HIGH POINT – Marcus Brandon has one race to go to win his first general election campaign, but the 35-year-old Democrat realizes he’s already accomplished an amazing political feat. On Tuesday, Brandon defeated four-term Rep. Earl Jones, D-Guilford, in the 60th State House District Democratic primary. He won by a margin of 20 percentage points in the district that covers parts of High Point, Greensboro and southern Guilford County.
Defeating an incumbent in any party primary is one of the rarest victories for a challenger. Brandon, a Guilford County native who moved to High Point a year ago, said he was able to advance to the general election through on-the-ground organizing, door-to-door campaigning and enough fundraising to allow his message of change to reach voters.
“Jobs is the biggest issue right now. People are not working. They are tired of their representatives sitting around a table deciding what’s best for them,” Brandon said during an interview Thursday at his Thissell Street home and campaign office east of downtown High Point.The longtime Democratic Party organizer will face Republican Lonnie Wilson of High Point in the Nov. 2 general election in the Democratic-leaning district. The winner will take the oath of office when the N.C. General Assembly convenes for the 2011 session in late January. Jones will serve until the start of next year’s session.
Brandon launched his campaign in April 2009 and spoke with thousands of voters. He’s enjoyed a core of 25 to 30 campaign volunteers to spread his message.
Brandon campaigned on the need for job opportunities for people in the district and the lack of effective representation by Jones, a former Greensboro councilman.
While respectful of the legacy of the civil rights movement, Brandon said politics can’t remain stagnant.
“We’ve got to move beyond the politics of the sit-in movement. The conversation has changed from who can eat at the restaurant to who can afford to eat at the restaurant,” he said.
Brandon, who got started in politics as a teenager in southern Guilford County, said he’s promoting ideas to create good-paying, sustainable jobs within communities. He also picked up on the energy among young voters generated by the presidential campaign of President Barack Obama, who had field offices two years ago in High Point and Greensboro.
Brandon said he believes his campaign can serve as a message for Democratic candidates, who are worried this year about a dramatic slump in turnout from 2008.
“Democrats need to understand that it is up to you, if you’re an elected official or running for office, to be able to go out and have a message that resonates with those same voters,” he said.
