Charlotte Observer endorsements: Our choices for U.S. House primaries

Charlotte Observer: 

Editorial Board

May 3, 2022

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 14 

The brand-new 14th Congressional District contains the rest of Mecklenburg County and a large portion of Gaston County. It’s a new district and does not have an incumbent.

In the Democratic primary, state Sen. Jeff Jackson faces Ram Mammadov, an Azerbaijani immigrant who’s the underdog in this race. Jackson, who has become one of his party’s more popular personalities, has been an active and attentive leader for Mecklenburg County. He’s been a consistently strong voice throughout his time in the N.C. Senate, especially on gerrymandering and criminal justice reform. He has a sophisticated grasp of the issues that matter to his constituents as well as the willingness to tackle them. And as a former Gaston County prosecutor, he’d be a good fit for this district. Mammadov is a sharp and progressive candidate who believes in clean energy and Medicare for All, but Jackson’s experience in office makes him better equipped to serve this district in the U.S. House. We recommend Jackson.