Elijah King

Elijah is running for Durham City Council to fight for a city where no one is left behind because he knows what it’s like to be left out. A lifelong Durham resident and the proud son of a single mother, Elijah experienced housing insecurity firsthand, moving 11 times before age 18 and often depending on the generosity of others. His campaign is grounded in real, lived experiences, as a young, Black, gay man and as someone who understands the urgency of fighting for affordable housing, better transit, and real public safety. As Third Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Elijah has built relationships across the state, but Durham is home and where he’s ready to make the biggest difference. He co-founded the Durham Neighbors Free Lunch Initiative, raising thousands to serve nearly 60,000 meals during the pandemic, and co-founded the Durham Youth Environmental Justice Initiative to center equity in climate conversations. Elijah’s campaign is about community and connection. He brings experience from board service with InsideOut, Made in Durham, and the NC AIDS Action Network and he brings the perspective of someone who lives the policies he’s fighting for. His leadership is people-powered and unapologetically rooted in Durham.