RALEIGH, NC – Emerging voices continue to answer the call of voters in North Carolina who are fed up with the two-party duopoly and want more from our elected officials. The latest voice is Independent April Montgomery, a longtime community leader and small business owner running for the North Carolina House of Representatives. 

Several weeks ago, the North Carolina Forward Party (NCFP) proudly announced its official alignment with and endorsement of Montgomery as she gears up for her run to represent House District 51 in the North Carolina General Assembly. With this endorsement, Montgomery becomes the latest Forward-aligned candidate in a growing slate of pragmatic, community-focused leaders earning the Party’s support heading into the 2026 election cycle.

House District 51 covers Lee County and part of Moore County, which together encompass the communities of Sanford, Broadway, Carthage, Cameron, and Vass in southern central North Carolina. Republican John Sauls has held the seat since 2016 and previously served two terms from 2002 to 2006. He has yet to announce if he will seek reelection in 2026.

Montgomery, who has lived in District 51 for more than 22 years, is running as an unaffiliated candidate and will not participate in a partisan primary. With nearly two decades of business ownership and an extensive record of public service—including leadership roles with the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, Lee County Parks and Recreation Board, and the Lee County Environmental Affairs Board—she has developed a deep understanding of the needs of her community as well as a reputation for pragmatism and working across ideological lines.

“I'm proud to stand with an organization that puts people over politics and prioritizes pragmatic solutions,” Montgomery said of her Forward alignment. “Together, we'll work to build a brighter future for District 51 and ensure that every voice is heard.”

Her campaign priorities emphasize a future built on responsible growth, investment in public education, transparent and responsive representation, and sensible energy and economic strategies—all principles shared by the Forward Party on both a state and national level. If elected, Montgomery has pledged to strengthen local infrastructure, support main streets and small businesses, address aging facilities, promote early childhood education, and champion an “all-of-the-above” energy approach tailored to community needs.

NCFP leaders say Montgomery’s emergence reflects a broader movement taking hold statewide. In the 2025 election cycle, Forward-endorsed candidates achieved several notable victories, including the election of Forward-aligned Republican Steve Morris as Mayor of Concord, and Forward-aligned Democrat Alvarys Santana to the Concord City Council. These successes exemplify the ethos of the Forward Party with two elected officials hailing from opposite sides of the aisle who put aside their partisan differences and came together under one banner to endorse each other, campaign together, and truly put people over politics to forge a better tomorrow for their community.

To keep this momentum rolling, Party leaders are putting their full support behind Montgomery, with Forward founder Andrew Yang meeting personally with the candidate and financially contributing to her campaign.

“I had the privilege of meeting April Montgomery and seeing firsthand her integrity, vision, and commitment to her community,” says Yang. “The Forward Party is proud to endorse her, and I look forward to what she’ll bring to public service.”

NCFP Chair Patrick Newton echoed this sentiment from Yang, stating, “Citizens across our state have shown they are hungry for new leaders, and we are all in on supporting April in her election effort. Her campaign, along with the recent wins of Forward-aligned candidates in other regions and districts, shows a real and accelerating momentum for independent voices and pragmatic problem-solvers. We as a party, along with the voters we represent, are responding.”

As an unaffiliated candidate, Montgomery must gather 2,275 valid signatures from district voters to appear on the ballot next November. She is currently seeking a buffer of 2,500 signatures to ensure qualification. 

For more information about April’s campaign and how you can support her ballot access efforts, visit her campaign website and her Facebook page.