2025 Municipal Election Winners:
Mayor: Leonardo Williams
City Council Ward 1: Matt Kopac
City Council Ward 2: Shanetta Burris
City Council Ward 3: Chelsea Cook
PA PAC congratulates all of our endorsed candidates on their victories in the Primary Election! Vote the PA PAC slate in the General Election:
Leonardo (Leo) Williams for Mayor
Matt Kopac for City Council Ward 1
Shanetta Burris for City Council Ward 2
Chelsea Cook for City Council Ward 3
Early voting beings on Thursday, October 16, and goes until Saturday, November 1. You can register and vote at any early voting site. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, and you must be registered to vote and vote at your home precinct to best ensure that your vote counts. Remember that ID is required to vote.
PA PAC Press Release - Endorsements for October Primary and November General Municipal Elections 2025
PA PAC Endorsement Meeting Held Virtually - Over 230 members meet to decide - Leonardo Williams endorsed for mayor; Matt Kopac endorsed for City Council Ward 1, Shanetta Burris for City Council Ward 2, and Chelsea Cook for City Council Ward 3.
(Durham, N.C.) On Tuesday evening, August 12, members of the People’s Alliance PAC in Durham met virtually to debate and decide which candidates running for municipal office in 2025 would get the group’s endorsement. Over 230 people attended the virtual meeting.
PA PAC Press Release - Endorsements for October Primary and November General Municipal Elections 2025
PA PAC Endorsement Meeting Held Virtually - Over 230 members meet to decide - Leonardo Williams endorsed for mayor; Matt Kopac, Shanetta Burris, and Chelsea Cook endorsed for city council.
(Durham, N.C.) On Tuesday evening, August 12, members of the People’s Alliance PAC in Durham met virtually to debate and decide which candidates running for municipal office in 2025 would get the group’s endorsement. Over 230 people attended the virtual meeting.
PA PAC is a political action committee that shares a common vision and membership with the progressive People’s Alliance in Durham. In recent years membership in the People’s Alliance has swelled and the PAC’s influence in elections has grown. In advance of this year’s endorsement meeting, the PAC solicited responses to questionnaires from candidates running for mayor and city council. PAC volunteers also interviewed the vast majority of the candidates and then shared their recommendations at the endorsement meeting.
Endorsement decisions are made by the PAC membership at a meeting in advance of elections every year. At the meeting, PAC committees who have studied the candidates make recommendations, but ultimately the endorsement is decided by a vote of the members after rigorous debate. During Sunday’s meeting, many members rose virtually to speak during the debate over these endorsements. The meeting ran late into the evening, with many members staying until the very last endorsement decision was made. Candidates value the PA PAC endorsement and work hard within transparent PAC rules to make sure their supporters in the organization get to the meeting. PAC members attend to persuade and be persuaded.
The People’s Alliance endorsements are as follows:
Mayor Leonardo Williams received the endorsement for Mayor of Durham. The membership believes he has made good use of his time on City Council, learning how to effectively enact change that benefits the Durham community while working towards consensus and coalition building with people he does not always agree with on difficult policy decisions. As Mayor, this skill will be necessary to recenter and focus our next council on the work needed to ensure Durham remains home for all of our residents.
Leo continues to demonstrate a willingness to forge consensus and is best positioned to bring our governing board to the articulation of a shared vision for governance that meets the moment Durham is facing, including legislative attacks, lack of affordable housing, and the need for a regional multi-modal transit plan. Leo continues to build relationships, adjust his strategy and tactics and influence the culture that enables our city to move forward.
Matt Kopac received one of three endorsements for Durham City Council. PA members spoke to his strengths as an active listener and cited his experience in environmental advocacy and local governance. Specifically, Matt has spearheaded efforts towards climate neutrality and pro-social programming for Durham’s youth. Matt will be a valuable and invigorating voice on council and the People’s Alliance PAC membership believes that he will champion progressive change in our city.
Shanetta Burris received one of three endorsements for Durham City Council. It is exceptional to see a candidate that has such a strong track record in grassroots advocacy and racial justice work. Members who live in Ward 2 expressed hope and excitement that Shanetta will be able to represent their interests and concerns and the interests and values of all Durhamites while on council. The membership felt strongly that Shanetta’s consistent and bold approach to advocacy and efforts to amplify the experiences of the most marginalized in our community aligns with the values of People’s Alliance PAC.
