New N.C. Democratic leader talks rural vote, diversity

RALEIGH — Wayne Goodwin has been immersed in the North Carolina Democratic Party for most of his life, served in the Legislature for eight years and was elected state insurance commissioner in 2008.

When he narrowly lost the commissioner’s job to Republican Mike Causey in November, the Richmond County native turned to running for the open party chair position. With new Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s endorsement, Goodwin was elected overwhelmingly by the party Executive Committee this month in a four-candidate race.

Goodwin, who turns 50 on Wednesday, sat with The Associated Press for an interview last week to discuss his vision for the job and the challenges for a party that made some electoral strides in 2016 after losing its long dominance in state politics earlier this decade. Questions and answers were edited for length.

Q: Why did you want this job?

A: I saw a great need for the Democratic Party to have a chairman with not only the grass-roots experience and the experience as a party leader, but also someone who’s been out in the communities across our state as a candidate and as a statewide elected official. I saw this as perhaps one door closing but another door opening where I could serve my state and our voters in a new way.

Read more: http://www.journalnow.com/news/state_region/new-n-c-democratic-leader-talks-rural-vote-diversity/article_8f96849b-ba10-59e0-b8ae-3c15526e0134.html