Shelane Etchison, who likely made history with her 2024 bid as the first unaffiliated candidate to appear on North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District ballot, recently joined local media to discuss her campaign and the challenges of running outside the two-party system.
In a conversation with “Tying it Together” host Tim Boyum, Etchison reflected on her candidacy and the reasons behind her decision to run. She described the experience as an uphill battle, citing the significant financial and logistical barriers unaffiliated candidates face. Internal polling suggested she could have been competitive in a head-to-head race, but she acknowledged that victory was always a challenge.
Drawing from Dan Osborn’s independent campaign in Nebraska, Etchison outlined key factors that could improve a future unaffiliated candidate’s chances: running in a direct two-way race, establishing high name recognition, and having substantial personal funding. She also criticized North Carolina’s ballot access laws, calling the requirements for unaffiliated candidates “too high” and questioning why major-party candidates don’t face similar hurdles, noting that not enough have “skin in the game.”
Despite the obstacles, Etchison expressed pride in her campaign’s performance, particularly in the district’s southern region. She left the door open for another run—potentially with party affiliation—but emphasized that candidates should not compromise their values for electoral viability. She did not indicate any specific parties she would consider.
Independent Political Report first explored Etchison’s bid last year, reviewing state election records to determine whether she was the first unaffiliated candidate to run for Congress in North Carolina’s 9th District. IPR examined records spanning a century and found no other unaffiliated or independent candidate appearing on the general election ballot since the state adopted the secret ballot in 1929.
Although there were mentions of candidates before that transition who were not formally associated with political parties, ballots at the time were privately printed by political organizations. Therefore, claims that Etchison is the first unaffiliated candidate to appear on the ballot in the district hold up from a modern electoral perspective.
While Etchison ran as an unaffiliated candidate, and presented herself as such on the campaign trail, her unique background also earned her endorsements from national parties and organizations beyond North Carolina’s 9th District, including the Reform Party, the Forward Party, and Independent Veterans of America. Etchison ultimately received 22,183 votes in a three-way race, amounting to roughly six percent of the total vote.
“North Carolina created government-printed ballots in 1901, but continued to allow private ballots as well. Private ballots were finally outlawed in 1929. ”
NC can authorize quasi-private ballots by creating official on-line ballots with sufficient blank write-in spaces, and allow voters and parties, whether or not officially recognized, to print out their own ballots based on templates of the official ballots, with the names of write-in candidates pre-printed on the voter printed ballots.
North Carolina created government-printed ballots in 1901, but continued to allow private ballots as well. Private ballots were finally outlawed in 1929. Regardless of that, the post is correct that Etchison is the first person who got on a government-printed ballot as an independent for US House. The only person who ever got on a N.C. government-printed ballot for statewide office was Ross Perot in 1992, for president. There has never been an independent on a NC government-printed ballot for either Governor or US Senator.