Who's Who?
To avoid a long search for candidates who are running in districts that include HBCUs, here are the candidates running for election in North Carolina districts that include HBCUs.
More from this guide
Editor's Letter
North Carolina is a competitive state heading into a competitive election, college students will decide the outcome.
Standing on the shoulders of giants
North Carolina’s HBCUs have a long history intertwined with politics, and today they are still engaging with them though in some distinct ways.
Preparation for North Carolina ballots: What you need To know
Learning the details behind voting can be tricky, so we’ve accrued some tips on how to be prepared to vote.
The voice of the leaders
Students are well aware of the country’s issues ahead of the election and their personal concerns differ even as they hope for change to come.
HBCU consider voting system, COVID response ahead of election
Professors across North Carolina’s HBCUs discussed possible outcomes of this election, and how it could impact the years to come.
The importance of voter education
HBCU professors in North Carolina have emphasized the importance of making every vote count given the especially unusual political arena in the United States compared to other elections in United States history.
Lines make a difference
Gerrymandering has wreaked havoc on the voting system of North Carolina. What exactly is the process, and why does it matter?
Who’s who?
It’s time-consuming to research everyone on your ballot — so we researched the biggest names for you. Here’s what you need to know.
Listed below is every candidate for office in North Carolina from each of the major political parties. Each candidate has a quick biography, followed by key issues and platforms they stand on. Each candidate’s priorities are according to the candidate’s website unless expressed otherwise.
Jump to:
• State House of Representatives, District:
5
29
33
38
43
61
71
76
101
• State Senate, District:
1
14
19
20
28
32
33
37
State House of Representatives, District 5 (Pasquotank/Elizabeth City State University)
Incumbent: Howard Hunter III
Howard Hunter III (D)
About
Howard III has served in District 5 since 2015. Howard III previously served on the Hertford County Board of Commissioners.
Issues
• Crack down on gang violence
• Ensure School nurses
• Provide healthcare for those affected by COVID-19
Donald Kirkland (R)
About
Kirkland is motivated to run for the concern of healthcare and addiction help.
Issues
• Help for those with an addiction
• Lower income taxes
• Raising minimum wage
State House of Representatives, District 29 (Orange/North Carolina Central University)
Incumbent: Vernetta Alston
Vernetta Alston (D)
About
Alston, who is running unopposed, obtained her seat in the House by appointment after MaryAnn Black died in March 2020. She previously served on the Durham City Council and is an attorney who received her law degree from the University of North Carolina.
Issues
• Find and utilize sources of renewable energy
• Improve public transportation given a burgeoning population
• Secure affordable housing for residents
State House of Representatives, District 33
Incumbent: Rosa Gill
Rosa Gill (D)
About
Gill has served since 2009. She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Shaw University and is a retired state employee.
Issues
• Strengthen unemployment insurance
• Combating systemic racism with the House committee
• Improve education and transportation
Frann Sarpolous (R)
About
Sarpolous has spent time as a ministry director, according to her Linkedin page.
Issues
N/A
Sammie Brooks (L)
About
Brooks graduated from Garner High School in 2004 and is a mother of three.
Issues
• Decrease zoning regulations
• Increase school choice
• Provide more housing
State House of Representatives, District 38 (Wake/St. Augustine University)
Incumbent: Yvonne Lewis Holley
Abraham P. Jones (D)
About
Jones previously served as a judge for the Tenth Judicial District of the Third Division of the Superior Court in Wake County. He was also a judicial candidate for the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2014. Yvonne Lewis Holley endorsed him.
Issues
• Produce more affordable housing
• Access to vocational training
• Reform justice system
Kenneth Bagnal (R)
About
Bagnal previously ran against Yvonne Lewis Holley and lost in 2018.
Issues
N/A
Richard Haygood (L)
About
Haygood previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent time stationed in Jacksonville.
Issues
• Housing affordability
• Expand school choice
• Increase liquor product variety
State House of Representatives, District 43 (Cumberland/Fayetteville State University)
Incumbent: Elmer Floyd
Elmer Floyd (D)
About
Floyd has served since 2009. He previously worked as the human relations director for Fayetteville, N.C. and was in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963.
