In a surprising development that has stirred conservative circles online, Lakeshia M. Alston, a Muslim woman donning a niqab, has entered the race as a Republican candidate for North Carolina State Senate District 22 in the 2026 election.
Alston's candidacy has raised eyebrows, given her apparent history as a lifelong Democrat. According to Gateway Pundit, this unexpected move has led to speculation about whether her candidacy is a strategic ploy by the left to disrupt Republican primaries and potentially secure Democratic victories in the general election.
Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty amplified these concerns by sharing a viral image of Alston's official filing, which shows her standing between the American and North Carolina flags, fully veiled in a black niqab.
The images, submitted to the Durham County Board of Elections, have sparked widespread debate among conservatives, who are questioning the authenticity of her Republican affiliation. Alston, who maintains a low public profile with no campaign website or active social media presence linked to her candidacy, filed her notice of candidacy on December 17, as confirmed by the Durham County Board of Elections.
Public records reveal Alston's consistent participation in Democratic primaries and general elections since at least 2008. Her voting history includes Democratic primary participation in multiple election cycles, including 2020, 2018, and earlier. Third-party voter databases, such as VoterRecords.com, list her as a Democrat registered in Durham, NC, since before 2008.
North Carolina law mandates that candidates must be affiliated with their chosen party for at least 90 days before filing for a primary. Alston's filing on December 17 implies she switched her registration to Republican by September 18, following the 2024 elections where she voted as a Democrat. This recent party change raises questions about her intentions, as unaffiliated voters cannot file in party primaries without formally aligning with a party.
Alston has yet to publicly address her party switch, and efforts to uncover her campaign platform have been fruitless. Her X account, @LakeshiaAlston1, appears inactive, with only two followers and an outdated profile picture from 2012. District 22, encompassing parts of Durham County, is a Democratic stronghold currently represented by Democrats, with incumbent Sophia Chitlik and DeDreana Freeman vying for the Democratic primary.
North Carolina's semi-open primaries allow unaffiliated voters to select a party ballot, but low-turnout primaries present a risk where a single dubious candidate could prevail. Should Alston secure the GOP nomination unopposed, Republicans might face a dilemma: support a candidate with a Democratic past or leave the seat uncontested in the general election.
With no other Republicans entering the race thus far, Alston could potentially advance through the GOP primary unchallenged on March 3, automatically becoming the nominee. The North Carolina Republican Party has not yet issued a public statement, but there are increasing calls for them to investigate the situation and encourage a genuine conservative candidate to join the race before the filing deadline.
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