Your Participation is Mandatory: The INDY’s 2016 Primary Endorsements

As we write this, we don't know the results ofSuper Tuesday's primaries. But we do know that, regardless of what's happening at the top of the ticket, the March 15 elections are vital for North Carolina's future: they'll help determine not only who claims the governor's office and the Council of State, but also whether the Democrats will chip away at the Republican supermajority in the state House. There are also local elections, including for the county commissions in Wake, Durham, Chatham, and Orange. And there's a major bond referendum.

Your participation is imperative.

A few things to note before we begin: we are not yet endorsing in the races for U.S. Congress, which have been postponed until June. Additionally, we did not dive into judicial races. And we are not endorsing in the Democratic primary for labor commissioner; one of the candidates, former Raleigh mayor Charles Meeker, is the brother of INDY co-owner Richard Meeker. You can, however, find both candidates' responses to our questionnaire on our website—and the same goes for many of the candidates discussed below.

You'll likely disagree with some—or most, or all—of our choices, and that's fine. That's democracy. Our goal is to help you make your own informed decisions. Remember, democracy only works if you vote.