In Durham, a city often recognized for its progressive leanings, Republican voices provide a contrasting perspective on key issues shaping the community.

In 2024, nearly 18,000 out of a registered almost 25,000 Republicans showed out to vote in Durham County.

While Democrats dominate political discourse and decision-making, Republicans in Durham strive to make their voices heard, advocating for policies they believe support sustainable growth and safeguard the rights of all citizens.

Whether it’s advocating for core issues such as crime, education, taxes, affordable housing or race relations, common ground remains possible. Conservatives in Durham actively seek opportunities to find that shared understanding.

The political action committee, Friends of Durham, advocates for just that.

Local issues are at the heart of their efforts. Friends of Durham take time to interview and support candidates they feel would do the best job in local government positions and support their bipartisan views.

Steve Griffin grew up in Durham as the youngest of nine children in his family – all attending Durham Public Schools and has always been involved in politics at a local and even state level.

He pursued a degree at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he now serves on the board of trustees, as well as, owning his own independent insurance agency.

Griffin actively participates with the Friends of Durham PAC and supports candidates on both sides of the aisle.

“The Friends of Durham is a bipartisan PAC that interviews candidates and hears them out on their ideas and policies and then endorse candidates based on these interviews,” Griffin.

Their philosophy is to make Durham a better place for everyone through working toward solving local issues.

Primarily falling under the control of the City Council, the County Commission and the School Board.

Griffin deals primarily with the education side for the Friends of Durham – actively promoting school choice.

This includes advocating for diverse educational options, supporting traditional public schools, charter schools, private schools and home schooling. Emphasizing parental choice in education and view good jobs as key to addressing many challenges, highlighting Durham Tech as a valuable pathway to career opportunities.

Education is just one of the many examples Griffin used to describe how Durham Republicans could get their views promoted across the aisle.

When asked if Republicans would ever have opportunities to influence policy or community initiatives in Durham, Griffin said, “We must work together to find common ground and work toward those goals even if our views are different.”

One of those other areas is affordable housing, which Griffin referred to as “attainable housing.”

Durham has undergone significant growth in recent decades, spurred by the expansion of the Research Triangle Park and an influx of new residents.

While this growth has brought economic prosperity, it has also led to gentrification, rising housing costs and concerns about displacement and inequality.

“For example, there is a legal gray zone when it comes to inclusionary zoning in communities like Chapel Hill,” said Griffin.

Inclusionary zoning is a land use policy that requires a percentage of units in new residential developments to be affordable to people with low to moderate incomes.

“Strick laws, including those of the inclusionary zoning laws in Chapel Hill, promote more separation within income levels because the new residential developments are not at an attainable housing price,” said Griffin.

When both sides of the aisle collaborate, the result is innovative solutions that prioritize accessibility and inclusivity for people of all backgrounds and income levels, driving significant growth and benefits for Durham.

After serving as vice chair for four years, Christina Crosby stepped into the role of Chair of the Durham Republicans. She aims to increase the Republican presence in Durham, believing that visibility will encourage greater community involvement.

“Slowly but surely, we hope to chip away at one-party control in Durham. We want hard working, conservative people elected to City Council, School Board and County Commissioner at some point in the near future,” said Crosby.

While Griffin hopes this could become reality, he said, “The influence of Durham Republicans can extend to local and statewide elections, where we can support candidates by funding their campaigns and future initiatives and through voting.”

From advocating for school choice and attainable housing to supporting bipartisan collaboration, groups like the Friends of Durham and leaders like Steve Griffin and Christina Crosby are working to ensure their voices contribute to the conversation.

While challenges remain, their commitment to finding common ground emphasizes the potential for meaningful progress in addressing the needs of all Durham residents.

For Durham Republicans, the path forward lies in building alliances and working across the aisle to address shared concerns, ensuring their perspectives contribute to shaping the city’s future.