Democrat Faces Backlash After Backing GOP Immigration Law

Clear Facts

• State Rep. Carla Cunningham, a moderate Democrat, supported a Republican-led immigration bill in North Carolina, overriding her party’s governor’s veto.
• Cunningham is now facing a tough primary challenge and accusations from within her own party.
• Governor Josh Stein publicly endorsed Cunningham’s opponent after her pivotal vote for closer cooperation with ICE.

Carla Cunningham was the sole Democrat who voted in favor of overriding Democratic Governor Josh Stein’s veto of House Bill 318, which mandates local sheriffs to hold criminal illegal migrants until ICE assumes custody.

She describes facing false claims and an unusual primary challenge as a result.

“I don’t think that people should be getting involved in a primary race,” Cunningham said, criticizing Stein’s support for a Democrat challenger.

“I’m in my district, [my constituents] come first for me because they elect me, so they’re my priority when I’m making decisions on legislation.”

She noted her long history in the Democratic Party and criticized the governor’s move.

North Carolina Republicans introduced HB 318 in 2025 to reinforce anti-sanctuary laws already in place.

The bill requires sheriffs to detain illegal migrants for at least 48 additional hours, and passed easily in the Republican-controlled legislature.

Governor Stein vetoed the bill, but Republicans had enough votes in the Senate and needed only one in the House to override, which came from Cunningham.

She recounted feeling concern after a tense call with Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, who opposed the bill and allegedly made a veiled threat.

“As the conversation went on, he said he didn’t want to see me get hurt and I said, ‘Well, you know, I’m already under security,’ which I thought that he would have known because [the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department] knew, because the General Assembly police work with the local,” Cunningham said.

“Then he said, ‘but you’re in my county.’”

McFadden faces multiple misconduct allegations unrelated to this conversation.

Despite tensions, Cunningham voted with the GOP to override the veto, making the bill law.

The opposition within her party escalated; in January, Governor Stein officially backed Rodney Sadler, a reverend challenging Cunningham in the primary.

Governor Stein targeted Cunningham’s remarks on cultural assimilation during the override vote.

“All cultures are not equal,” Cunningham said before the override vote.

“Some immigrants come and believe they can function in isolation, refusing to adapt. I suggest they must assimilate. Adapt to the culture they wish to live in.”

Stein claimed Cunningham implied “some people are better than other people,” which she disputes, calling his accusation “misinforming” the media.

“Misinformation is miseducation, and that’s what it is,” Cunningham said.

“And see, I’m educating my constituency.”

Cunningham stressed that her constituents appreciate her voting record and emphasized safety through law enforcement cooperation.

“If we didn’t have laws, it’d be the Wild Wild West, which it looks like sometimes right now, but some structure in place and following the law is part of that,” Cunningham said.

“You know, we must follow the law.”

“I don’t even look at it from a party perspective,” she continued.

“You must follow the law.”

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