Wake County Democrat Terence Everitt Resigns from North Carolina Senate
State Sen. Terence Everitt steps down to focus on voter protection work, becoming the second Senate Democrat to resign in two months.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — State Senator Terence Everitt announced his resignation from the North Carolina Senate on Tuesday, citing his commitment to defending democracy through his work with a voter protection organization.
Everitt, a Democrat representing Wake County’s District 18, made the announcement on Facebook, stating he wanted to focus his attention on leading the North Carolina Voter Protection Alliance, an organization he has headed since January.
“Since returning to the legislative session, it has become clear that defending democracy requires my focus and dedication,” Everitt wrote in his Facebook post.
Impact on Upcoming Election
The resignation affects both Everitt’s current Senate seat and his candidacy for reelection. Everitt was seeking a second Senate term in the competitive district that includes northern Wake and Granville County.
He announced he will withdraw from the November race. Democratic leaders in Wake and Granville counties must now nominate someone to fill Everitt’s vacant Senate seat and find a replacement candidate for the ballot.
Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch of Wake County praised Everitt in a statement, calling him “a fierce voice for the people of District 18 and for North Carolina.”
Political Background and Controversies
Everitt’s political career included three terms in the state House before winning his Senate seat in a narrow victory by just 128 votes. His tenure was marked by notable conflicts with Republican leadership.
In 2023, while serving in the House, Everitt petitioned the Wake District Attorney to investigate then-Speaker Tim Moore regarding Moore’s relationship with a state employee. The investigation request was unsuccessful.
Following that petition, Moore banished Everitt to a basement office that had previously been used as a supply closet, a move that drew significant attention to the political tensions within the General Assembly.
Second Democratic Resignation
Everitt’s departure marks the second resignation by a Senate Democrat in recent months. Senator Graig Meyer, who represented Orange, Person, and Caswell counties, resigned in March to become executive director of the NC Justice Center.
The resignations leave Democratic leadership working to fill multiple vacant seats while preparing for the November elections. The competitive nature of Everitt’s district makes finding a suitable replacement particularly important for maintaining Democratic representation in the closely divided legislature.
Everitt’s decision to prioritize his work with the North Carolina Voter Protection Alliance reflects ongoing concerns about election integrity and voting rights that have become central issues in state politics.
