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State and local leaders are supporting Jesse and common sense leadership

Jesse Oppenheim for Congress

NC State Representative District 103

Laura Budd

NC State senator district 42

Woodson Bradley

County commissioner District 4

Mark Jerrill

County Commissioner District 6

Susan Rodriguez-McDowell

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Leigh Altman

NC State Representative District 92

Terry M. Brown

NC State Representative District 100

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Ken McCool

NC state representative district 112

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<h2></h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/71f17bad-5033-4e4f-945c-fd4e19da494f/2a38d59d-cf7e-43bd-9582-0a159cdfe24a/2a38d59d-cf7e-43bd-9582-0a159cdfe24a.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C300%2C264&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="50" variant="framed"><h3>Jesse Oppenheim serves as General Counsel for a healthcare software company based in Charlotte. He leads legal strategy and compliance in one of the country's most complex industries.</h3>He and his wife, Jamie, chose to build their lives and raise a family in Charlotte. Since moving, Jesse has become an active part of the city’s legal, religious, and civic communities, serving on local boards and helping shape conversations around leadership, equity, and integrity in the profession.&nbsp;Jesse was named an “Emerging Leader” by the Charlotte Business Journal, a three-time “Lawyer of Distinction,” and a 2025 finalist for the Journal’s Outstanding General Counsel Award. But titles don’t drive him; results do. He’s a tireless worker who believes public service means showing up, listening hard, and doing the right thing, especially when difficult.&nbsp; Jesse enjoys spending time with his family and his dog, Jax.

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For too long, North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District has been represented by people more interested in stoking outrage than solving problems. I don’t play those games.&nbsp; I’m here to do the work.Our district deserves a representative who listens, shows up, and puts people over politics. I’m focused on what actually matters here at home: making health care more affordable and accessible, fixing our roads and schools, bringing good jobs into our communities, and fighting for some common sense in these uncommon times.

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Strong Schools, Strong CommunitiesEvery child deserves the chance to learn in a safe classroom, with a qualified teacher, and the resources to succeed. Investing in students means investing in our economy, our neighborhoods, and our shared future.But today, too many schools in North&nbsp;Carolina's 8th District are underfunded and understaffed. Teachers are leaving the profession because they can’t afford to stay. Families are asked to do more with less, while politicians in Washington and Raleigh push policies that drain money out of public schools and into the hands of special interests.When I’m in Congress, I’ll fight to:<ul><li>Send federal dollars straight into classrooms, not private voucher schemes. That means backing legislation that ties infrastructure funding to school repairs and modernization in communities like ours.</li><li>Raise teacher pay by expanding federal support for recruitment and retention. Programs like Title II grants can help North Carolina keep great teachers, especially in rural districts.</li><li>Expand career and technical education. By strengthening support for community colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeships, we can give students real pathways to good-paying jobs without crippling debt.</li><li>Close the digital divide. Broadband expansion and technology grants will ensure every child—from Cabarrus County to Robeson—has access to the tools they need to learn.</li></ul>Education is the foundation of a strong middle class and the cornerstone of our democracy. If we shortchange our schools, we shortchange our future. I’ll fight to make sure every student in the 8th District gets the fair shot they deserve.

Strong Schools, Strong CommunitiesEvery child deserves the chance to learn in a safe classroom, with a qualified teacher, and the resources to succeed. Investing in students means investing in our economy, our neighborhoods, and our shared future.

Education

Affordable Housing for Working Families&nbsp;&nbsp;Housing should be stable, safe, and within reach. Teachers, nurses, and first responders should be able to live in the communities they serve. Across North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, families are being priced out. Fast-growing suburbs face rising land and construction costs. Rural towns face aging homes and limited financing. Water and sewer capacity has not kept up. Too many vacant or damaged homes sit off the market.When families cannot find attainable homes, schools struggle to keep teachers, hospitals and public safety agencies struggle to recruit, and small towns lose their vitality. Empty buildings also make downtowns less safe. Stable housing supports public safety, strong Main Streets, and healthy families.When I am in Congress, I will vote to:<ul><li>Increase the supply families can afford by expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, creating a workforce housing credit for middle-income renters, and passing the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act to finance rehab of owner-occupied houses.</li><li>Match infrastructure to growth by bringing EPA and USDA funding to expand water and sewer capacity and by tying a share of federal infrastructure dollars to local policies that allow duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and small-lot homes near jobs and schools.</li><li>Strengthen rural housing tools by expanding USDA 502, 515, and 538 programs and by supporting upgrades and resident-ownership pathways for manufactured home communities.</li><li>Unlock infill and reuse by growing HOME and Community Development Block Grants to convert vacant upper floors and rehab older homes near Main Streets.</li><li>Support the workforce that serves us with federal matching grants for teacher, nurse, and first-responder housing partnerships.</li><li>Lower monthly bills through weatherization and energy-efficiency upgrades that cut utility costs while improving comfort and health.</li><li>Speed disaster recovery with funding for strategic buyouts in flood-prone areas, elevation or relocation of homes to safer sites, and promote faster post-disaster housing assistance.</li><li>Reduce delays by funding technical assistance that helps local governments streamline by-right approvals for code-compliant housing.</li></ul>Housing is a human right and a community responsibility. By aligning funding, infrastructure, and local rules, we can keep families rooted, help Main Streets thrive, and make every county in the 8th District a place where working people can afford to live.

Affordable Housing for Working Families&nbsp;&nbsp;Housing should be stable, safe, and within reach. Teachers, nurses, and first responders should be able to live in the communities they serve. Across North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, families are being priced out.

Affordable Housing

Respect and Recognition for the Lumbee NationThe Lumbee people are the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River and one of the most vibrant communities in the country. For more than a century, they fought for the full federal recognition that other tribes receive. That struggle has shaped the history of southeastern North Carolina and generations of Lumbee families who never stopped pushing for fairness.In December 2025, that struggle reached a historic milestone. Congress granted full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina by including the Lumbee Fairness Act in the National Defense Authorization Act, opening long-denied access to federal programs and resources.Federal recognition is about fairness, dignity, and equal access to opportunity. It allows Lumbee families to receive the same support other tribes access for healthcare, education, housing, economic development, and cultural preservation. Tribal members and leaders have rightly marked this moment as the culmination of decades of advocacy and resilience.Recognition, however, is only the beginning. Implementation matters. Federal recognition must translate into real improvements in people’s lives, stronger institutions, and durable economic opportunity rooted in self-determination.When I am in Congress, I will:<ul><li>Support full implementation of federal recognition by working with the Lumbee Tribal Council and federal agencies to ensure healthcare, education, housing, and economic development programs are delivered effectively and without delay.</li><li>Secure funding for tribal priorities, including health services through the Indian Health Service, housing assistance, infrastructure investment, and education support that closes longstanding gaps.</li><li>Invest in institutions like UNC Pembroke, which serves as a cultural and economic anchor for the Lumbee community and the surrounding region.</li><li>Champion economic development and job creation in Robeson, Scotland, Hoke, and Cumberland Counties by aligning federal resources with community-driven plans for small business support, workforce training, and cultural tourism.</li><li>Partner directly with Lumbee leadership to ensure federal programs respect tribal sovereignty, culture, and community priorities as implementation moves forward.</li></ul>Federal recognition affirms what Lumbee people have always known about their identity, their contributions, and their place in this nation. Now the work is to make that recognition real in daily life. When the Lumbee succeed, communities across the district succeed with them.

Respect and Recognition for the Lumbee NationThe Lumbee are the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River and one of the most vibrant communities in the country. For more than a century, they have fought for the federal recognition that every other tribe of their size already holds.

