Garson underscores his statewide experience and aims to work closely with residents of Caswell, Orange, and Person counties while navigating a divided political landscape.

Clayton, the state party chair, announced the appointment and credited the regional senatorial committee members for their role in the process.

Garson is a Chapel Hill native, an attorney at Parry Law, a UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus, and a Columbia Law School graduate with extensive experience in voting rights and civil litigation.

His professional background includes work in New York’s and North Carolina’s legal sectors, with public policy experience spanning more than a decade across states.

Jonah Garson, a prominent Democratic figure and attorney from Chapel Hill, has been selected to fill the remainder of former State Senator Graig Meyer’s term in Senate District 23 and will be the party’s nominee for the 2026 general election.

Other candidates considered included Rep. Allen Buansi, Rep. Renee Price, Kenneth Perry, and Sheila Mikhail, but Garson prevailed on the committee’s first ballot.

He has a track record of leadership in Orange County politics, with roles on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, the Orange County Planning Board, and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP, along with experience in various campaigns.

Garson has previously served as Chair of the Orange County Democratic Party and as a voter protection director, highlighting his organizational and advocacy background.

Meyer resigned at the end of March after a decade in public office, creating the mid-term vacancy Garson will fill.

Garson was chosen by the Senate District 23 Nominating Committee to occupy the remainder of Meyer’s term and to appear on the November ballot, after leading the district’s selection process.

Garson also serves on the Orange County Planning Board and has engaged in a broad set of public service roles within the Democratic Party.

Garson has earned endorsements from key district leaders, such as Chapel Hill Mayor Jessica Anderson and Yanceyville Mayor Alvin Foster.