A newly filed Republican candidacy in North Carolina’s upcoming state senate race has triggered widespread discussion online, particularly among conservative voters, after records revealed the candidate’s long history of Democratic participation.
Lakeshia M. Alston has officially entered the 2026 race for North Carolina State Senate District 22 as a Republican. At present, she is the only GOP candidate listed for the seat.
Social Media Reaction and Viral Filing Images
The filing drew national attention after conservative commentator Eric Daugherty shared screenshots of Alston’s candidacy documents on X. The post included a photo submitted to election officials showing Alston standing between the American and North Carolina flags while wearing a black niqab that conceals her face except for her eyes.
Images obtained from filings with the Durham County Board of Elections quickly went viral, collecting thousands of reactions as users questioned the legitimacy and motivations behind the campaign.
Voter Records Show Long Democratic History
Public election data paints a clear picture of Alston’s past political activity. Records from the North Carolina State Board of Elections indicate that she has participated in Democratic primaries and general elections dating back to at least 2008.
Her voting history includes multiple Democratic primary cycles, spanning from 2008 through 2020. Third-party voter databases, including VoterRecords.com, list her as a registered Democrat at a Durham address for many years prior to her recent filing.
Party Switch Timing Raises Questions
Alston filed her notice of candidacy on December 17, according to county election officials. Under North Carolina law, candidates must be registered with their chosen political party for a minimum of 90 days before filing for a party primary.
Based on that timeline, Alston would have needed to switch her party affiliation by mid-September. Available records suggest she continued voting as a Democrat during the 2024 election cycle, indicating a relatively recent party change.
State law also prohibits unaffiliated voters from running in party primaries, meaning a formal switch to the Republican Party would have been required.
No Campaign Platform or Public Messaging
Despite the attention surrounding her filing, Alston has yet to publicly explain her decision to run as a Republican. There is no official campaign website, no published policy positions, and no visible outreach to voters.
Her X account, listed as @LakeshiaAlston1, appears inactive, showing minimal engagement and a profile photo dating back more than a decade.
District 22 Political Landscape
State Senate District 22, which includes parts of Durham County, is widely regarded as a Democratic stronghold. On the Democratic side, the primary field already includes incumbent Senator Sophia Chitlik and challenger DeDreana Freeman.
While North Carolina uses a semi-open primary system, party strategists note that low-turnout primaries can be vulnerable when only one candidate files. If Alston remains unopposed in the GOP primary, she could secure the Republican nomination automatically.
GOP Faces Strategic Dilemma
With no other Republicans currently in the race, the party could be forced into a difficult position—either backing a nominee with a Democratic voting record or leaving the seat uncontested in the general election.
The North Carolina Republican Party has not yet issued a public response. However, calls are growing among party activists for leadership to review the situation and encourage a candidate with established conservative credentials to enter the race before the filing deadline closes.
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