On Tuesday, Democrats avoided a runoff that could have caused divisions in an otherwise united party. State Senator Terry Van Duyn conceded the race for lieutenant governor to state Representative Yvonne Lewis Holley. After the vote on Super Tuesday, Holley led Van Duyn 26% to 20%, below the 30% needed to avoid a runoff. 

In her statement, Van Duyn threw her support behind Holley and pledged to work to elect Democrats “up and down the ticket.” Given the uncertain nature of the race, Van Duyn’s concession was a selfless act that put party first. She’s followed the lead of presidential candidates who dropped out and endorsed Biden instead of staying in the race against the odds on the hopes of a miracle. The message is that winning comes first for Democrats in 2020. This election is more important than any one person’s career.

Holley offers much needed diversity to the upper levels of the Democratic ticket. With white men filling the slots for president, governor and U.S. Senate, the most high profile races do not reflect the diversity of a rapidly emerging majority party. Holley joins Cheri Beasley, the Chief Justice of Supreme Court as the second high profile African American woman on the top end of the ticket. The energy in the Democratic Party right now is with black voters and women. 

The spirit of concession and unity that’s dominating the Democratic Party bodes well for November, but it also bodes well for governing. We’ve suffered through 40 years of Randian individualism that’s left our country divided and polarized. Democrats are putting their community, in this case party, above themselves. Sacrificing for the greater good is the very essence of patriotism. Republicans think it’s kissing a flag. 

Thomas Mills

Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >