Our democracy is the foundation of everything we care about—from schools to wages to safety. But right now, too many politicians are more focused on rigging the system than serving the people. In 2024, more North Carolinians voted for Democrats in the legislature, yet Republicans kept overwhelming control thanks to gerrymandered maps. I’m the primary sponsor of the Fair Maps Act to end that corruption, and I’m pushing to protect voting rights, restore nonpartisan judicial elections, and reverse legislative power grabs that ignore the will of voters. We need a government that’s accountable to you—not one that shields itself from consequences.

Every child in North Carolina deserves a sound, basic education—that’s not just my belief, it’s our state constitution. But right now, we’re falling short. I’m fighting to fully fund the Leandro Plan so schools can hire and retain qualified teachers and counselors, raise teacher pay to competitive levels, and repair crumbling facilities. We also need to rein in the voucher program that siphons public dollars to unaccountable private schools. Strong public schools are the key to a strong future—and I won’t stop until we’re giving our kids the tools, teachers, and classrooms they deserve.

Our economy should reward hard work, not just wealth. I’m focused on practical steps that build real opportunity—like expanding paid apprenticeships through programs like ApprenticeshipNC, boosting clean energy and broadband infrastructure, and ensuring small businesses get the resources they need to grow. That means raising wages, enforcing workplace protections, and making sure North Carolinians can afford to live in the communities they serve. We can build a fair economy that lifts up working families in all 100 counties—if we choose to invest in people, not just profits.

No parent should have to worry more about school shootings than school projects. And no child should grow up practicing lockdown drills because politicians are too afraid of the gun lobby to act. I’m leading or co-sponsoring legislation to require safe gun storage, report lost or stolen firearms, ban ghost guns, and eliminate the sales tax on gun safes. These reforms are backed by the vast majority of North Carolinians. Gun violence is preventable—but only if we have the courage to take on those blocking progress.

A better North Carolina means more than any one issue—it’s about building a state where every family can thrive. That means affordable, high-quality health care. It means universal pre-K and reliable child care, so every child starts school ready to learn. It means respecting educators with professional pay and fixing classrooms that are falling apart. It means clean air, safe water, and broadband in every county. And it means restoring trust in government through fair elections and independent courts. These aren’t pipe dreams—they’re the future we can build together, and I’m in this to make it real.