CHARLOTTE – With incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest terming out after eight years in that role, and expected to run for governor in 2020, the open seat in 2020 is attracting a lot of interest from Democrats looking for a statewide platform.
Just recently a third Democrat, Malcolm Graham, has indicated he intends to run for lieutenant governor next cycle.
Here we go #ncga #cltnews pic.twitter.com/6uLsoJBrc0
— Malcolm Graham (@SenatorMGraham) January 3, 2019
Graham was formerly a State Senator and a Charlotte City Council member. He also ran for Congress in 2016 in North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District, but lost the Democratic primary contest to incumbent Rep. Alma Adams. Notably, Graham’s sister was one of those murdered at a Charleston church in 2015 by Dylan Roof.
Politically, Graham seems to subscribe to the expected Democratic positions, focusing on education and healthcare for all during his congressional campaign run. His professional experience is in finance.
Graham joins Democrats Cal Cunningham and State Senator Terry Van Duyn in vying for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 2020. So far, no Republicans have publicly announced intentions to run for the open seat, but we’re hearing of a few with such intentions, including a state lawmaker and political insider.
It may only be January of 2019, but the 2020 election cycle is already getting up to speed. We’ll bring you more as individuals file to run for statewide and congressional offices in the coming presidential cycle.
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