by Luke Butner

During the 2024 election, Greensboro College alumni Dr. Tanneshia Dukes ran for North Carolina House of Representatives for district 59 after Jon Hardister, another GC alumni, left office. District 59 encompasses most of the eastern half of Guilford County and runs up to Jamestown. For the past 11 years, Jon Hardister, another GC alumni, has represented district 59. Hardister left office in 2024 because he ran for NC Labor Commissioner, unfortunately losing in the Republican primary election to Luke Farley.

Before turning to politics, Dukes was a schoolteacher. She taught fourth and fifth grade after getting her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from GC. After a few years of teaching, she enrolled at NC Agricultural and Technical State University to get her master’s in school administration. Afterwards, she enrolled at High Point University to get her doctorate in education. During this time, she also gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

Dukes is very passionate about equal rights, particularly in education. In an interview, Dukes stated, “As an educator, [I have] seen firsthand the immense challenges faced by students in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.” She then goes on to state that she fights for these communities because she wants to amplify their voices and make a meaningful impact on society.

Although Dukes focuses on the socioeconomically disadvantaged, her core belief system lies in equality and justice for all. Dukes stated, “My commitment to fighting for what is right is not limited by political lines; I have always been someone who advocates for all people, regardless of their background, beliefs, or affiliations. For me, it is about ensuring fairness, justice, and opportunity for everyone, and recognizing the shared humanity that connects us all.”

The biggest motivator and influence on Duke’s beliefs is her family. She stated, “My family has always been a powerful source of motivation for me, shaping both my values and my sense of purpose… My family’s example instilled in me the belief that true change comes from fighting for the well-being of others, and [I have] carried that with me throughout my life and work.” Furthermore, Dukes stated that she and those around her struggled with obtaining adequate resources to reasonably support themselves. She stated that advocating for her loved ones is what ultimately drives her to advocate for the disadvantaged today.

Dukes’ committee, Dukes 4 NC, is a Democratic platform and went against Republican nominee Alan Branson. Unfortunately, Dukes lost to Branson with the total votes being 24,722 (44.8%) to 30,516 (55.2%), respectively. In response, Dukes plans to focus on growing her consulting firm that will allow her to work closely with legislators and educators. In this regard, Dukes will still make a meaningful impact in the communities that she is passionate about without being in office. She plans to go back into politics, stating, “I [do not] believe my political career is over— [it is] just beginning… I am committed to staying active in our communities and providing support wherever [it is] needed.”

During our interview, Dukes came across as a very caring, conscientious and passionate woman. She clearly concerns herself with making things right and being the change in the community. I am excited to see where she ends up in her political career and offer encouragement every step of the way.

This is an important issue for students because it is important to understand the people representing us in office. Electing officials is an important part of being an American citizen, and it is a fundamental right at that. Quite frankly, many people who are not white men had to fight extremely hard for. Thus, it is extremely important to exercise your right to vote. Additionally, it is important to understand the candidates you elect because they make the policies that you must live in. In the words of the famous Greek philosopher Plato, “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”