Why Gov. Josh Stein's endorsement actually matters in this Dem primary

It's not about the name. It's the campaign infrastructure that will likely doom Rep. Carla Cunningham

A lot has been made lately about Gov. Josh Stein endorsing a primary challenger facing incumbent state House member Carla Cunningham.

The move came after the seven-term Charlotte representative voted with Republicans to override a handful of Stein’s vetoes, most notably the one of a bill requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE.

Stein’s endorsement is symbolically powerful, of course. But it’s not like the governor is going to go barnstorming around Charlotte for challenger Rev. Rodney Sadler.

The real power of the Stein endorsement is the behind-the-scenes stuff. Money, sure. But perhaps most importantly, it’s the campaign infrastructure that Stein’s team is already offering Sadler that will likely make Cunningham an easy out in the March Democratic primary.

Sadler is so new to the political scene that the only finance records so far are his campaign committee filings. But if you take a look at those, you’ll see an interesting name. Sadler has already signed on prominent Democrat consul…