Carla Cunningham
American politician from North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carla D. Cunningham (born January 12, 1962) is an American politician. She has served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 106th district since 2012.[1][2] Cunningham is a conservative Democrat.
Carla Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 106th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Martha B. Alexander |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 12, 1962 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | |
Education, career and politics
She was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina, and graduated from Anson High School in 1980.[3] She earned a diploma in nursing from Central Piedmont Community College in 1981, an associate's degree in nursing from Gaston College in 1996, and a bachelor's of science in nursing from Winston-Salem State University in 2009.[3] She practiced nursing for more than 30 years.[3]
In July 2025, Carla Cunningham notably crossed party lines, resulting in a 72-48 vote in the House overriding Democratic Governor Josh Stein veto of a bill that requires North Carolina sheriffs to work closer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to support the mass deportations in the second presidency of Donald Trump. She declared, "All cultures are not equal. Some immigrants come and believe they can function in isolation, I suggest they must assimilate. Adapt to the country they want to live in." Cunningham also drew criticism from her Democratic colleagues for the perceived incendiary floor speech in which she accused immigrants of "destabilizing" communities. She was also a key vote on overriding the veto of two other bills opposed by the Governor, and moderate and liberal Democrats in the legislature. Cunningham is a conservative Democrat.[4][5]
She lost her reelection campaign in March 2026 to primary challenger Rodney Sadler.[6]
Electoral history
2026
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rodney Sadler | 7,716 | 69.96% | |
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 2,401 | 21.77% | |
| Democratic | Vermanno Bowman | 912 | 8.27% | |
| Total votes | 11,029 | 100% | ||
2024
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 6,209 | 84.56% | |
| Democratic | Vermanno Bowman | 1,134 | 15.44% | |
| Total votes | 7,343 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 40,633 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 40,633 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 20,559 | 70.14% | |
| Republican | Karen Henning | 8,751 | 29.86% | |
| Total votes | 29,310 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 34,510 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 34,510 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 4,036 | 88.88% | |
| Democratic | Blanche Penn | 505 | 11.12% | |
| Total votes | 4,541 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 20,261 | 80.55% | |
| Republican | Geovani Opry Sherow | 4,892 | 19.45% | |
| Total votes | 25,153 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 27,247 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 27,247 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham (incumbent) | 12,942 | 86.64% | |
| Republican | Trey Lowe | 1,996 | 13.36% | |
| Total votes | 14,938 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Cunningham | 26,577 | 100% | ||
| Total votes | 26,577 | 100% | |||
| Democratic win (new seat) | |||||