Lumbee Recognition

You Deserve Quality Healthcare AccessYour zip code should not determine your access to quality health care.&nbsp; You shouldn’t go bankrupt getting sick and shouldn’t have to drive an hour just to see a doctor. &nbsp;I will work to lower premiums, cut drug costs and end the rural healthcare desert by investing in programs that bring opportunity to the areas most in need. This would include community clinics that are more affordable and bring necessary services into the community.&nbsp;The people of this district also deserve access to quality mental health and substance abuse services.&nbsp; I will fight to ensure that additional resources are devoted to expanding help all across our district. &nbsp;

You Deserve Quality Healthcare AccessYour zip code should not determine your access to quality health care.&nbsp; You shouldn’t go bankrupt getting sick and shouldn’t have to drive an hour just to see a doctor. &nbsp;

Make Healthcare Work for Everyone

<h5>Says Harris’s denial after the 2018 ballot-harvesting scandal renders him unfit to serve North Carolina’s 8th District</h5>CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jesse Oppenheim, candidate for North Carolina’s 8th CongressionalDistrict, said representative Mark Harris failed to properly take responsibility for his 2018 ballot-harvesting scandal. As a result, Oppenheim believes Harris has disqualified himself from representing the district in 2026.“Mark Harris did not take responsibility or tell the truth when the facts were clear. Even those closest to him warned him that his actions had crossed a line and that the right course was to step aside,” said Oppenheim. “Instead, he denied the findings, deflected blame, and tried to move on without accountability. That denial is what broke trust.”As a General Counsel in the Charlotte Area, Oppenheim has been recognized as an “Emerging Leader” in the community by the Charlotte Business Journal and hopes to bring that leadership to Washington. Oppenheim’s presence in the legal, civic, and faith communities in the Charlotte area has allowed him to hear from everyday folks about the issues that matter most to them and learn from their experiences. “People I talk to every day want honesty, accountability, and leaders who take responsibility when they get it wrong,” he said.Oppenheim’s campaign is focused on restoring trust through accountable leadership, with practical solutions on healthcare, infrastructure, economic development, and public safety.Visit Jesse Oppenheim's campaign at <a href="http://jessefornc.com">jessefornc.com</a>.

Says Harris’s denial after the 2018 ballot-harvesting scandal renders him unfit to serve NorthCarolina’s 8th District

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Oppenheim Calls Out Harris’s Refusal to Accept Accountability

Protecting the Uwharrie and Growing the Outdoor EconomyUwharrie National Forest is one of our district’s greatest assets. It protects clean water, offers miles of trails and access to Badin Lake and the Uwharrie River, and supports jobs in nearby towns such as Troy, Badin, Mount Gilead, and the gateway hub of Albemarle.That promise is at risk. Heavy fuel loads and hotter, drier periods raise wildfire danger near homes and farms. Deferred maintenance on forest roads, trail bridges, culverts, and campgrounds leads to closures, erosion, and safety hazards. Invasive plants crowd out native habitats. Popular trailheads and OHV areas need upkeep, clear signage, parking, and accessible features, yet staffing is thin and necessary funding is being&nbsp;denied. In many recreation corridors, broadband and cell coverage are limited, which makes emergencies harder to manage and keeps visitors from finding local businesses.When I am in Congress, I will vote to:<ul><li>Secure long-term funding for wildfire prevention and habitat restoration so land managers can reduce hazardous fuels with prescribed fire and thinning, protect homes at the forest edge, and rebuild resilient native habitat.</li><li>Fix the places people use every weekend by directing Great American Outdoors Act and Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to roads, bridges, culverts, trailheads, bathrooms, docks, and accessible facilities across Uwharrie.</li><li>Coordinate across boundaries using Good Neighbor Authority, stewardship contracts, and Joint Chiefs’ partnerships so the U.S. Forest Service, the North Carolina Forest Service, counties, and private landowners can plan and deliver multi-year projects together.</li><li>Grow the outdoor economy with Recreational Trails Program, Federal Lands Access Program, and Economic Development Administration grants that improve parking, signs, wayfinding, and gateway amenities in Troy, Badin, Mount Gilead, and Albemarle, drawing visitors who spend money in local shops and restaurants.</li><li>Improve safety and visitor experience with better broadband and cell coverage by targeting investments along recreation corridors and at high-use sites, coordinated with counties, providers, and the Forest Service.</li><li>Put veterans and young people to work by funding conservation corps crews, AmeriCorps placements, and paid apprenticeships tied to our community colleges, creating year-round trail, habitat, and maintenance jobs.</li><li>Protect clean water by replacing failing stream crossings, stabilizing eroding banks, and restoring wetlands that keep sediment out of drinking-water sources and reduce downstream flooding.</li></ul>Protecting Uwharrie is the right thing to do for our land and our water. It is also a smart investment in public safety and local jobs. With steady funding, good partnerships, and local crews, we can keep these forests healthy and make sure nearby towns share in the benefits.

