In a move that has shocked conservatives across social media, a niqab-wearing Muslim woman named Lakeshia M. Alston has filed to run as a Republican for North Carolina State Senate District 22 in the 2026 election.
Alston is the only Republican in the race so far, and her history screams lifelong Democrat.
The shocking move has led many to question if this is an infiltration tactic from the left, designed to disrupt GOP primaries and hand victories to Democrats in the general election.
BREAKING: This person – Lakeshia M. Alston – has filed as a REPUBLICAN for North Carolina State Senate District 22 in the 2026 election
The ONLY Republican running.
They are trying to screw up the primaries.
What a JOKE. pic.twitter.com/2Pu7RVPXAu
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 28, 2025
Alston’s photo and registration went viral on X when conservative commentator Eric Daugherty posted a screenshot of her official filing and an image of her standing between the American and North Carolina flags, fully veiled in a black niqab that obscures her face except for her eyes.
The images, submitted to the Durham County Board of Elections, have gone viral, amassing thousands of likes and reposts as conservatives question the legitimacy of her candidacy.
Alston, a low-profile figure with no apparent campaign website or active social media presence tied to her run, filed her notice of candidacy on December 17, according to the Durham County Board of Elections.
Public records paint a clear picture of Alston’s political leanings. Voter history from the North Carolina State Board of Elections shows she’s been participating in Democratic primaries and general elections since at least 2008.
Found her voting records.
She’s been voting as a Democrat since 2008… pic.twitter.com/1n71pHB95n
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) December 28, 2025
Her record includes consistent Democratic primary participation in 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, and 2008.
Third-party voter databases like VoterRecords.com list her as affiliated with the Democratic Party, registered at an address in Durham, NC, since before 2008.
Under North Carolina law, candidates must be affiliated with their chosen party for at least 90 days before filing for a primary.
Alston filed on December 17, meaning she would have needed to switch her registration to Republican by September 18, at the latest. This suggests a recent party flip, conveniently after the 2024 elections where she still voted as a Democrat.
Unaffiliated voters aren’t even allowed to file in party primaries, so she couldn’t have pulled this off without formally aligning with the GOP.
Alston hasn’t publicly explained her shift and attempts to find her campaign platform yield nothing. There are no websites and no policy statements.
Her X account, @LakeshiaAlston1, appears to be abandoned, with just two followers and an outdated profile picture from 2012.
District 22, which covers parts of Durham County, is a solidly blue area currently held by Democrats. The Democratic primary already has two contenders: incumbent Sophia Chitlik and DeDreana Freeman.
North Carolina’s semi-open primaries allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party ballot, but the real vulnerability is in low-turnout primaries where a single questionable candidate can dominate. If Alston wins the GOP nomination unopposed, she could force Republicans into a no-win scenario where they must either back a candidate with a Democratic track record or watch the seat go uncontested in the general.
OPEN PRIMARIES: Lakeshia M. Alston’s official filing photo as a Republican candidate for North Carolina State Senate District 22, featuring her in a niqab. Alston is a Democrat exploiting North Carolina’s open primaries where unaffiliated voters can cross party lines. This is why… pic.twitter.com/hUrvqUxI2s
— @amuse (@amuse) December 28, 2025
With no other Republicans stepping up yet, Alston could sail through the GOP primary unopposed on March 3, becoming the automatic nominee.
The North Carolina Republican Party has yet to comment publicly, but calls are mounting for them to investigate and encourage a true conservative to enter the race before the filing deadline.
The post Primary Sabotage? Niqab-Wearing Muslim Woman Who Has Voted Democrat Since at Least 2008 is the ONLY ‘Republican’ Running for North Carolina Senate appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.