Councilmember Chelsea Cook received one of three endorsements for Durham City Council. Chelsea has dedicated years of service to the wellbeing of Durhamites through her work on affordable housing and evictions with Legal Aid. Members highlighted Chelsea’s demonstrated commitment to fighting Durham’s housing crisis in their work on council as well as their ability to work together and reach consensus with other council members and community stakeholders. This spirit of inclusivity and connection is representative of the goals of the PA PAC.
These progressive candidates are the most qualified and best prepared to serve the people of Durham. PA PAC is dedicated to helping them win.
The PAC’s support of its slate of candidates only begins with the endorsement. PA PAC campaigns for its candidates with organizing, events, mailings, social media, canvassing and poll work. This work is managed by a committee of volunteer PAC coordinators elected by the membership. Members donate money to support the PAC campaign and volunteer for poll work and the many other tasks that are necessary to win elections.
PA PAC will prepare and distribute more information about the candidates as the elections draw nearer. Watch www.peoplesalliancepac.org for more information.
For more information about People’s Alliance and its vision, visit www.durhampa.org.
Contact: Nana Asante-Smith, PA PAC Coordinator (608) 512-9758.
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Remember to register
Get ready for our fall endorsement meeting to be held on Tuesday, August 12
Make sure that you're ready for our endorsement meeting! Register for the fall 2025 endorsement meeting to be held on Zoom.
The People's Alliance PAC will host this virtual endorsement meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, beginning at 7 p.m.
We will consider primary election endorsements for Durham Mayor, as well as for City Council Members from Wards 1, 2, and 3.
To vote at the endorsement meeting, you must have become a member of the People's Alliance at least 60 days prior to the meeting. Friday, June 13, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. was the deadline for a new member to join People's Alliance and be eligible to vote at this meeting. Members who join the People's Alliance for the first time after that date may speak at the meeting but may not vote. To be guaranteed the link to the endorsement meeting, you must be a member of the People's Alliance and have registered for the meeting no later than Friday, August 8, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Need to pay your 2025 dues? Join or renew here.
We look forward to your participation at the endorsement meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Before the meeting, read the candidates' responses to the PA PAC's questionnaire here.
PA PAC reached out to all candidates for offices for which we created questionnaires or requested statements, and offered them the opportunity to participate in the endorsement process. Those candidates with links next to their names chose to participate. Candidates for each office are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Durham Mayor
Anjanee Bell | Questionnaire
Pablo Friedmann | Questionnaire
Leo Williams | Questionnaire | Resume
Durham City Council
Ward 1
Andrea Cazales | Questionnaire
Dedreana Freeman | Questionnaire | Resume
Elijah King | Questionnaire | Resume
Matt Kopac | Questionnaire | Resume | Bio
Samaria McKenzie | Questionnaire
Ward 2
Shanetta Burris | Questionnaire | Bio
Mark Anthony Middleton | Questionnaire
Ward 3
Chelsea Cook | Questionnaire | Resume
Durant Long | Questionnaire | Bio
Terry McCann | Questionnaire | Resume
Diana Medoff | Questionnaire | Bio
Join People’s Alliance PAC for our Fall 2025 candidate mixer!
The mixer will take place on Tuesday, August 5 from 6-8 p.m. at Motorco Music Hall, 723 Rigsbee Ave., Durham, NC 27701.
Meet the candidates running for Mayor and City Council Ward seats in the Fall Municipal Election.
The candidate mixer is free and open to the public. You do not need to be a member of People's Alliance to attend this event.
Candidate filing began Monday, July 7 and will end Friday, July 18. Following the deadline, we will send out a list of candidates for each of the four seats. We will invite all of them to the mixer, at which each will have an opportunity to speak to you from the stage to present their case for election.
Light fare will be provided, and there will be a cash bar.
Agenda:
6:00 pm – Doors open for meeting, eating, & mingling
6:45 pm – Welcome & recognition of elected officials
7:00 pm – Candidate speeches
7:45 pm – Closing remarks
Sincerely,
People's Alliance PAC
PS. You must be a 2025 member to attend the PA PAC endorsement meeting on Tuesday, August 12 (dues are $50 for an individual, $95 for a household, or $10 sliding scale). You can also volunteer in lieu of annual dues.
You can renew your membership here!