For the first time in Newbern’s history, the citizens of this majority-Black town got to participate directly in the democratic process. The incumbent Mayor Patrick Braxton defeated his opponent Laird Cole 66 to 26. Braxton was Cook and Cabil’s top choice.

“Newbern hasn’t really had a mayor in a long time … so it feels good to have something happening here, to have somebody that can actually lead us in a good direction,” Cabil said before the results were in.

Cook and the other voters were choosing between incumbent Braxton, who is Black, and Cole, who is white. The second race on the ballot is for council seat 1 between two Black women, Patricia A. Jackson and Voncille Brown Thomas. Jackson defeated Brown Thomas 64 to 27. Brown Thomas was the only Black woman who served on the majority-white council prior to Braxton’s election in 2020.

Shortly after Tuesday night’s win, Braxton told Capital B: “It feels good now. It takes all the doubt out. The judge gave it to me [last year]. The people gave it to me this time.”

Five years ago, Braxton, a volunteer firefighter, won the election after being the only person to file his statement of candidacy and statement of economic interest.

Yet, he never got to serve until last year. After he won in 2020, he says he was harassed and faced intimidation by the former, majority-white Town Council. He finally got to serve as a result of a settlement reached in federal court in July 2024.

Earlier in the day, Cook said she knew she had to get out and vote because finally, “we have a voice in who becomes mayor.”