BREAKING NEWS: Durham Mayoral Candidate Javiera Caballero Suspends Campaign

DURHAM, NC – Durham Mayoral candidate and City Council member Javiera Caballero is suspending her campaign, effective today (Oct. 11). Caballero issued the following statement:

From the beginning, I knew this campaign would be an uphill battle. The people of our city fight uphill battles each and every day. So many in Durham are struggling with the rising cost of housing, the gun violence that plagues our city, like so many cities in the U.S., and the intensifying challenges of climate change.

My work on the city council and my campaign for mayor are driven by a desire to build a Durham for everyone; to transform the way our city approaches public safety, to more boldly address climate change, to create affordable housing throughout the city, and to provide economic opportunities for all of Durham’s residents.

These goals are hard to achieve, but I entered the race for Mayor because I believe these are battles worth fighting. I will never stop fighting for my community. I am proud of the work I have done on the City Council, and I am proud of having become the first Latina city councilor elected official in North Carolina. I have helped govern and lead our city through the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the greatest challenges of our time, built an infrastructure for engagement of immigrant and refugee communities, and been part of transformative changes in the way we approach housing, sustainability, and public safety.

While I knew from the start that campaigning to be the first Latina mayor in the American Southeast (outside of Florida) would be the biggest uphill battle of my career, I also knew that I owed it to my community to stand up, to take one more step in making sure that our immigrant community in Durham feels seen, is heard, and is represented in our city government.

I congratulate Judge O’Neal on her strong performance in the primary election. I know that we share many values. She has a long record of service to the community. It is my hope and expectation that she and I will work as partners to move our city forward. In light of the results of last week’s primary election, I believe that my best role right now is to continue to fight for my values and for the people of Durham in my role on the City Council, and I will be suspending my campaign effective today. My name will remain on the general election ballot, early voting begins October 14th and Election Day is Nov. 2nd.

I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to build a city where we can all thrive.

En Solidaridad,

Javiera Caballero