N&O endorsements: Our choices in Wake County’s state House and Senate primaries

Wake County is a Democratic stronghold, but this year Republicans are holding primaries for the right to take on two incumbent Democrats in the state Senate.

Meanwhile, Democrats are flipping that script in House District 37, where three candidates are seeking to challenge a rare Wake County Republican incumbent, Rep. Erin Paré, who represents southern Wake County.

In the lone primary challenge to an incumbent Democrat, a young, progressive candidate is seeking to oust Rep. Abe Jones.

NC State Senate District 17 (Western Wake County) Republican Primary

In this district covering most of western Wake County, two Republicans are seeking to take on Democratic Sen. Sydney Batch, the Senate minority leader.

Sarah Al-Baghdadi, 35, a marketing company owner, substitute teacher and a former Wake County deputy sheriff. She supports more mental health care and rehabilitation services in county jails. She wants to reduce state taxes but also wants to increase pay for public school teachers.

Shirley Johnson, 50, a consultant for a life coaching and professional development company, is a political newcomer in North Carolina, but has experience as a state legislative staffer in Illinois, where she worked for more than a decade in the state Senate. Johnson sees room for more state income tax cuts and wants to find ways to provide property tax relief for older homeowners. She thinks public education and Medicaid need closer scrutiny to look for “fraud, waste and abuse.”

Al-Baghdadi has run a low-key campaign while Johnson has experience with the legislative process and a focused message. We recommend Shirley Johnson.

NC Senate District 18 (Northern Wake and Granville County) Republican Primary

Two Republicans are seeking to run against Democratic incumbent Terence Everitt.

Cheryl Caulfield, 56, a small-business owner and a member of the Wake County Board of Education, wants to take her experience with local schools to the state level. “Being on the school board has given me unique insight into why things aren’t getting accomplished in some school districts, and it’s going to take legislative solutions to make education more classroom focused,” she said in a news release.

Caulfield supports increasing pay for public school teachers and setting higher expectations for academic achievement. “When we raise our standard, our children raise it as well,” she told The News & Observer.

Attorney Chris Stock, 30, is making his first run for elective office. He supports increasing teacher pay and improving funding for special needs students, as well, but he is also an advocate for school choice. He supports state tax cuts as a way to stimulate economic growth.

Stock would be in step with most Republicans in the upper chamber, but Caulfield would bring direct knowledge of local schools’ needs to a Republican-controlled Senate that could use more of that perspective. We recommend Cheryl Caulfield.

NC House District 35 (NE Wake County) Republican primary,

Incumbent Rep. Mike Schietzelt, 39, faces an unusual challenge by a former Democrat who switched her affiliation to enter this Republican primary.

Michele Joyner-Dinwiddie, 54, is a teacher making her first bid for elective office. She’s part of NC Educators on the Ballot, an effort to end the Republicans’ hold on the legislative majority by placing supporters of public schools into GOP primaries.

In this district, the effort may be misplaced. Schietzelt, a moderate Republican, backs public schools and higher teacher pay. We recommend Rep. Mike Schietzelt.

NC House District 37 (Southern Wake County) Democratic primary

This Democratic primary has brought out three first-time candidates seeking to unseat Republican Rep. Erin Paré.

Winn Decker, 33, is a senior manager at Common App, a nonprofit that simplifies the college application process. He thinks the legislature should encourage the creation of jobs that pay a living wage and allow for retirement savings. He supports increasing teacher pay and protecting food assistance and Medicaid programs threatened by federal funding cuts.

Ralph Clements, 59, a health care business consultant, says he is running to counter the Republican-controlled legislature’s neglect of public schools and access to health care. He said people need to believe in government as a source of policies and programs that benefit middle- and lower-income North Carolinians.

Marcus Gadson, 38, a UNC law professor, wants the legislature to do more to support public schools and increase teacher pay. He also backs tax changes that would restore the state earned-income tax credit, lower the tax on clothing and over-the-counter medicines, and allow a deduction for rent payments. “I want to use tax policy as a lever to put more money in the pockets of North Carolinians,” he said.

This is a strong field of candidates. Each would be a capable challenger to Paré. But one candidate stands out. We recommend Marcus Gadson.

NC House District 38 (SE Raleigh) Democratic primary

Collin Fearns, 28, offers a clear, progressive choice for this district, which includes Southeast Raleigh. He wants to stop scheduled tax cuts, increase public school funding, preserve the expansion of Medicaid and create an independent redistricting commission.

But Fearns is challenging an established incumbent who is already supporting that agenda. Rep. Abe Jones, 73, is an attorney and former Superior Court judge and county commissioner. He is seeking his fourth term in the House.

When this seat opens, Fearns would be a fine candidate to fill it. But in this primary, an experienced incumbent is the best choice. We recommend Rep. Abe Jones.

This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 12:09 PM.