Great importance is typically only bestowed upon county political party chair elections by the most dedicated party activists; it’s rare for them to make headlines. However, once in a while, you stumble upon a story like that of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Chairperson. This individual wasn’t just any ordinary chairperson; Kromer was given a rare spotlight with feature profiles in influential publications like Politico and The New York Times, a reflection of his standing in the party at the mere age of 26. Still, despite the widespread interest, his path had not been without obstacles.
Emerging from relative obscurity, Kromer gained notoriety in November 2023 when all the party-supported candidates – contesting the mayoral and town commissioner elections in Huntersville (a Charlotte suburb situated in the county’s northern region) – achieved victory. The victories fuelled optimism among Democrats in Mecklenburg, a county which had been grappling with a low-voter turnout problem for years, despite being home to the largest Democratic population in the state.
The tidal wave created by the local Democrats under Kromer’s leadership appeared to be a hopeful beacon for Kamala Harris, whose chances of securing the state essentially hinged on a dramatic escalation in Mecklenburg turnout rates. Kromer was seen as a beacon of positive change, heartily proclaiming the creation of a ‘juggernaut’ within Mecklenburg politics during the run-up to the 2024 elections.
Then the reality of election results arrived as a sobering blow. Turnout trailed behind the state average and Kamala Harris fell short within the county, winning fewer votes than Biden had managed four years earlier. Quest for more time for Kromer hinged on convincing the Democratic party members to grant him an extended term as chair at the forthcoming party convention; however, he was faced with significant opposition.
Standing against Kromer was Wesley Harris, the previous year’s Democratic contender for the state’s treasury secretary role. The strain of the situation heightened the day after the general election when the executive director of the county party, Monifa Drayton, resigned in scandalous fashion. She penned a damning letter to Kromer, accusing the party of discriminatory practices that harkened back to the era of Jim Crow.
Drayton remarked in her letter that she had been forewarned of purported racism, discrimination, incompetence, and manipulation within the organization before assuming her role. Kromer chose not to comment on personnel issues but expressed his regret over the unfortunate end to Drayton’s tenure.
Soon after Drayton’s departure, the county party navigated another crisis, as their African American Caucus joined the outcry, demanding Kromer’s resignation. Not only had the party failed to engage with various ethnic minority communities, according to the caucus, but there was also clear neglect towards the caucus itself.
Adding fuel to the fire, three precinct chairs who were also members of the African American Caucus raised their voices. They told The Charlotte Observer that in Kromer’s reign, the party consistently overlooked the majority-Black regions—triggering deep frustration and distrust within these communities.
Concerns mounted when S.Y. Mason-Watson, a precinct chair, called out extravagant spending by the county party; he specifically pointed to a whopping $100,000 splashed out for an election night party. There was also an overriding frustration following the party’s endorsement of Nicole Sidman – a white candidate – for the state Rep. contest against former Democrat, now-Republican, Tricia Cotham.
Their consternation stemmed from the fact that they had a preferred Democrat contender, Yolonda Holmes— a Black candidate who had previously run against Cotham in the primary. Holmes had won their hearts and support, only to be superseded by Sidman, a decision that was seen as yet another slight against the African American Caucus. Despite the party’s efforts, Cotham narrowly secured her position.
The imminent weekend election isn’t just about filling the county leadership role. Critics of Kromer’s administration aren’t satisfied with merely exchanging one leader for another. What they desire is a complete renovation of the party’s operational strategies—both regarding campaign narratives and community outreach.
They staunchly believe the only method to truly energize Mecklenburg’s dormant voters is to enact far-reaching reforms within the party. Critics strongly advocate for establishing and nurturing relationships with existing minority organizations, specifically those in Black neighborhoods.
An emphasis has been placed on fostering a sense of community camaraderie and cooperation for the sake of improving voter turnout rates. Skeptics argue that the party’s one-sided representation and its memo to ridicule rather than address issues has been its downfall, contributing negatively to candidates like Kamala Harris and Joe Biden who then struggle to gain support.
Biden and Harris, who painted optimistic visions for the future, found themselves battling waves of hard-hitting home truths. The clear neglect towards minority communities and the failure to engage with them in a meaningful way are seen as significant missteps in their campaigns, further impacted by the echo-chamber-like tactics of their county party.
This whole situation somewhat highlights the deeply ingrained discord within the party, casting doubts on the future of Democratic leadership in Mecklenburg County. It’s clear that more than just a leadership change is required; a complete overhaul in strategy, representation, and community engagement seems necessary for the party to rise from the ashes of its own creation.