FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nolan Fraver | NCFP Communications Director
[email protected]

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Forward Party (NCFP) will host a statewide virtual town hall on Tuesday, May 5, bringing together supporters, volunteers, elected officials, journalists, and members of the public to discuss the future of politics in North Carolina. The event’s special guest speaker will be former North Carolina Republican governor Pat McCrory.

The one-hour online event, taking place from 7 to 8 p.m. via Google Meet, will be hosted by Kelly McCullen, veteran broadcaster, producer, and host of the popular weekly public affairs program State Lines on PBS North Carolina. After opening remarks from Mr. McCullen, attendees will hear from NCFP leadership on the “State of the Party,” including highlights of the organization’s growth across North Carolina over the past several years and its progress toward achieving ballot access to run candidates for office in local and state-wide elections. Organizers will also share successes from the past year and outline opportunities for supporters to become involved in advancing our movement statewide.

Mr. McCullen will then turn things over to Governor McCrory for his perspectives on the current state of politics in North Carolina, including the growing national conversations around electoral reform, gerrymandering, and the need for greater competition on the ballot. McCrory will also participate in a live question-and-answer session with attendees.

Pat McCrory served as North Carolina’s 74th governor from 2013 to 2017 and previously served as mayor of Charlotte for 14 years. During his career in public service, he has frequently emphasized pragmatic problem-solving and bipartisan cooperation. He also previously served as co-chair of the centrist political organization No Labels, which promotes bipartisan collaboration and common-sense governance.

Governor McCrory’s participation in the May 5^th Town Hall is just the latest example of the Forward Party’s progress toward building a viable, centrist alternative in North Carolina and across the country, while serving to amplify the Party’s message to a broader audience.

“The fact of the matter is the two-party system is broken,” McCrory recently said on an episode of The Pat & Chet Show, the North Carolina Forward Party podcast hosted by NCFP Patrick Newton. “We’re not problem-solving because everything is decided in the primary, and there’s no incentive to work together. This isn’t just in Washington, D.C. It’s true in our state legislatures, in our city councils. They’re all gerrymandered by both parties. It’s a rigged system where the rules are written by the people in charge. That’s not what’s best for our democracy.”

Speaking on his emerging alignment with Forward Party principles and policies, the Governor added, “I believe in competition in the public sector, and in politics. We ought to make it easier for people to get on the ballot and give our people more choices, because right now people feel left out.”

Founded on the principles of putting people over partisanship and solutions over slogans, the Forward Party advocates for a more representative democracy through more open and fair elections and expanded political competition to give voters More Choice and More Voice in their elections. The movement aims to offer a solutions-based political home for voters who are tired of partisan warfare and who want leaders focused on practical solutions, civil debate, and evidence-based policymaking—resulting in a government that remains responsive to all Americans.

The NCFP is putting those principles into practice in North Carolina, aligning with and endorsing candidates and working with elected officials to enact real change across our state. The Party is on track to gain ballot access this year and is planning to run candidates on the Forward Party line beginning in 2027.

“People across North Carolina are increasingly frustrated with the dysfunction and division of the current two-party system,” said Patrick Newton. “Our town hall is about bringing people together for a constructive, civil conversation about how we can continue to improve our political system. We’re thrilled to have Governor McCrory at the forefront of the fight alongside us. His involvement shows we are building momentum—and that the right people are starting to take notice.”

The May 5 virtual Town Hall is open to the public. Registration is required, and attendees will receive the event link in their RSVP confirmation email.

Event Details

Event: North Carolina Forward Party Statewide Virtual Town Hall
Date: Tuesday, May 5
Format: Virtual (Google Meet link provided upon RSVP)
Host: Kelly McCullen, NCFP Leadership
Featured Guest: Former Governor Pat McCrory
Audience: Open to the public, media, candidates, elected officials, and supporters

To RSVP to the event, visit the Event page on our website, www.ncforwardparty.com.