Dan Blue, a key figure in North Carolina politics for over 40 years, is stepping down as the leader of the state Senate Democrats. He will be replaced by Sen. Sydney Batch, a lawmaker from Raleigh.
Batch, a family law attorney who has been in the legislature since 2019, was chosen as the new minority leader in a private meeting of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Blue, who is 75, announced he didn’t want to serve another term as leader. He expressed excitement about passing leadership to Batch.
Blue first entered politics in 1981 as a member of the House. In 1991, he became North Carolina’s first black House speaker. After a run for the U.S. Senate in 2002, he returned to the legislature in 2006 and moved to the Senate in 2009. He became the Senate minority leader in 2014 after a colleague stepped down due to illness.
As leader, Blue worked in a tough position, trying to challenge the Republicans who have controlled the Senate since 2011. The GOP has had veto-proof majorities in both chambers in recent years.
Batch praised Blue’s experience, saying he helped North Carolina by using his long career in the General Assembly. She is focused on creating a better North Carolina, where everyone has the chance to succeed.
In addition to the leadership change, the Senate Democratic Caucus also reelected Sen. Jay Chaudhuri of Wake County as minority whip.
Meanwhile, in the House, Rep. Robert Reives was reelected as the minority leader for another term. Reives has been serving as leader since 2020.
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