Issues
• Amend worker’s compensation
• Grow rural economies with technology
• Provide opioid addiction relief
Kimberly Hardy (D)
About
Hardy has degrees from Ohio State University and Morgan State University and has also worked as an assistant professor of social work at Fayetteville State University
Issues
• Fight hunger and homelessness
• Improve local energy supplies
• Fight for civil and reproductive rights
Diane Wheatley (R)
About
Wheatley previously served as a 2012 candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Issues
• Healthcare
• Education
• Create more jobs
State House of Representatives, District 61 (Guilford/ North Carolina A&T and Bennett College)
Incumbent: Mary “Pricey” Harrison
Mary “Pricey” Harrison (D)
About
Harrison, unopposed in this race, is a former communications law attorney who is an alumna of Duke University and the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law. She is a Greensboro native and has previously represented District 57 from 2004 through 2018.
Issues
• Keep teacher pay competitive
• Build a “green” and sustainable economy
State House of Representatives, District 71 (Forsyth/Winston-Salem State University)
Incumbent: Evelyn Terry
Evelyn Terry (D)
About
Terry, who is running unopposed, previously sat on the Winston-Salem City Council and has been in the House of Representatives since 2012.
Issues
• Increasing teacher pay
• Expanding access to Medicaid
• Protect air and water quality in North Carolina
State House of Representatives, District 76 (Rowan/Livingstone College)
Incumbent: Harry Warren
Harry Warren (R)
About
Warren, an Ohio native, worked in business management for many years before taking into politics. One of his daughters works as a Research Analyst for the General Assembly.
Issues
• Increase teacher pay
• Lower taxes
Al Heggins (D)
About
Heggins previously served on the Salisbury City Council and as the city’s mayor. She is both a former teacher and former college administrator.
Issues
• Medicaid expansion
• Attack poverty in the state at its root
• Expand broadband Internet into rural NC communities
State House of Representatives, District 101 (Mecklenburg/ Johnson C. Smith University)
Incumbent: Carolyn Logan
Carolyn Logan (D)
About
Logan spent much of her adult life in law enforcement, retiring from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in 2007. She now works for Atkins North America, a management and consulting firm.
Issues
• Increase affordable housing availability
• Increase state employee salaries
• Provide better access to mental health services for veterans
Joseph Lee Haywood (R)
About
Haywood runs a business selling industrial maintenance supplies and spent much of his childhood in Greensboro, N.C.
Issues
• More robustly fund law enforcement
• Reduce regulations on small business
• Rework immigration system
State Senate, District 1 (Pasquotank/Elizabeth City State University)
Incumbent: Bob Steinburg
Bob Steinburg (R)
About
Steinberg spent his career primarily in marketing for many businesses over the years, and he calls himself a Christian.
Issues
• Fight for local control of schools
• Defend Second Amendment rights
Tess Judge (D)
About
Judge is a businesswoman and the widow of former Dare County Commissioner, Warren Judge.
Issues
• Reject offshore drilling
• Increase broadband internet access
• More robust access to mental, substance abuse counseling resources
State Senate, District 14 (Wake/St.Augustine University and Shaw University)
Incumbent: Dan Blue (D)
Dan Blue (D)
About
Blue, alumnus of North Carolina Central and the Duke University School of Law, has served the state Senate since 2009. His political career at the state level began in 1980 after winning a race for the House of Representatives.
Issues
• Wants to spur economic development via community college system
• Reduce cost of prescription drugs
• Diversify and expand agricultural sector
Alan David Michael (R)
About
Michael is a sales representative for Chrysler-Jeep and has previously served as an election official in Wake County. He also has extensive experience as a restaurant manager.
Issues
• Reduce burdens, regulations on small business
• Balance the state budget
• Raise teacher pay
Justin Walczak (L)
About
Walczak, the only Libertarian in the race, appears to have only raised $140 from the Wake County Libertarian Party. It also appears he is in the U.S. Army Reserve, however there is very little information on Walczak and his political views.
