Our Digital Messages This Week 👇

12 Years Since Shelby County v. Holder ⚖️

June 25th marks twelve years since the Supreme Court threw a wet blanket on the Voting Rights Act. In Shelby County v. Holder (2013), Chief Justice Roberts and four other conservatives decided that history had ended—and gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Suddenly, states with well-documented records of racist voting laws—like Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and yes, North Carolina—were free to roll out new restrictions without any federal oversight.

Cue North Carolina’s HB 589: purging voter rolls, killing same-day registration, slashing early voting, and enforcing rigid voter ID requirements. If that doesn’t scream voter suppression, what does?

Since Shelby, the floodgates have burst wide open: 29 states have enacted 94 new voter suppression laws, many targeting Black, Latino, Native, and low-income voters. The result? A growing racial turnout gap and a democracy that looks less and less like one. While GOP-controlled legislatures keep cranking out new schemes to silence voters, voting rights advocates are stuck playing whack-a-mole—fighting back law by law, state by state.

Twelve years ago, the Supreme Court opened the door to modern-day Jim Crow. It’s up to us to slam it shut. Here are a few ways you can help:

• 📞 Call your Senators — Demand they stop protecting the filibuster and start protecting democracy. It’s time to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
• 📢 Share this — Help folks connect the dots between Shelby and the next big GOP power grab.
• 📚 Stay informed — No excuses. Voter suppression is happening right now—and it thrives when we’re not paying attention.

Judicial Spotlight: Judge Christine Walczyk 👩‍⚖️

This week, we’re keeping the spotlight on the North Carolina Court of Appeals—and turn to a powerhouse candidate with nearly two decades of courtroom leadership: Judge Christine Walczyk.

Judge Walczyk is Wake County’s longest-serving district court trial judge, with 18 years on the bench. Trusted by both Democratic and Republican court leaders, she’s held key leadership roles—including nine years as Lead Judge in Family Court and her current post as Lead Judge in general civil court. She’s not just experienced—she’s respected, effective, and deeply committed to justice. A magna cum laude graduate of Boston College and a UNC Law alum, Judge Walczyk also chairs the Judicial Division of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, continuing to lead beyond the bench.

In a time when right-wing extremists are trying to stack the courts and tilt the law in their favor, we need experienced, principled judges like Christine Walczyk. Judges who know the law. Judges who apply the law. Judges who fight for justice—not for headlines. Let’s send Judge Walczyk to the Court of Appeals—and keep North Carolina’s courts working for the people.

A Month of Pride 🏳️‍🌈

As June wraps up, we close out Pride Month with love, gratitude, and a reminder: Pride isn’t just a celebration—it’s a call to action. This month, we honored the legacy of those who fought for LGBTQ+ rights and stood with those still fighting—for equality, safety, and the freedom to live and love openly.

Here’s what we can’t forget: Republicans—from Raleigh to the Capitol—are attacking LGBTQ+ communities with anti-trans bills, book bans, and fear-driven politics. They want queer and trans people to be silent, invisible, and afraid.

We’re not having it.

Every North Carolinian deserves to live without fear—that’s why we show up, not just in June, but all year long. The flags may come down, but the movement never stops. Happy Pride Month North Carolina.

HB 506 is Law 🖊️

North Carolina just took a major step to protect the hard-earned pensions of teachers, state employees, and public servants across the state. Governor Josh Stein signed House Bill 506 into law, updating how the state manages its $127 billion pension fund.

As Gov. Stein said, “This bill puts North Carolina in line with the rest of the nation and allows us to make responsible decisions investing our state employees’ hard-earned pensions. I applaud Treasurer Briner for his leadership in modernizing our state’s investment system.”

This law isn’t about politics—it’s about protecting people’s futures. HB 506 modernizes North Carolina’s investment strategy, aligns us with national best practices, and gives the state smarter tools to manage retirement funds in a changing economy.

When it comes to managing billions for the workers who keep our state running, Democrats are leading with responsibility, stability, and a focus on long-term growth.

GOP on Trial 🚨

North Carolina is back in court this week, with a federal trial over the GOP’s rigged maps. You know—the ones that look like they were drawn during a game of drunken Tetris and somehow always give Republicans more power.

These maps don’t just defy common sense—they split up Black communities and dilute their voting power by design. In 2023, Republican lawmakers redrew our congressional and legislative districts to favor themselves. They cracked and packed Black voters, flipped competitive seats into GOP locks, and brushed it all off as “just politics.” Meanwhile, voters—especially Black voters—are paying the price.

Now it’s up to a panel of federal judges to decide if these maps violate the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act, and folks, the answer feels pretty obvious. If the court rules against the GOP, we could see new, fairer maps before 2026. If not, we’re stuck with this shameless power grab until 2030.

Let’s be clear: voters should choose their leaders—not the other way around.

Anniversary of The Civil Rights Act 💙

Sixty-one years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law—a landmark victory born from generations of organizing, protest, and unshakable courage. It outlawed segregation, banned discrimination, and began to reshape a nation. While it didn’t fix everything, it proved that organized people, moral courage, and relentless pressure can bend the arc of history. It was progress—fought for in the streets, demanded at the ballot box, and signed into law because the people wouldn’t back down.

We’ve come a long way—but the work isn’t done.

From the gutting of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby v. Holder to today’s GOP-led attacks on civil rights and public education, the same forces that resisted justice then are still at it now. So today, we honor the movement that brought us this far—and we recommit: to protecting the rights we’ve earned, to defending the freedoms under attack, and to finishing the work that began generations ago.

Y’all—civil rights aren’t just a box we checked in 1964. They’re a promise we keep, together, every single day.

That’s a wrap for this week’s messaging! We encourage you to take the content from this week’s package and share it across your socials. Remember, your digital voice has the power to start a movement!

See y’all on the internet!

—NCDP Digital

Stories To Boost:

Los Angeles Times: Supreme Court says states may bar women on Medicaid from using Planned Parenthood Clinics 

Sample Social Post:

The Supreme Court’s latest attack on reproductive care is a reminder:
In 2026 and beyond, we must elect Democrats to protect the women of this state—
for their health, their rights, and their futures. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-06-26/supreme-court-says-states-may-bar-medicaid-patients-from-using-planned-parenthood-clinics

Upcoming:

July 12: Women of Color Leadership Forum
Hosted by Dr. Kimberly Hardy, this special event celebrates and uplifts women of color leaders in North Carolina. We’ll be joined by special guest speaker April Ryan!

July 26th: Unity Dinner – Join the North Carolina Democrats, Governor Roy Cooper, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker inRaleigh for our annual Unity Dinner! Let’s unite, let’s celebrate, and let’s move forward together. Tickets are going fast, grab yours today!

Rural Tour – The North Carolina Democratic Party is on TOUR! Hosted by NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton, the Rural Tour brings statewide Democratic candidates and elected officials to every stop to allow folks across our state to meet and discuss issues directly with the Party! Don’t miss this opportunity to engage directly with these Democratic leaders and special guests. Click here to find a location near you!