We’re excited to share important updates on the incredible progress our team and supporters have made across the state. From community engagement to ballot-access work to growing our statewide network, we’re building real momentum heading into a strong Q4 finish and laying the groundwork for even bigger strides in 2026.
Across North Carolina, thousands of people are coming together around a simple idea: our state deserves a healthier, more representative political system. Your support helps turn that belief into action every single day.
Over 5,000 subscribers
We’re excited to share that the North Carolina Forward Party has officially surpassed 5,000 subscribers—a major milestone that reflects the momentum building across our state. In just a short time, thousands of North Carolinians have raised their hands to say they’re ready for something better: a political movement focused on problem-solving, fairness, and genuine representation. This growth demonstrates that Forward’s message is resonating far beyond traditional partisan lines, especially among the state’s rapidly expanding community of unaffiliated voters.
Every new subscriber strengthens our ability to organize locally, advocate statewide, and show decision-makers that North Carolinians want more competitive elections and more responsive leadership. With 5,000 and counting, we’re proving that a healthier, more collaborative political future isn’t just possible, it’s already taking shape.
Signature Gathering Success
We continue to make strong progress toward ballot access, thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and partners across the state. In Q3 alone, our volunteers collected 726 signatures, contributing to the total 2,776 signatures gathered, with the remaining 2,000 provided by our vendor.
Our grassroots momentum was on full display this fall. At Riverfest in Wilmington, Nathan and Clay led the effort to collect 210 signatures, engaging festivalgoers and building visibility for our movement. A huge thank you to Nathan, Clay, Chris, Cliff, Sandy, and Bob for their incredible teamwork and dedication to making our Riverfest signature-gathering effort a success.
At the NC State Fair, Gray Tompson, Chair of the Wake County Forward Party, spearheaded a collaboration with the Wake County Libertarians, resulting in 244 signatures gathered in Raleigh. We extend a special thanks to Brad Hessel, Chair of the Wake County Libertarian Party, for inviting us to stand together and show North Carolinians that more political choices are possible. Even Attorney General Jeff Jackson stopped by to offer encouraging words about the importance of greater voice and choice in our elections. A huge shout out to April, Erica, Joe, Kevin, and Josh for their dedication and for representing Forward at the State Fair.
Our volunteers kept that momentum going through the fall. In October alone, volunteers gathered 487 signatures, and our vendor is on track to collect 600+ signatures in November.
If you’d like to support our continued ballot access work, please consider contributing to our Ballot Access Fund. Every donation strengthens our ability to ensure North Carolinians have more choices at the ballot box.
New Volunteer Onboarding Process
Since August, our team has been hard at work enhancing the volunteer onboarding process and ensuring that volunteer statuses are correctly tagged in our system. We’re proud to share that this project is now complete, and the improved onboarding process is officially live. These upgrades were designed to create a smoother, more efficient experience for new volunteers—helping them get set up quickly so they can be more effective with task assignments, while improving both engagement and overall volunteer success. Key updates include:
- Automating communications
- Updating the volunteer packet
- Cleaning up the tagging system in our CRM
- Migrating to a dedicated volunteer Discord server
- Establishing a recurring bi-weekly onboarding call for new volunteers
Special thanks to Evan, Travis, Chris, and Josh for leading this important initiative.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please complete the volunteer signup form.
NC Forward Party at Data Science Day 2025
In September, our State Secretary and data scientist, Josh Peters, attended the third annual Data Science Day at UNC–Chapel Hill, where I-Sah Hsieh, the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Deputy Secretary for Artificial Intelligence and Policy, delivered the keynote address. Josh had the opportunity to connect with I-Sah and other leaders in the field to discuss the importance of strong AI governance frameworks that keep ethics and security at the forefront. The North Carolina Forward Party remains committed to actively engaging in conversations around responsible, transparent, and future-focused AI development across our state.
We’re excited to continue maintaining a watchful eye on the rapid evolution of AI—both its opportunities and its risks. With in-house expertise like Josh on our team, we’re well-positioned to help our members and communities navigate this important topic with clarity and confidence. For those looking to understand the basics of generative AI, be sure to check out Josh’s blog post from February.
NC Forward Party in the Media
Our Chair, Patrick Newton, recently appeared on PBS NC’s State Lines to discuss North Carolina’s new congressional maps and their impact on voters. He noted that with the governor unable to veto redistricting, court challenges are likely. Patrick highlighted that unaffiliated voters now outnumber Democrats and Republicans, respectively, yet remain largely unrepresented under the current system.
“I hear a lot of voters say, ‘I feel like my vote doesn’t matter.’ And with the way our elections are structured, they can make a strong argument that that’s accurate.” — Patrick Newton
Patrick stressed that the real issue is the lack of competitive races, which leaves many North Carolinians feeling disenfranchised regardless of their political affiliation. Gerrymandering doesn’t just silence Democrats—it also traps Republican voters in districts where their voices can’t meaningfully influence outcomes. Patrick underscored that this is a systemic problem affecting the entire state, and that Forward’s mission is to give all voters, especially the growing unaffiliated majority, a meaningful seat at the table.
NCFP Leadership Published in the Carolina Journal
NC Forward Party Vice Chair Lennie Friedman recently published an article in the Carolina Journal arguing that Louisiana v. Callais highlights a broader issue: the need to end all forms of gerrymandering. He explains that racial and partisan gerrymandering share the same root problem—politicians drawing maps to protect their own power. Instead of race-based fixes or partisan line-drawing, Lennie calls for neutral, mathematical standards that produce compact, contiguous, population-balanced districts grounded in real geography.
“The right answer is not to weaken the Voting Rights Act; it is to abolish gerrymandering altogether.” — Lennie Friedman
Lennie also outlines a realistic path forward. While a national ban would be ideal, Lennie proposes state-level reforms using transparent criteria, open data, and optional independent commissions. He highlights reciprocal “trigger laws” that take effect only when states controlled by the opposite party adopt similar rules—creating a fair, mutual halt to the gerrymandering arms race. Ultimately, he argues that ending gerrymandering requires political courage and is essential to restoring competitive elections and public trust.
Andrew Yang Visits NC and Meets with Leadership Team
We had the privilege of welcoming Andrew Yang to North Carolina for a series of conversations with the leadership team of the North Carolina Forward Party. During his visit to Duke University, where the Young Forwardist team is working to establish a club, Andrew highlighted the continued momentum our state team has built and shared how impressed he is with the work we’re accomplishing—especially given today’s challenging political climate.
Andrew noted that North Carolina is uniquely positioned to lead the growth of an independent political movement. With its diverse communities and growing appetite for alternatives, he emphasized that our state is the ideal proving ground for expanding choice and amplifying the voice of voters who feel overlooked by the major parties. His encouragement reinforces what we already know: North Carolina is charting a path forward that can serve as a model for the rest of the country.
As we wrap up this year and move into the holiday season, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to every volunteer, donor, partner, and supporter powering this movement forward. Whether you gathered signatures, joined an onboarding call, shared our message, or invited a friend to get involved, your efforts are creating real change in communities across the state.
As we look ahead to 2026, we encourage you to stay engaged, stay vocal, and keep pushing for a better political future. Invite a friend to subscribe. Join our next volunteer call. Support ballot access if you’re able. Every action—big or small—brings us closer to giving all North Carolinians the voice and choice they deserve.
Thank you for being part of this journey—let’s keep pushing Forward.
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