Charlotte rare win Tue. for Dems

Charlotte defied what there was of a national tide Tuesday night, electing a Democratic mayor and 8 to 3 Democratic majority on city council.

Anthony Foxx became Charlotte's first Democratic mayor in 22 years and the second youngest in memory, defeating Republican John Lassiter on a night when Republicans won the Virginia and New Jersey governor's races. The explanation lies at least partly in Charlotte's demographic changes and the lack of a Democratic challenger with any political muscle in past races.

Now-U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, a Republican, defeated then-Mayor Harvey Gantt, a Democrat and African-American, in 1987, beginning a GOP hold on the office that didn't end until last night. But Myrick won by fewer than 1,000 votes in a city that was then 25 percent black. Charlotte is now 35 percent black, and Foxx will be the second African-American mayor.

In seven campaigns over 14 years, outgoing Mayor Pat McCrory never faced a strong Democratic opponent. He does, however, enjoy wide bipartisan support that a recent poll indicated was helping Lassiter.

Lastly Republicans failed to expand their base of support beyond the south-to-southeast wedge of Charlotte that has long been their base.