Issues
N/A
State Senate, District 19 (Cumberland/Fayetteville State University)
Incumbent: Kirk deViere
Kirk deViere (D)
About
deViere, who spent some of his childhood in Chipley, Fla., served in the U.S. Army for 10 years. He moved to Fayettevillle in 2000 and now runs a full-service marketing and public relations firm.
Issues
• Provide more affordable housing
• Increase investment in public education
• Expand access to Medicaid
Wesley Meredith (R)
About
Meredith is a former Republican senator who lost to deViere in competing for the same position in 2018, having served there for eight years prior. He runs a landscaping company and served in the U.S. Army.
Issues
• Secure PPE for physicians battling coronavirus spread
• Reaffirm Second Amendment rights
• Allow more school choice for parents
State Senate, District 20 (Orange/North Carolina Central University)
Incumbent: Natalie S. Murdock
Natalie S. Murdock (D)
About
Murdock has served since 2018. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from UNC Chapel Hill. Her professional experience includes the deputy director of communications at the North Carolina Department of Justice
Issues
• Increase affordable housing
• Decrease recidivism rate
• Increase teacher pay
John Tarantino (R)
About
Tarantino served in the U.S. Army National Guard. He received his bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania and has worked as an educator.
Issues
N/A
State Senate, District 28 (Guilford/North Carolina A&T State University and Bennett College)
Incumbent: Gladys Robinson
Gladys Robinson (D)
About
Robinson has served since 2011.She has a bachelor's degree from Bennett College and a doctoral degree in leadership studies from North Carolina A&T State University. Robinson has been a grant writer and an executive director and member of North Carolina Board of Governors.
Issues
• Funding for the CARES Act
• Ensure school nurses for children
• Rebuild NC Bond Act
Devin R. King (R)
About
King previously studied criminal justice at Guilford Technical Community College. His work experience includes a certified nursing assistant and security officer.
Issues
N/A
State Senate, District 32 (Forsyth/Winston-Salem State University)
Incumbent: Paul A. Lowe
Paul A. Lowe (D)
About
Lowe is from Seattle,Washington and has represented the 32nd District since 2015. As well as serving North Carolina, he is also a pastor.
Issues
• Improve healthcare
• Improve agricultural laws
• Push for the CARES Act, to help those affected by COVID-19.
Ven Challa (R)
About
Dr. Challa is a retired Wake Forest professor, physician and author.
Issues
• Lowes prescription drug costs
• Expand production of electric vehicles
• Affirm Second Amendment rights
State Senate, District 33 (Rowan/Livingston College)
Incumbent: Carl Ford
Carl Ford (R)
About
Ford has served since 2019. Ford formerly served in District 76 in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2013-2018.
Issues
• Strengthen DWI laws
• Provide aid to those affected by COVID-19
• Improve local low-performing schools
Tarsha Ellis (D)
About
Ellis is an analyst for Ahold-Delhaize.
Issues
• Increase teacher pay
• Create more jobs
• Bring costs of healthcare down
State Senate, District 37 (Mecklenburg/Johnson C. Smith University)
Incumbent: Jeff Jackson
Jeff Jackson (D)
About
Jackson has served for District 37 since 2014. He received his bachelors and masters in philosophy from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hilland his work experience includes being an assistant district attorney in Gaston County.
Issues
• Provide relief for COVID-19
• Close the medicaid gap
• Recode criminal laws
Sonja Nichols (R)
About
Nichols runs a security services business that only employs U.S. military veterans, and she previously worked for IBM as a systems engineer.
Issues
• Provide more affordable housing
• Decrease amount of regulations on small businesses
• Create more jobs
Jeff Scott (L)
About
Scott has worked in business intelligence, banking and the financial sector for 30 years. He has degrees in economics and statistics from San Francisco State University
Issues
• Revamp student loan system
• Push for national healthcare system
• Push for fair redistricting in North Carolina