Republicans up and down the state and federal government have put progressive values squarely in the crosshairs for cuts and condemnation. Initiatives that support diversity, equity and inclusion are being walked back. Federal funding for climate change and public education are being slashed. Judges who stand against illegal immigration and deportation tactics are being targeted and harassed.
In February, five members of the North Carolina House of Representatives—Deb Butler, Maria Cervania, Pricey Harrison, Marcia Morey, and Renée Price—formed a new Progressive House Caucus as a way to build solidarity around common progressive issues. Membership has doubled since then, and touts an all-female lineup. A majority of members have been in office less than two terms. Orange County representative Harrison, who first took office in 2005, is the longest-tenured member.
Democrats are at a major disadvantage in the state House. They haven’t held the chamber majority since 2008, and with gerrymandered districts, that is unlikely to change in the next few election cycles. Still, in this tumultuous political climate, windows of opportunity are cracking open. US House Speaker Mike Johnson advised his colleagues against hosting town halls altogether after angry constituents berated their Republican representatives for their complicity in the decision-making in Washington. Morey, who has represented Durham since 2017, says she and her progressive colleagues are prepared to fill the void, listen to what most concerns North Carolinians, and put those issues front and center.
Ahead of a virtual town hall Tuesday night, we spoke with Morey about the new Progressive House Caucus, the issues galvanizing her constituents, and how to respond to perpetual uncertainty in Washington.
INDY: Why start a progressive caucus now when the movement, and the issues important to progressives, seems to have a real target on its back?
Morey: I think these are extraordinary times nationally and also in the State of North Carolina, and a core group of us feel very strongly that we have committed values that we are all in agreement on. We are going to stand up unified in those values and the bills that we introduce will reflect those values. We’re not trying to be a target for anyone. We’re just simply upholding what I think our constituents want, and they want a stronger message than the House caucus has typically had. We just thought this is the exact time to do this. And I’m very proud to be one of 10 House members, women, who are stepping forward and trying to amplify these issues.
We don’t want to detract from the regular Democratic House caucus, but I think we are in districts where we can take bolder stances on issues, and if the rest of the Democratic House caucus is not comfortable with it, you know, we have our own label here; Progressive House Caucus. To me, progressive does not mean radical or leftist. To me, it means common sense. We’re fighting for workers’ rights, immigration rights, due process with immigration, the right to choose, public schools, gun safety. None of that is radical. It is what we have heard our constituents say “we want stronger voices to be heard.” Far too often, the Democrat House caucus does not vote as a block. They are often split votes. And so I think we’re a group that wants to say, you can be assured that we’re going to be unified and stick together.
It’s an all-women caucus, if I remember correctly.
It is, but we are equal opportunity and we will welcome any enlightened men to come join us.
You rattled off quite a few galvanizing issues. How are you prioritizing those issues in front of you given that there are so many fires to put out on a week to week basis?
We all come from different backgrounds and areas of expertise. Representative Harrison has always been a staunch environmental protectionist and advocate, and she takes the lead on a lot of environmental bills. Representative Cervania is more of a social scientist, and she looks at a lot of bills that are in regard to that. Laura Budd is a lawyer. I’m a former judge, and I want civil rights and criminal justice rights. So we all kind of have our areas, but the philosophy we come together on, regardless of the area, is that this is in the best interest of the people. Voting rights and protecting our democracy is a big one. The first bill out of our caucus was to end gerrymandering and have an independent citizens commission drawing the districts instead of the legislature. We’re all in the same boat, rowing in the same direction.
It does seem like there’s a lot of unity in the collective frustration of folks locally, and so I’m curious what your constituents are sharing with you, but also what you’re hearing from other folks in the state, and what their constituents are saying, and how that’s aligning.
The speaker decides what bills will be heard in committee and what bills will never see the light of day. Unfortunately, most of the bills we’ve put forward, they will never see the light of day, but it won’t stop us from advocating for it, because someday they will. And I found after five terms, you try and try and try again until you’re successful. Not only are we trying to show our values, but we are going to be the staunch opponents of much of the legislation that you see in Washington that trickles down to North Carolina. I mean, there are a lot of Trumpism, MAGA laws that are being proposed by Republicans. The book ban we just had last week was one of them that we were very forceful in our opposition to. We lost the vote. But I think the voice of opposition is just as important as anything else, and we will stand strong on it. The school vouchers taking a half billion dollars out of the budget to allow any income level family to accept student vouchers when we’re not able to fund our public schools is outrageous. I mean, immigration, it’s not as consequential as what is happening with Trump, but it is consequential in our state. We filed bills to protect immigrants in churches and hospitals and on the farm. That bill didn’t get a hearing, but it’s our statement, and it’s also the opposition to what’s happening in this country.
Do you think your message is penetrating even if the bills aren’t being passed?
I hope so. We are a new caucus, but we’re trying to make our presence known. We’re going to do town halls. Individually, we all go back to our communities. Durham did a town hall two weeks ago. I’ve heard from many people, “I wish my representative was in the Progressive Caucus,” so people are beginning to become aware and we listen to people. They’re saying, we want you to take stronger stands. We want to be heard through you. So it’s a two-way street, and I think with time, that this momentum will grow and become more successful, especially as we try to recruit some new candidates next year to run on a similar platform.
It seems like a lot of the decisions being made in Washington are pretty unpopular, and that is starting to trickle down. As those decisions are made–federal cuts, tariffs, you name it– and those impacts are felt here at the state and local level, folks are starting to retaliate. What is the discussion amongst North Carolina Democrats in terms of how to meet those disaffected voters where they are and trying to pick up wins in the next few years?
I don’t think the ramifications have started to hit everyday families and people, but it’s about to. Only time will show the destruction of these policies, the number of federal job losses, the prices, the inflation, the uncertainty with the tariffs and people’s savings, 401Ks, and their student accounts, sinking the supply chain, people aren’t going to be able to get what they need, the basic goods. We’re just on the precipice of how bad things may get. And I think that will open up people’s awareness and attention to what has gone wrong, and what can we do to get out of this. And I hope we can provide some solutions.
If you were speaking to an audience of your constituents, what would you say to inspire them? What would be your directive to try to get folks off the couch and into action if they are feeling disaffected?
More than any time in your life, it’s not the time to bury your head in the sand. You have to stay aware. And it takes all of us together. These 50501 protests are amazing, and they keep spreading. I think the momentum is with us. Unfortunately, we have to stop the bleeding. I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
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