Renée Price is the projected winner in the North Carolina House District 50 race on Tuesday night, setting the county commissioner up for a foray in the state legislature.
Price, who is the Democratic candidate in the race covering Orange and Caswell counties, earned 59.3 percent of the votes with all precincts reporting. Charles Lopez, the Republican candidate, earned 40.6 percent of the vote at that same reporting time.
“Of course I would’ve liked to have gotten more votes in Caswell County, but our Orange County contingent came through,” Price told 97.9 The Hill after her race was called, “so we’re getting ready to go to Raleigh.”
Price has served on the Board of Orange County Commissioners since 2012, elected as one of the two District 2 seats that represent the northern areas of the county. She was re-elected in 2020 after running unopposed and subsequently became the board’s chair. She initially announced plans to run for Senate District 23 before changing to the state House district, ultimately winning 72 percent of the vote during the Democratic primary.
Price will succeed Rep. Graig Meyer, who is leaving the office to run for NC Senate District 23. Unofficial results on Tuesday indicated Meyer will be elected to the seat.
NC House District 50 now covers just Orange and Caswell counties, after previously including Person County.
With the state House remaining firmly in control of Republican representatives, Price said she acknowledges the challenges in front of her and the Democratic party.
“I’m used to being in the minority and continuing to fight for our rights, being an African American and being a woman,” she said. “You have to continue to push forward. Over the years, I’ve learned how to building relationships. Just being able to talk to people about the issues and seek common ground — I’m looking forward to that, and working with other Democrats in the House and any Republicans that are willing to work with us, collaborate, and do what’s best for the state of North Carolina.”
Price also shared what she hopes to bring from the county government perspective to the role in the state legislature.
“In county government, that’s where the rubber meets the road: we know our people, we know our constituency, we know what the issues are first-hand,” said Price. “So often we’ve seen mandates coming from the state level that are given without really understanding what we’re dealing with on the ground. I think that’s very important: knowing that relationship between state and county, and understanding the importance of county government — allowing them at the [local] level to develop policies and programs for their constituencies.”
Price will serve out her term on the Orange County Commissioners through the end of the year, but since her county term is set to last through 2024, a replacement commissioner will likely be appointed or specially elected to her seat.
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Everyone should remember Renee Price as the Board of County Commissioners leader who locked down hundreds of businesses and thousands of school children in Orange County for two years. She destroyed dozens of businesses in Orange County, forever, and she oversaw the dramatic mental and emotional decimation of thousands of children in Orange County.
No amnesty and no forgiveness.
She also oversaw the attempt by the Board to drastically restrict our Freedom of Speech rights via a mean-spirited “picketing” ordinance. Thankfully, citizens came together to shut down that unconstitutional nonsense.
The one bright spot in her election to the NC House is that she’ll be ineffective at doing the same kind of nonsense to us again.