In the two days since the INDY published its investigation into Yes for Durham—a new 501(c)(4) nonprofit with undisclosed leadership and connections to one of its endorsed candidates—all four of the municipal candidates endorsed by the group have publicly disavowed it on social media.
Statements from Leonardo Williams, Mark-Anthony Middleton, Matt Kopac, and Diana Medoff all assert that the candidates have not coordinated with Yes for Durham and will not accept its money.
Williams, Kopac, and Medoff included in their statements that they don’t want support from 501(c)(4)s—which can also make independent expenditures supporting candidates, such as sending mailers or running ads—in general. In a text to the INDY, Middleton also said he opposes such support, stating that “dark money has no place in Durham’s local politics and all candidates should commit to that”—Yes For Durham “endorsement status notwithstanding.”
Medoff, the Ward 3 candidate whose husband’s property served as Yes for Durham’s original registered address before it was amended, posted a statement titled “A Commitment to Transparency” to Instagram soon after the INDY‘s initial story was published. The statement acknowledged that her husband’s “initial ties to the organization” have created “reasonable concerns regarding the funding of my campaign.”
“I did not seek this endorsement,” Medoff wrote. “I have not, nor will I, accept any money from Yes for Durham or any other 501(c)4 organizations.”
She urged all organizations to endorse her campaign only through official political action committees and called on Yes for Durham to release the names of its leadership “with a sense of urgency.”
Medoff told the INDY before the initial story that she has “absolutely no involvement with YES for Durham” and that while her husband initially got involved when community members approached him, he “removed himself completely from the organization before the organization decided to make endorsements.”
Mayor pro tem Middleton, the Ward 2 incumbent running for reelection, posted a statement to Facebook within an hour of the INDY’s initial story being released.
“Middleton 4 Durham DID NOT seek this endorsement,” Middleton wrote. “Middleton 4 Durham HAS NOT received any money from this group. Middleton 4 Durham WILL NOT accept any money from this group.”
Middleton continued that “there are a lot of groups that have popped up in our city lately that are endorsing candidates and spending money to influence our local election and ALL candidates should take the opportunity to clarify where things of value to their campaigns are coming from.”
Middleton had told the INDY before the initial story that he “had absolutely no coordination” with Yes for Durham.
Kopac, who’s running in Ward 1, posted a statement to Instagram the evening of the INDY’s initial report. “In response to the recent reporting by the Indy,” Kopac wrote, he wanted to make clear that he has “not coordinated with” Yes for Durham, “did not seek this endorsement,” has “not been offered financial or other support,” and “will not be accepting contributions from it.”
“Integrity and trust mean everything in this process,” Kopac wrote. “Transparency into groups seeking to influence our elections is critical, and I want to make it clear that I do not want any contributions or support from 501(c)(4) organizations in this race.”
The INDY left Kopac a voicemail requesting comment 24 hours before publishing its initial story on Saturday. After publication, Kopac quickly followed up to provide comment—saying he had received a notification of endorsement and an invitation to a mixer from Yes for Durham, “but other than that, I had no contact”—and also said that he had not received the INDY’s voicemail.
Mayor Williams, who told the INDY before the initial story that he received an emailed notification of his endorsement but doesn’t know who’s involved with Yes for Durham, posted a statement to social media today that referred to Yes for Durham as a “dark money” group.
“I categorically denounce all groups that would attempt to buy an election in Durham,” Williams wrote. “Despite public statements that seem to suggest these groups would be progressively-aligned, I firmly believe that any politically-oriented group, like the new ‘Durham Black PAC’ or ‘Yes for Durham’ should disclose their leadership roster, donors, and spending activities.”
Williams added that his campaign “has not, does not, and will not accept support from such groups, and will continue to only acknowledge groups that disclose their internal operations and participants.”
Yes for Durham was incorporated as a 501(c)(4) on August 18 and published endorsements on September 3. The organization told the INDY in an unsigned email that it was “founded by a group of Durham citizens who closely follow local politics” and will disclose its leadership “when the board is fully comprised.” The group’s website features a donation portal alongside text that reads, “With Election Day on November 4, your support turns a hopeful vision into concrete results. Chip in today!”
As a 501(c)(4), Yes for Durham can engage in political activity but not as its primary purpose. Former Democracy North Carolina executive director Bob Hall told the INDY that the organization’s quick formation and endorsements raise questions about whether electoral activity is its primary purpose. Yes for Durham told the INDY that it “will not engage in activity that requires registration as a political committee” and that its mission is “to elevate conversation around” its “policy agenda” in “current and future election cycles.”
If Yes for Durham makes independent expenditures exceeding $100 to promote candidates, it would be required to report that spending to the State Board of Elections within 30 days or 10 days before the election, whichever comes first. If Yes for Durham raises funds for general 501(c)(4) activities, it can list itself as the sole source when reporting expenditures, keeping its donors anonymous. At this point it’s not clear if Yes for Durham has raised any money.
Early voting for Durham’s municipal primary begins September 18.
Follow Staff Writer Lena Geller on Bluesky or email [email protected]. Comment on this story at [email protected]