2026 General Election: November 3, 2026. New info launches early October.
Rodney Sadler
Party:
Democrat
Incumbent:
No
Age:
58
Previous experience in elected office:
None
Occupation:
Associate Professor of Bible and Director of the Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation, Union Presbyterian Seminary
Description:
Sadler's top issues include better funding public schools, increasing teacher pay and halting private school vouchers. He also wants economic relief for working families, advocating for raising the minimum wage, creating affordable housing and fighting utility rate hikes. He believes that "healthcare as a human right" and supports universal single-payer healthcare. Sadler also frames his platform around a "moral movement" that emphasizes protecting voting rights, ending partisan gerrymandering and defending immigrant rights by opposing local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Sadler defeated incumbent Carla Cunningham in the 2026 March primary after receiving endorsements from the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Gov. Josh Stein. Cunningham had been criticized for siding with the Republican majority on key votes. She has since switched her party affiliation to unaffiliated.
Other personal:
Sadler is from Charlotte and a father. He is a published author and editor, with work in the intersection of race, religion and social justice. He has served in various pastoral and academic roles in Charlotte. He earned a bachelor's from Howard University in 1989, a Master of Divinity from Howard University School of Divinity in 1992 and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Biblical Archaeology from Duke University in 2001.