Shelly Headen leads Republican incumbent John Blust by 233 votes in a Guilford County district Republicans have held for more than two decades, despite losing Democratic Party support over inflammatory social media statements.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
RALEIGH, N.C. — Democratic candidate Shelly Headen narrowly defeated Republican state Rep. John Blust in North Carolina’s House District 62 election Tuesday, Nov. 3, overcoming controversy over social media posts suggesting President Donald Trump’s supporters belonged in a Nazi concentration camp and expressing hope for a violent attack on American soil.
Headen received 21,367 votes, or 50.27%, compared with Blust’s 21,134 votes, or 49.73%, according to unofficial election returns. Her 233-vote advantage falls within North Carolina’s recount threshold, meaning the outcome could face additional review before becoming final.
The victory represents a significant political shift in Guilford County, where Republicans have controlled the district for more than 20 years. As WFDD reported Thursday, Headen prevailed even after the Guilford County Democratic Party and the North Carolina House Democratic Caucus withdrew their support during the campaign.
The controversy began in September when several of Headen’s earlier social media statements surfaced, including a Facebook story from a visit to Germany’s Dachau concentration camp memorial.
The photograph reportedly showed Headen standing near crematorium ovens used by Nazi authorities to dispose of the bodies of prisoners who died or were murdered at the camp.
“Visiting Dauchau [sic] Concentration Camp in Germany… This is where Trump supporters belong,” Headen wrote alongside the image.
The September report by Breitbart News documented the post, which drew criticism for invoking a site associated with Nazi persecution and mass murder.
Dachau, established in 1933, was among the first concentration camps operated by Nazi Germany. The memorial estimates that at least 41,500 prisoners died there during its operation.
Another statement attributed to Headen expressed support for a violent incident targeting parts of the United States.
“I think our only hope is an attack on US Soil … preferably Alabama, Louisiana … where the stupid people live,” she wrote.
A separate post reportedly declared, “Ready for the MAGAs to die off!!”
The remarks became a central issue in the campaign, prompting Republican lawmakers to question Headen’s judgment and fitness for public office.
The North Carolina House Democratic Caucus condemned the statements and announced it would no longer support her candidacy. Local Democratic officials also withdrew their backing.
Headen remained on the ballot because the controversy emerged after the deadline for replacing candidates.
During interviews following the disclosures, Headen said she did not remember making some of the posts. She later characterized the remarks as “a few angry moments.”
The controversy was particularly notable because Headen had described herself as a certified public accountant and business owner campaigning to restore human decency.
Her campaign focused on increasing education funding, improving access to affordable health care and strengthening fiscal accountability.
Republicans also questioned Headen about two reported domestic incidents involving her husband in 2024.
According to law enforcement documents described by Carolina Journal, deputies responded to Headen’s residence on May 30 and Nov. 19, 2024. Incident reports identified Headen as a suspect in alleged simple physical assaults and listed her husband as the reported victim.
The documents did not include detailed investigative narratives or establish whether either incident resulted in an arrest or criminal charges.
Headen disputed the implications of the reports in a September statement.
“In 2024, during a high-stress time in my marriage, my husband and I had a couple of arguments that escalated. During one argument, my husband grabbed me, and I fell backward and hit my head. In my fear and confusion, I sought support and protection from those I trusted—I called 911.”
The explanation was included in additional reporting on the allegations and subsequent coverage of the campaign. The competing accounts were not resolved by the limited documentation made public.
Despite those controversies, Headen resumed campaigning after initially reducing her public appearances.
Republicans attempted to capitalize on the disclosures through campaign advertising. The North Carolina House Republican Caucus purchased television advertisements highlighting Headen’s social media statements and urging voters to retain Blust.
The race had already attracted attention because House District 62, which includes portions of northwestern Guilford County, was considered potentially competitive despite its Republican history.
Blust won the district in 2024 by 3,792 votes, receiving 53.4% against Democratic challenger Marjorie Benbow’s 46.6%.
The John Locke Foundation’s 2026 Civitas Partisan Index classified the district as R+2, indicating a modest Republican advantage.
Blust, a longtime state lawmaker, previously served in the North Carolina Senate from 1996 to 1998 and in the House from 2001 to 2018 before returning to the chamber in 2024.
His reelection campaign emphasized property tax relief, energy costs and economic development.
Headen’s narrow lead emerged during a broader Democratic surge in North Carolina legislative elections, with the party winning enough contests to take control of the state House for the first time since 2010.
The Guilford County result, however, remains subject to the state’s post-election procedures.
Under North Carolina election law, candidates in nonstatewide races may request a recount when the final margin is no more than 1% of the total votes cast.
County election boards are scheduled to certify their results Nov. 13, after reviewing provisional ballots and other outstanding election records.
Blust would then have until Nov. 16 to request a recount if the certified margin remains within the statutory threshold.
Separate reporting by Carolina Journal on Headen’s election victory confirmed that the initial results place the race within that threshold.
The outcome underscores the influence of broader electoral conditions in a contest marked by unusually controversial campaign statements.
Although Democratic organizations publicly distanced themselves from Headen, enough voters supported her candidacy to overcome Blust’s incumbency and the district’s longstanding Republican alignment.
It remains unclear how many voters were aware of the social media controversy or whether it influenced their decisions.
Headen’s apparent victory comes despite the condemnation of comments involving a Nazi concentration camp, political violence and an attack on American communities.
As of Thursday, Nov. 5, she held a 233-vote advantage in the unofficial results, with certification and a possible recount still pending.
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