Barfield, Barnett react to losing New Hanover Democratic Party straw poll

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Candidates in Wilmington’s municipal elections officially filed to run Monday at the New Hanover County Board of Elections.  

This comes after some familiar faces were left out of key endorsements.   

Last week, the New Hanover County Democratic Party voted to endorse incumbent Bill Saffo for Wilmington mayor, rather than former County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield Jr., who lost his seat in November.  

The party also backed three city council candidates, excluding current Mayor Pro Tem Clifford Barnett.

The party’s straw poll is decided by the executive committee, which includes elected officials, precinct leaders, caucus leaders and representatives from partner organizations. 

“There was no reason for me to play that game to be a part of a process that’s already fixed to begin with,” Barfield said of the poll.  

Barfield chose not to participate in the poll, calling it biased.  

“It was a no-brainer for me not to participate,” he said. “Recognizing the bias was already there, my statement was that, pretty much, the fix was already in. Again, when the leader of the organization asks you not to run, and tells you the seat belongs to somebody else, when it’s really the people’s seat.”  

Barnett says he’s disappointed, but still hopeful. 

“I look forward to serving Wilmington and allowing residents an opportunity to make their own choice in this upcoming nonpartisan municipal election,” he said. 

Democratic Party Chair Jill Hopman says the straw poll helps avoid splitting the vote—something she says cost them a seat in 2021. 

“We basically diluted the votes for ourselves, and we didn’t want that to happen again. So, The purpose of the straw poll is to win,” Hopman explained. 

Hopman also pushed back on Barfield’s view that the poll is unfair. 

“I think that in that specific case, that Jonathan Barfield did not participate at all, and that that reflects in the results, period. Since 2023, the NHCDP has used a transparent process—a democratic process—in municipal elections to basically gauge which candidates have the strongest support among party members,” she said. 

Barfield says despite the results of that straw poll, he says he’ll still be on the ballot this November as a Democrat.