CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Democrat Thomas Monks won the North Carolina House of Representatives District 73 seat, defeating Republican incumbent Jonathan Almond by nearly 2,500 votes.
The District 73 election reflects a shift in Cabarrus County, a jurisdiction that has historically alternated between Democratic and Republican representation.
The victory coincided with broader wins for local Democrats, who secured majority control of the Cabarrus County Commission for the first time in over three decades and won three seats on the local school board.
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Thomas Monks, a marketing coordinator at the UNC Charlotte School of Professional Studies, ran for public office for the first time in this election cycle. Upon learning of his victory Tuesday night, Monks said his immediate reaction was not something he could express on television.
“What it tells me is the people in this district, Concord, Cabarrus County, really want someone who is going to work for the people,” Monks said.
In the state Legislature, Monks plans to address cost-of-living concerns by focusing on making health care and other necessities more affordable.
He also aims to eliminate gerrymandering in North Carolina through legislative reform. “I would love for us to put an independent commission out there,” Monks said regarding redistricting.
Improving public education and raising teacher pay are also central to his legislative goals.
“We need to make sure we have equitable access to education,” Monks said. “It shouldn’t matter where someone’s zip code is; that’s how good their education is going to be.”
Monks emphasized that elected officials must work across party lines and remain responsive to voters. He stated that he is willing to meet with Republicans and anyone interested in discussing serious solutions to help residents.
The election also brought significant leadership changes to Cabarrus County government.
Ingrid Nurse, Dan Redding, and Phil Henry won three open seats on the five-member Cabarrus County Commission, placing the board under Democratic control for the first time in more than 30 years.
Additionally, three Democratic candidates secured seats on the Cabarrus County Board of Education.