Protecting the Uwharrie and Growing the Outdoor EconomyUwharrie National Forest is one of our district’s greatest assets. It protects clean water, offers miles of trails and access to Badin Lake and the Uwharrie River, and supports jobs in nearby towns such as Troy, Badin, Mount Gilead, and the gateway hub of Albemarle.

Protecting Uwharrie National Forest

AI, Jobs, and the Next GenerationArtificial intelligence is already reshaping how we work, live, and learn. However, most members of Congress don’t understand it, but they’re voting on it anyway. That’s a recipe for disaster.I work in the tech space. I’ve seen firsthand how AI can help solve complex problems and how it can be abused when no one’s paying attention. We need leaders in Washington who know what’s coming, not just what’s comfortable.As a member of Congress, I’ll help write smart laws that:<ul><li>Protect jobs and personal data from AI overreach</li><li>Hold Big Tech accountable when they threaten our privacy, security, or democracy</li><li>Prepare our workforce for the AI economy by investing in education, training, and access to emerging technology in our schools and small businesses</li></ul>This isn’t science fiction. It’s happening now. We need to be ready, not reactive, so our communities can compete, grow, and thrive in the economy of the future.

AI, Jobs, and the Next GenerationArtificial intelligence is already reshaping how we work, live, and learn. However, most members of Congress don’t understand it, but they’re voting on it anyway. That’s a recipe for disaster.

Protecting Our Future

Families across North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District are doing what they are supposed to do. They work hard, follow the law, raise their kids, care for aging parents, and contribute to their communities. But year after year, it gets harder to keep up. Too many families are one setback away from real trouble.Affordability isn't an abstract idea. It's whether a teacher can live near the school where she teaches. It's whether a nurse can afford childcare on a hospital salary. It's whether a senior citizen can fill a prescription and still pay the electric bill. When people can't afford the basics, pressure builds, stress rises, and stability breaks down.When I am in Congress, I will focus on lowering the everyday costs that hit people the hardest:<ul><li>Lower housing costs by expanding the supply of homes people can afford, investing in workforce housing, and tying federal infrastructure dollars to local policies that allow housing to be built where people work.</li><li>Reduce healthcare costs by protecting coverage, lowering prescription drug prices, and expanding access to affordable care so people are not punished for getting sick.</li><li>Cut energy and utility bills by investing in energy efficiency, modernizing the grid, and expanding clean energy options that lower monthly costs for households and small businesses.</li><li>Support working parents and caregivers by expanding access to affordable childcare and elder care so people can stay in the workforce without going broke.</li><li>Protect consumers and small businesses by enforcing competition laws, cracking down on price manipulation, and making sure large corporations do not rig the system against working people.</li><li>Lower the cost of education and retraining for people who serve our communities by expanding GI Bill–style benefits to first responders, giving them a debt-free path to new skills, career advancement, or transition when service takes its toll.</li><li>Strengthen local jobs and wages by investing in training, apprenticeships, and small businesses so paychecks can keep up with the cost of living.</li></ul>Affordability is about fairness and stability. People who work hard should be able to afford the basics, plan for the future, and live with dignity.

Lower housing costs. Affordable health care. A fair shot for everyone.Families across North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District are doing what they are supposed to do. They work hard, follow the law, raise their kids, care for aging parents, and contribute to their communities. But year after year, it gets harder to keep up. Too many families are one setback away from real trouble.

