On the evening of Nov. 4, Diana Medoff gracefully accepted defeat in the race against Chelsea Cook for Ward 3 of the Durham City Council. Nonetheless, she was decked out in a bright smile and a long navy skirt emblazoned all over with the word “VOTE.”

The election party was held at Southern eatery Lula & Sadie’s, and was mostly attended by family, friends, and close supporters. Most people attending had the sense that Medoff was not headed towards victory, but wanted to support and congratulate the former teacher for her campaign. 

Nonprofit fundraiser and friend of the Medoffs’ Susan Ross said that she thought it was important that someone step up and decide to run for office in the community. 

“Win or lose, coming out to support is important, supporting a candidate who’s willing to put themselves out there,” Ross said. 

Many attendees highlighted development as a hot-button issue of the campaign, pinpointing it as a key issue as Durham continues to grow and evolve. 

“I think the issue right now is that I don’t know if the candidates properly messaged where we are with development,” said Felecia Robinson, who was attending the event representing the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People. “Development is going to happen either to us…it’s going to happen.”

Ari Medoff, husband of the candidate, said that he was proud of Medoff for a campaign well-run. He also mentioned development as an issue that defined the race. 

“Durham’s in kind of a weird place with their mentality–a sort of anti-development mentality,” Ari said. “People who arrived seven to ten years ago and bought a house here want to shut the door behind them. People who bought a house seven years ago and it’s like, ‘Well, how do you think that house got there?’”

Diana Medoff reflected on her campaign with gratitude and a reaffirmed commitment to the city of Durham.

“I am feeling so much gratitude,” Medoff said. “I’m walking away from this feeling like I got to bring attention to the issues that I care about. I got to meet incredible people. And learn more about organizations that I didn’t know about, and non-profits, and businesses that I have never been to. I feel so lucky to live here.”