Fact Check: "The last Republican chair of Durham's board was in 2018."
What We Know
The claim that "the last Republican chair of Durham's board was in 2018" requires clarification regarding which specific board is being referenced. If we consider the context of local elections, the Durham County Board of Elections has undergone significant political shifts recently. As of May 2025, the board flipped to a Republican majority, indicating a resurgence of Republican influence in local politics (Indy Week). However, the specific identity of the last Republican chair prior to this shift is not explicitly detailed in available sources.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has had various chairs over the years, but this does not directly relate to local party leadership in Durham County. The last known chair of the RNC was Ronna McDaniel, who served until 2024 (Republican National Committee).
Analysis
To evaluate the claim, we must consider the context of local governance in Durham, North Carolina. The recent political changes in the Durham County Board of Elections suggest that there may have been a Republican chair prior to the recent shift, but specific records or statements confirming the last Republican chair's term ending in 2018 are not readily available in the provided sources.
The source from Indy Week indicates a recent Republican majority but does not specify the timeline of past chairs (Indy Week). This lack of direct evidence leaves the claim unverified. Furthermore, the RNC's leadership does not provide relevant information regarding local party structures or chairs in Durham.
The credibility of the sources is mixed; while Indy Week is a local news outlet that covers political changes in Durham, it does not provide comprehensive historical data on past chairs of the Durham County Board of Elections. The RNC's information is reliable for national party leadership but does not pertain to local governance.
Conclusion
The claim that "the last Republican chair of Durham's board was in 2018" is not sufficiently supported by available evidence. The specific identity and term of the last Republican chair of the Durham County Board of Elections remain unclear, and the recent political shifts complicate the historical context. Therefore, this claim Needs Research to confirm the details surrounding the leadership of the Durham County Board of Elections.
