RALEIGH, N.C. — Dan Blue has been a major figure in North Carolina politics for more than 40 years. After more than a decade, he will step down as leader of the state Senate Democrats and be replaced by another member from the Raleigh area.
The Senate Democratic Caucus met secretly on Monday and chose Sen. Sydney Batch to be the minority leader for the next two years. The caucus said in a news release that Batch had been elected.
Batch, a family law lawyer who joined the General Assembly in 2019, takes over from Blue, who “announced his desire to decline another term” as leader before the election, according to a caucus statement.
Blue, who is 75 years old, first joined the government as a House member in 1981. Ten years later, he became North Carolina’s first and only Black House speaker. He was in charge for four years, until the Republicans took over the house.
During his failed run for the U.S. Senate in 2002, he quit the House. He went back to the House in 2006 and then to the Senate in 2009, both times to fill open seats. It wasn’t until early 2014 that Blue was made party leader after Sen. Martin Nesbitt quit because he was sick. After a few days, Nesbitt died.
As minority leader, Blue has had to figure out how to successfully fight back against Republicans, who have been in charge of the Senate since 2011 and have never lost. I’ve been in this job for a few years now, and during that time, the GOP has held veto-proof margins in every Single House of the General Assembly.
Batch praised Blue on Monday for “bringing forth his many years of experience gained through a historic tenure in both chambers of the General Assembly to deliver results for the people of North Carolina.” He did this while talking about a “new chapter” in caucus leadership.
Blue, who was re-elected to the Senate from Wake County last month, didn’t answer a text message right away asking for comment.
At least 30 of the 50 Senate seats will stay held by Republicans during the next two-year session that starts in January. But unless something changes in a district race that hasn’t been decided yet, Republicans in the House will not have enough votes to override the veto. This will give Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein and his legislative friends more power.
Batch first ran for the House in 2018 and lost, but he tried again two years later and won. She was first chosen to the Senate in early 2021 and then again in 2022 and again last month. Batch beat breast cancer and has spoken out about health care problems and her support for abortion rights.
Batch said, “The Democratic caucus is still committed to making North Carolina a place where everyone can build the life they want for themselves and their families, and we are ready to work to get North Carolina back on track.”
On Monday, the Senate Democratic Caucus also chose Sen. Jay Chaudhuri of Wake County to keep his job as minority whip.
On a separate note, the House Democratic Caucus chose Rep. Robert Reives of Chatham County to be the floor leader for another two years on Monday. Reives became a member of the House in early 2014. After the 2020 elections, he was chosen to replace Rep. Darren Jackson as the party’s head.
Blue told the press, “I am excited to pass the torch to the capable hands of Senator Batch.” There was no information given about the vote.