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WOur district is home to thousands of veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and military families. They start businesses, teach in our schools, serve as first responders, and lead in our communities. They deserve more than speeches. They deserve results.But too many veterans still drive hours for basic care, wait months for benefits decisions, or struggle to translate military skills into civilian jobs. Mental health needs go unmet. Military spouses face licensing barriers, childcare shortages, and underemployment because of frequent moves. Guard and Reserve families carry the burdens of activation with uneven support. We can fix these problems with practical steps and steady follow-through.When I am in Congress, I will vote to:<ul><li>Bring care closer to home. Fund more Community-Based Outpatient Clinics and mobile clinics in underserved parts of the district, expand VA telehealth, and support transportation help for medical visits.</li><li>Strengthen mental health support. Increase funding for suicide prevention, PTSD and substance use treatment, and peer-to-peer programs, and integrate these services with local community health centers and schools.</li><li>Cut the claims backlog. Add claims staff, modernize case management, and set clear performance standards so veterans receive the benefits they earned without long delays.</li><li>Build direct job pathways. Expand SkillBridge and registered apprenticeships with manufacturers, hospitals, and public safety agencies in the district, and create fast-track credentialing for medics to EMTs and paramedics, technicians to skilled trades, and leaders to project managers.</li><li>Support military spouses. Make professional licenses portable across states, expand MyCAA-style education and training support, prioritize remote and flexible federal jobs for spouses, increase fee assistance and available slots for childcare, and offer microgrants for spouse-owned small businesses.</li><li>Back the Guard and Reserve. Enforce USERRA reemployment rights, improve mental health access, and close benefit gaps that strain families during activations and training periods.</li><li>Protect housing and financial stability. Increase housing support where costs are rising, expand legal assistance, and crack down on predatory lending and scams that target service members and veterans.</li></ul>Veterans and military families have earned more than just words of gratitude. They have earned action. By improving care, streamlining benefits, opening clear paths to good jobs, and supporting spouses and families, we will honor their service and strengthen every community in the 8th District.

Our Men and Women In Uniform Deserve BetterOur district is home to thousands of veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and military families. They start businesses, teach in our schools, serve as first responders, and lead in our communities. They deserve more than speeches. They deserve results.

Standing Up for Veterans and Military Families

Safe Communities, Strong CommunitiesEvery person in should feel safe at home, at work, and in their neighborhood. Public safety means protecting people, supporting first responders, and addressing the root causes of crime so our communities can thrive.Too many towns are struggling with violent crime, gun violence, and the devastating impact of fentanyl. At the same time, law enforcement and first responders are underfunded and stretched thin. Families pay the price when leaders in Washington argue instead of act.Public safety is also tied to the strength of our local economies. When Main Streets are full of active businesses, they provide jobs, positive role models, and safe public spaces. When storefronts are vacant, crime takes root more easily, and police departments face greater pressure with fewer resources. Rebuilding our commercial corridors is part of rebuilding community safety.When I am in Congress, I will:<ul><li>Fund first responders by expanding federal COPS and SAFER grants so local police, fire, and EMS departments can hire and train the staff they need.</li><li>Keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people by strengthening background checks and closing loopholes while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners.</li><li>Confront the opioid and fentanyl crisis by increasing federal support for treatment, prevention, and law enforcement to stop trafficking and save lives.</li><li>Support mental health programs by expanding funding for community health clinics, school-based counselors, and crisis response teams so people get help before emergencies turn violent.</li><li>Invest in community-based prevention with after-school programs, job training, and small business revitalization to create opportunity and reduce the conditions that fuel crime.</li></ul>Keeping our communities safe takes both accountability and opportunity. By supporting law enforcement and rebuilding the economic foundations of our towns, we can make the 8th District a place where families live with security and peace of mind.

Safe Communities, Strong CommunitiesEvery person in should feel safe at home, at work, and in their neighborhood. Public safety means protecting people, supporting first responders, and addressing the root causes of crime so our communities can thrive.

