‘Moral Monday’ protestor chosen to fill Sen. Martin Nesbitt’s remaining term

A "Moral Monday" protestor arrested in Raleigh last year won a special election to fill Sen. Martin Nesbitt's remaining term.

Terry Van Duyn, a political fundraiser and activist, won in the third round of voting out of a field of six candidates, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times.

"I have the strength, conviction and the passion to work for change, and I am in it for the long haul," she said in her speech to the party, the newspaper reported.

From the report: "Her victory is also a victory for the progressive end of the party, though she does have support among mainline Democrats.

"Sheriff Van Duncan was one of two Democrats who endorsed her before the voting started."

Nesbitt, the Senate Democratic leader, died in March at age 67 after a brief battle with stomach cancer.

Van Duyn will fill Nesbitt's seat for the remainder of the year, including the short legislative session, and will represent the Democratic Party on the November ballot.

She was among the crowd arrested at a June protest against the Republican legislative agenda, a movement led by the N.C. NAACP dubbed "Moral Mondays."

This story was originally published April 4, 2014 at 10:07 AM with the headline "‘Moral Monday’ protestor chosen to fill Sen. Martin Nesbitt’s remaining term."