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Renée Price wins Democratic nomination for N.C. House of Representatives District 50

Price.jpeg
Renee Price of the Orange County Board of Commissioners introduces guest speaker Sheriff Charles Blackwood at the Orange County Veterans Day Program on Nov 11.

Renée Price won the Democratic nomination for North Carolina House of Representatives District 50, according to unofficial results. 

Price defeated opponent Matt Hughes with 72 percent of the votes in the district, which is composed of Orange and Caswell counties. Hughes received 28 percent.

Hughes announced his decision to concede the race to Price in a tweet on Tuesday evening

Price will run against uncontested Republican nominee Charles Lopez in the general election this fall. 

“I am very excited and very happy,” Price said. “This is a very momentous moment for me — a momentous time for me.”

Price has a multitude of endorsements, including Equality North Carolina and the North Carolina State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

She currently serves as the chair for the Orange County Board of County Commissioners and has served on the board since 2012. Price has also worked with several other national and local organizations. 

Her platform focuses on better education, criminal justice reform, climate action, environmental justice, voting rights, infrastructure and healthcare for all.

She said that ensuring every child receives a sound, basic education and the right to representation were priorities for her on the campaign trail.

“There are constantly measures being taken to try to disenfranchise people, especially people of color, and I want to make sure that our right to vote is intact,” Price said.

She also said she is very hopeful about winning the general election in November.

“I am looking forward to working on some of the same issues, but in a different capacity and from a different perspective,” Price said. 

Hillsborough resident Tom Mullaney said he voted for Price and encouraged others to do the same.

“She has the solidarity and seriousness we need in the legislature,” he said in a tweet.

Price said that, through the election, she’s learned there is a lot of spirit in North Carolina. She said there are many different divides, cultures and perspectives within the state, but, at the end of the day, everyone has the same basic needs. 

“If you’re open and kind of push aside whether you’re a Democrat or Republican or unaffiliated or Libertarian or whatever, and just talk about basic needs – we’re all human,” Price said.

She added that she has had the opportunity to visit a lot of different towns and communities because of the election. Price said she is looking forward to learning more about places like the towns of Yanceyville and Milton in Caswell County.

“Discovering Milton, and even in our own area, you go down a different road and you're in a different community and in history,” she said.

Price said that with the coming election in November, she will need continued voter support. She added that she is thankful for her team.

She also noted that her victory in the primary election is dedicated to her late parents. 

“This would have been their 70th wedding anniversary,” she said. “I wish I could say happy anniversary to them in person, but this victory is also for them.”

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Lopez, the Republican nominee Price will face in November, said on his website that he will work to bring investment and job opportunities to the community and celebrate different cultures if elected in the fall. 

He also seeks to improve education through promoting parent-choice initiatives, defending homeschool compliance practices and supporting charter schools. 

Despite his loss in the primary, Hughes supports Price as the Democratic nominee.

“Tonight’s not the night for us, but we must unite to keep this seat in the Democratic column in November,” Hughes said in his tweet on Tuesday. “I stand ready to assist our nominee in November! Onward!”

@sam_long16 @sarahchxi

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