Black neighborhoods.

She was a vocal critic of the Heritage Square rezoning in the Hayti neighborhood, for instance, and a consistent supporter of initiatives for youth, seniors, and the unhoused. Most recently, she helped lead a joint city-county effort to combat rising gun violence.

However, Freeman’s eight years were also marked by public tension. She was often at the center of internal council riffs, including highly publicized disagreements with colleagues like former Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton and Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam.

In a press release, Freeman said she is running for the senate seat to focus on “advancing policies that honor our collective humanity” and to support economic justice, health and safety and creating policies that improve housing, transportation and the environment.

“We must build a state where justice is not a privilege, but a right and where every individual, regardless of race, background, or income, can live a life free from discrimination, fear, or inequity,” she said.

Freeman faces a formidable opponent in Chitlik, who claimed the District 22 seat in 2024 after unseating longtime Democratic Sen. Mike Woodard in a significant primary upset.

Chitlik, a former field organizer for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, has branded herself as a “progressive fighter” in a Republican-controlled legislature. Since taking office, she has focused on maternal health, sponsoring bills for paid family leave and universal basic income for postpartum parents, and advocating for child care amendments and stricter accountability for low-performing charter schools.

In a video posted to Facebook, Chitlik describes herself as a “progressive state Senator” who is fighting back against a Republican controlled General Assembly.

“This year, I succeeded in getting an amendment on child care passed, bringing hope to our caucus and planting seeds for the future,” she said. “I write legislation that shows how the government could work, and, frankly, should work, like paid leave, universal basic income postpartum, or eliminating our lowest performing charter schools. I hold Republicans accountable.”

District 22 remains a deep-blue stronghold covering the heart of Durham and Durham County. As of Thursday, Freeman and Chitlik are the only Democrats who have filed for the seat. There is a Republican challenger, Lakeisha Alston, who has also filed.

With the filing deadline set for Friday, Dec. 19, the race is now positioned as a test of whether Durham’s Democrat voters prefer Chitlik’s legislative approach or Freeman’s history of localized, grassroots advocacy.

This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM.

Kristen Johnson

The News & Observer

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Kristen Johnson is a local government reporter covering Durham for The News & Observer. She previously covered Cary and western Wake County. Prior to coming home to the Triangle, she reported for The Fayetteville Observer and spent time covering politics and culture in Washington, D.C. She is an alumna of UNC at Charlotte and American University.