Incumbents Are Out and a New Democrat Is In
DURHAM, N.C.—Voters in two of North Carolina’s biggest counties turned out elected sheriffs and chose reform-minded district attorneys in Tuesday’s Democratic primaries. Those candidates inaugurate new experiments in liberal criminal-justice reform on a local level, as Democrats remain shut out of power in Washington.
In Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, incumbent Sheriff Irwin Carmichael was trounced, trailing two challengers, including winner Garry McFadden. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, who was running for the first time after being appointed last year, triumphed. In Durham County, Sheriff Mike Andrews lost by a lopsided margin to challenger Clarence Birkhead, while Satana Deberry defeated incumbent Roger Echols.
Each of these races had its own peculiar dynamics, but overall they show voters opting