Main Street and Small Business RenewalSmall businesses should be the backbone of the 8th District. From family-owned shops in Waxhaw to hardware stores in Rockingham, restaurants in Albemarle, storefronts in Wadesboro, and markets in Laurinburg, they create jobs, build local pride, and keep money circulating in our communities.Too many of these businesses are held back by obstacles they cannot solve alone. Bank consolidation makes it harder to secure affordable loans, especially for rural entrepreneurs. Main Street blocks struggle with slow broadband, aging water and sewer lines, and power reliability issues. Many owners lack access to legal, accounting, e-commerce, and workforce planning support. Floods and hurricanes have closed doors across Robeson and Scotland Counties. The federal and state contracting systems are complex and often favor large firms over local shops.&nbsp; And as storefronts sit vacant, downtown areas become more vulnerable to crime, putting additional strain on local law enforcement and first responders.&nbsp; We can strengthen public safety by bringing businesses back to vacant downtown corridors, increasing foot traffic, community presence, and local tax revenue to support first responders.When I am in Congress, I will vote to:<ul><li>Expand access to capital by strengthening SBA 7(a), 504, and Community Advantage lending through CDFIs and credit unions, so viable local businesses can start, grow, and recover.</li><li>Upgrade Main Street infrastructure by funding broadband, water and sewer replacements, and energy improvements with EDA, EPA, and USDA Rural Development programs.</li><li>Build small business support hubs at local community colleges and chambers to provide legal and accounting clinics, e-commerce and marketing help, and hiring assistance.</li><li>Create disaster restart tools including targeted microgrants, pre-approved bridge loans, and mitigation funds for floodproofing utilities and equipment.</li><li>Open federal procurement to local firms by unbundling contracts where possible, expanding set-asides, and growing APEX Accelerator services so small businesses can compete and win.</li><li>Lower operating costs with energy-efficiency grants and Main Street revitalization funds for facades, lighting, and build-outs.</li><li>Ensure fair reach by setting measurable targets for rural, minority-, veteran-, and women-owned businesses across these programs.</li></ul>Main Street is where our communities come together. By removing the barriers that hold small businesses back, we will strengthen our towns, create good local jobs, make our communities safer, and keep the economy growing.

Main Street and Small Business RenewalSmall businesses should be the backbone of the 8th District. From family-owned shops in Waxhaw to hardware stores in Rockingham, restaurants in Albemarle, storefronts in Wadesboro, and markets in Laurinburg, they create jobs, build local pride, and keep money circulating in our communities.

Rebuilding Mainstreet

<h5>A GI Bill–Style Education Benefit for First Responders</h5>Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics serve our communities under extraordinary pressure. They respond on our worst days, carry enormous responsibility, and absorb physical and emotional strain that few professions face. When we ask people to take on that level of risk for the public good, we should offer a clear path to stability and opportunity in return.Across North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, public safety departments struggle to recruit and retain experienced personnel. Burnout and injury shorten careers. Many first responders who want to advance their skills, retrain, or transition into new roles are forced to take on debt or leave public service altogether. That hurts families, weakens departments, and makes communities less safe.When I am in Congress, I will work to create a GI Bill–style education and training benefit for first responders, earned through service and designed to strengthen public safety. This policy will:<ul><li>Open real education and training pathways by covering community college programs, technical and trade schools, apprenticeships, professional certifications, and career transition programs for those who can no longer serve on the front lines.</li><li>Include a housing stipend tied to local cost of living, so first responders can support their families and remain in the communities they serve, especially in fast-growing parts of the district where housing costs have risen faster than wages.</li><li>Set clear and responsible eligibility standards based on defined years of service, a clean disciplinary record, and service at the local, county, or state level, keeping the program targeted and accountable.</li><li>Strengthen recruitment and retention by making public safety careers more sustainable, reducing burnout-driven exits, and encouraging long-term commitment to service.</li><li>Support workforce transitions so experienced first responders can move into healthcare, teaching, emergency management, skilled trades, or other high-need fields without starting over financially.</li></ul>From Union County to Cabarrus, Stanly, and beyond, first responders are neighbors, parents, volunteers, and leaders. This policy invests in public safety by investing in the people who provide it.I believe in rewarding service with opportunity and in strengthening public safety by supporting the workforce that makes it possible. Expanding GI Bill–style benefits to first responders is a practical, responsible way to do exactly that.

A GI Bill–Style Education Benefit for First RespondersPolice officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics serve our communities under extraordinary pressure. They respond on our worst days, carry enormous responsibility, and absorb physical and emotional strain that few professions face.

