Get to know the Endorced

U.S. Senate and Congress

Justin Dues – U.S. Senate

• Background: Dues is a Marine Corps veteran and father of four who positions himself as an anti-establishment reformer.

• Why He Was Chosen: He is a staunch anti-war advocate who refuses all PAC, corporate, and foreign lobbying donations, specifically stating he will never take money from AIPAC. Locally, he proposes "killing haters with kindness" by hosting community events to demystify Islam and combat Islamophobia directly. As a Senator, he would have the power to influence national defense spending and foreign policy toward "human flourishing" rather than conflict.

Colby Watson – U.S. House of Representatives

• Background: A local business owner born and raised in the district, Watson refuses corporate PAC money to remain an independent voice.

• Why He Was Chosen: Watson has taken significant steps to educate himself on the Muslim faith, including reading the Quran and visiting mosques to build genuine friendships. Crucially for global concerns, he explicitly supports withdrawing U.S. military aid to Israel due to human rights violations and what he describes as genocide in Gaza, advocating instead for humanitarian aid to help Palestinians rebuild.

LaKesha Womack – U.S. House of Representatives (District 14)

• Background: A business strategist and faith leader with over 20 years of experience in community advocacy.

• Why She Was Chosen: Womack’s platform centers on moral clarity and justice for marginalized and surveilled communities. She refuses foreign lobbying support (AIPAC) and vows to use her seat to dismantle the surveillance systems that often target Muslims. She views healthcare as a right and intends to prioritize federal oversight to root out institutional bias.

Kate Barr – U.S. House of Representatives

• Background: A small business owner running a strategic campaign to challenge "rigged" uncompetitive districts.

• Why She Was Chosen: She explicitly links the "genocide in Gaza" to a need for America to re-examine its democratic values. She pledges to hold monthly town halls at religious and community centers, specifically mentioning Charlotte’s Muslim community, to ensure underrepresented voices have direct access to their representative.

Judiciary and NC General Assembly

George Guise – Superior Court Judge

• Background: Currently serves as Counsel to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).

• Why He Was Chosen: Guise has a proven record of protecting religious rights in the criminal justice system. He notably handled a lawsuit where a Muslim woman was forced to remove her hijab for a booking photo; Guise not only settled the suit but rewrote MCSO policies to ensure hijabs, burkas, and turbans are protected while in custody.... As a judge, his philosophy centers on "Due Process and Equal Protection for ALL PERSONS," including undocumented immigrants.

Rodney Sadler – NC House (District 106)

• Background: A faith leader deeply involved in the "Moral Mondays" movement and interfaith work through MeckMin.

• Why He Was Chosen: Sadler has shown long-term solidarity with Muslims, including solidarity delegations to Palestine and lifting up voices against the genocide in Gaza. He is a fierce opponent of Islamophobic surveillance and repression apparatuses. In the NC House, he aims to focus on "Home Rule" for Mecklenburg to ensure local funding reaches those who need it most.

Nasif Majeed – NC House

• Background: An experienced legislator who has served as the first Muslim to run for elected office in North Carolina, he currently serves on the Agriculture Committee in the NC House and has been for eight years.

• Why He Was Chosen: Majeed is the primary champion of the Hate Crimes Bill, which he has filed every session to increase protections for targeted communities. His experience allows him to navigate a divided legislature to secure hundreds of millions of dollars for local transportation and judiciary needs.

Kelly Van Horn – NC House (District 105)

• Background: An educator and Republican candidate who emphasizes unity and dignity.

• Why She Was Chosen: Despite being in a party where some might oppose the endorsement, she explicitly stated that terrorism is not representative of the Muslim faith and wants to partner with the Muslim Caucus to educate the broader district.

Mecklenburg County Commission

Mo Drayton – County Commission (District 2)

• Background: A trained public administrator (MPA) with 20 years of healthcare leadership experience.

• Why She Was Chosen: She focuses on environmental racism and health equity in District 23738. She advocates for law enforcement accountability through mental health response teams rather than over-policing39. Her background in managing large budgets ensures she can direct resources to underserved immigrant and refugee families.

Philip Carey – County Commission (District 3)

• Background: Currently serves on the Board of Equalization and Review.

• Why He Was Chosen: Carey emphasizes extreme transparency in how the county’s $2.5 billion budget is spent. He is committed to "law enforcement working WITH the citizens" and ensuring that capital expenditures are distributed fairly across diverse districts.

Jessica Finkle – County Commission (District 1)

• Background: A member of Jewish Voice for Peace with a history of interfaith organizing with local mosques.

• Why She Was Chosen: She supports equity-based budgeting that prioritizes communities of color and religious minorities. Finkle advocates for using county-owned land to build affordable housing specifically for extremely low-income residents and protecting residents from being targeted or surveilled based on their religion.

SHERIFF

Sheriff Garry McFadden

Endorsed because he refuses to work "hand in hand" with federal agencies like ICE and CBP, maintaining a clear legal boundary that protects neighbors from what the CMC describes as "hateful terror campaigns" and an "attempted authoritarian takeover". After a lawsuit by which his administration infringed on the rights of a muslim woman there was a correction made to acknowledged historical systemic bias and subsequently rewrote policies to ensure that all religious head coverings, including hijabs, burkas, and turbans, are protected for every individual in custody. While he faces internal staff complaints and public scrutiny, the proven commitment to civil liberties and fundamental fairness over candidates who might more readily collaborate with federal surveillance and repression apparatuses give make him the best choice.