The political landscape in North Carolina is seeing an intriguing development as a new candidate emerges in the race for the N.C. House of Representatives. Mike Schietzelt, who is campaigning for a second term, finds himself up against a unique opponent: a math teacher from Wake County who recently changed her political affiliation to run in the Republican primary.
Michele Joyner-Dinwiddie, previously a Democrat, is part of a broader trend where individuals have switched their party registration to participate in Republican primaries. She is one of the candidates endorsed by the N.C. Educators on the Ballot initiative, which encourages educators to engage in political races. More about this initiative can be found here.
“There were a lot of decisions being made in the field of education by people who were not a part of the field of education. And so I want to make sure that I at least represent my fellow teachers, my fellow educators and have a seat at that table,” Joyner-Dinwiddie stated, emphasizing her motivation to run.
Joyner-Dinwiddie has expressed her intention to focus on key educational issues such as increasing funding for school maintenance and reinstating salary incentives for teachers holding Master’s degrees.
Schietzelt’s Stance
Education has been a central theme for Schietzelt during his tenure. He has advocated for significant increases in teacher pay, proposing a bill to raise starting salaries to $50,000, along with a 22% overall salary increase. This proposal, incorporated into the House budget, would make North Carolina’s teacher salaries the highest in the Southeast if passed.
Additionally, Schietzelt has been active in rebuilding trust in public education. As a member of the House Oversight Committee, he has scrutinized the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ compliance with the Parents Bill of Rights. For further details, visit the committee’s report here.
“We can’t turn a blind eye to the institution, but we’ve got to work to rebuild trust with it while at the same time living up to our obligations as a state,” Schietzelt remarked.
Party Realignment
Joyner-Dinwiddie’s party switch was catalyzed by personal and strategic considerations. Her son’s enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps prompted her to reassess her political alignment. She acknowledged, “It seems like the Republicans are the majority to where they’re making a lot of these decisions and getting things passed in the field of education. So I felt like that was the table I needed to be seated at.”
According to state law, candidates must be registered with their chosen party at least 90 days before an election to qualify. Schietzelt, while recognizing the legality of these switches, expressed skepticism about the newcomers’ ability to resonate with Republican primary voters.
“Anybody that thinks they’re going to be able to pull one over on our primary voters is definitely not seeing clearly the primary electorate. Our primary voters are a lot smarter than people give them credit for,” he said.
Additional Concerns
Beyond education, Schietzelt is also opposing the use of tolls for the proposed $1 billion expansion of Capital Boulevard. He has advocated for a budget provision to prevent tolls on this vital route.
“You’ve got people who rely on that road, who depend on that road every day. They’ve built homes, they’ve built businesses, and then adding a tax to their commute would be a cost-of-living issue,” Schietzelt explained.
Joyner-Dinwiddie, on the other hand, prioritizes environmental issues, expressing a desire for North Carolina to become a leader in green initiatives.
The primary election is set for March 3, and the victor will challenge Democrat Evonne Hopkins in the general election in November.
