Dear friends in the NC Democratic Party,

I hope your new year is off to a good start, I don't envy the challenges you're facing in Raleigh. Good luck.

I'm writing to let you know that Jane and I will be taking a wait-and-see approach for political contributions in the next cycle. We're discouraged by what's going on with our party organization and feel we are not being heard by leadership. We understand that a couple of old hippies in Chapel Hill aren't your top priorities, so we're letting go.

From what we've been able to learn through various grapevines, the Party seems to be planning a "stay the course" strategy for 2023 and 2024. You'll be relying on the same consultants, the same party leaders, the same messaging.

To put it bluntly, we have no confidence in that strategy. It's the strategy that led to Ted Blood winning a US Senate seat. It's the strategy that left too many legislative races uncontested. It's the strategy that sacrificed our judicial candidates. And it gave Mark Robinson a platform to run for governor.

Why on earth would anyone say, "Let's do more of the same."

My wife and I have been working on the frontlines of the state party organization for a long time. This past year was very much like other past years, only worse. The party is a bumbling, chaotic mess.

We have been hoping for meaningful change and new energy, but can find no sign of that happening.

I wish I was writing with a note of excitement and enthusiasm about a bold re-set for the party.

Sorry.