Expanding Opportunity Through Service

Clean Energy That Respects Our LandNorth Carolina is one of the top states in the country for solar energy, and has the land, workforce, and expertise to build on that success. Expanding clean energy is not just about cutting emissions. It is about creating stable jobs, lowering energy bills, and keeping our local economies competitive.We can do this without sacrificing the farmland and open spaces that define our communities. Too often, federal investments bypass rural counties while large solar projects target productive farmland. That drives up land prices, reduces local food production, and leaves communities vulnerable if companies walk away from unfinished or abandoned sites. Clean energy can and must be built in a way that strengthens our economy without sacrificing our heritage, including the character of our land.When I am in Congress, I will:<ul><li>Bring clean energy investment to our district by steering federal grants and tax incentives toward solar farms, battery storage, and grid upgrades that improve reliability and prevent blackouts.</li><li>Make clean energy affordable for families and small businesses through expanded tax credits, rebates, and low-interest loans for rooftop solar, efficiency upgrades, and community solar programs.</li><li>Incentivize developers and large commercial property owners to install solar on warehouses, big box stores, and new developments.</li><li>Protect farmland and rural character by prioritizing clean energy projects on rooftops, brownfields, and non-productive land, and requiring developers to restore sites to their original condition when projects end.</li><li>Support farmers who want to participate in clean energy by helping them lease small portions of their land while keeping the rest in production, giving them added income without losing their agricultural base.</li><li>Build a skilled local workforce by funding clean energy and electrical trade programs at community colleges across the district.</li><li>Reduce dependence on foreign energy by producing more of our power locally, keeping energy dollars circulating in our own communities.</li></ul>Clean energy is one of the strongest economic opportunities in front of us and it can power our future. We can create jobs, lower costs, and protect the farmland without giving up open spaces that make the 8th District home.

Clean Energy That Respects Our LandNorth Carolina is one of the top states in the country for solar energy, and has the land, workforce, and expertise to build on that success. Expanding clean energy is not just about cutting emissions. It is about creating stable jobs, lowering energy bills, and keeping our local economies competitive.

Clean Energy

Ban Corruption in CongressFor far too long, Congress hasn’t been working for the people. It’s working for itself. Too many lawmakers play by a different set of rules, taking actions that would land the rest of us in serious trouble.On Day One, I’ll introduce a bill to ban individual stock trading by members of Congress. No excuses. No loopholes. No grandfather clauses.&nbsp; When members of Congress trade individual stocks, they aren’t working for us. They’re working for their own portfolio.&nbsp;I’ll also push for real transparency around campaign money and special interest influence. Voters deserve to know who’s pulling the strings and who’s paying the bills.Both parties have done bad things and we can't rebuild trust in our government until we clean up the corruption at the top.

Ban Corruption in CongressFor far too long, Congress hasn’t been working for the people. It’s working for itself. Too many lawmakers play by a different set of rules, taking actions that would land the rest of us in serious trouble.

Fix What's Broken

Infrastructure that Serves Us, Not HeadlinesFrom Concord to Charlotte, Monroe to Lumberton, the people of the 8th District deserve an infrastructure system that works, no matter their ZIP code. But right now, too many of our communities are being left behind.Roads are crumbling. School buildings are falling apart. Broadband is unreliable, or doesn’t exist at all.Meanwhile, Congressman Mark Harris is busy giving money to millionaires so they can send their kids to private schools, while public infrastructure in our district continues to rot.When I’m in Washington, I’ll fight for:<ul><li>Rural and suburban broadband—because opportunity should reach every home, farm, and business</li><li>Investment in local roads, bridges, schools, and water systems—not just big-city projects with flashy headlines</li><li>Skilled trades and career training, because we need to give the next generation real paths to good-paying careers, whether it's in plumbing, electrical work, auto mechanics, or in-demand fields like nursing and healthcare tech</li></ul>Whether you live in a small town or a growing suburb, you deserve infrastructure that’s built to last and built to serve. I’m running to make sure we bring those investments home—and make them work for everyone.

Infrastructure that Serves Us, Not HeadlinesFrom Concord to Charlotte, Monroe to Lumberton, the people of the 8th District deserve an infrastructure system that works, no matter their ZIP code. But right now, too many of our communities are being left behind.

Building It Here

Lowering costs for North Carolina families. 
Common Sense in Uncommon Times