Democrats dominated Wake County’s local races despite the nonpartisan election
Democrats won big in nonpartisan, local races across Wake County on Tuesday, mirroring national trends.
Most cities and towns in North Carolina and all in Wake County have nonpartisan elections, with municipal leaders more likely to be divided on issues like growth, public safety and transit than on party lines.
But for years, both major local political parties have endorsed municipal candidates and worked with them during their campaigns.
And while Republicans have made some headway in southwestern Wake County, all but two of Wake County Democrat-endorsed candidates won their elections Tuesday night, in several cases unseating incumbent mayors.
Nearly half, a little over 45%, of Wake County’s registered 833,547 voters are unaffiliated. About 33% are registered Democrats and 21% registered Republicans.
Longtime Republican leader loses in Cary
Democrats swept all three open seats on the Cary Town Council, with two new members joining the board.
Cary Town Council member Jennifer Robinson lost her bid for another term to political newcomer Brittany Richards after serving 26 years on the board.
“This local, nonpartisan election was heavily influenced by anger about our national government and its politics,” Robinson wrote on social media Wednesday morning. “I had many people telling me that they had supported me in the past but would not vote for me this year for one reason: I am a registered Republican.”
This, she said, will cost Cary residents an “experienced, knowledgeable and collaborative Council member who could have helped it through the challenging budget times we are facing.”
Unaffliated Wake Forest mayor loses
In Wake Forest, Mayor Vivian Jones, who is unaffiliated, lamented local parties getting involved in municipal elections. Jones was not endorsed by either of Wake County’s major political parties, and lost her seat to Wake Forest Commissioner Ben Clapsaddle.
“I think the parties had a big thing to do with the results this time,” she said. “Which is unfortunate, because I think that’s not the way local government should be run. It doesn’t matter what party you’re in. I’ve always tried to be here for everybody.”
Jones was lauded and condemned for her decision to no longer proclaim October LGBTQ History Month, saying at the time there were “strong feelings on both sides of this issue.”
‘A crisis for our democracy’
Wake County Democratic Party Chair Wesley Knott didn’t respond to a request for an interview Wednesday, but addressed the “partisan takeover of local elections” in a video shared during early voting.
“Voters have to wonder when it’s going to be our neighborhood that Donald Trump sends ICE to terrorize or when it’s going to be our streets that he puts troops on,” he said. “You better believe we understand that it matters who our local leaders are in those moments.”
Local political parties have endorsed in elections before and if local candidates didn’t want to be affiliated with Republicans they could have changed their party affiliations or rejected the GOP’s endorsement, he said.
“This is a crisis for our democracy and for our way of life, and what we’re not going to do in 2025 is demonize voters who respond to what’s happening by saying that we need leaders at every level of government we can trust to represent us and to push back.” he said. “Our next opportunity to do that is in these local races this year.”
In a statement, Wake GOP Chair Sandy Joiner put blame on “Schumer Shutdown” for causing a “national misplaced blame on President Trump.” Get out the vote efforts were stronger than in 2023 when local Republicans gained some seats in southern Wake County, she said, adding other sister counties “experienced the exact same tsunami.”
“Elections are cyclical and next time it will be our turn to reclaim those seats, as we fight for the Judeo-Christian values this country was founded on,” she said. “Congratulations to Republican George Roa for winning his Zebulon Commissioner seat. Now our eyes are set on 2026.”
This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 5:28 PM.
