Question 1

Who should I vote for in North Carolina in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Vote for the candidate with the strongest record. This page scores 15 North Carolina races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and statewide office on the Ballot Standard, 15 qualities of character, qualifications and performance from public records and established reporting, and names the candidate who scores highest in each. Evidence checked October 9, 2026.

Question 2

Who should I vote for in North Carolina Senate?

Accepted Answer

Roy Cooper has the strongest record in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race. Roy Cooper scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Whatley at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Roy Cooper's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Michael Whatley's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Shannon W. Bray (5 of 15 criteria) and Michael Dublin (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 3

Who should I vote for in NC-01?

Accepted Answer

Don Davis has the strongest record in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District. Don Davis scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Laurie Buckhout at 50, as of October 9, 2026. Don Davis's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Laurie Buckhout's highest marks are relevant experience. Tom Bailey (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 4

Who should I vote for in NC-02?

Accepted Answer

Deborah Ross has the strongest record in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District. Deborah Ross scores 71 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Deborah Ross's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Eugene Douglass (5 of 15 criteria) and Matthew Laszacs (4 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 5

Who should I vote for in NC-03?

Accepted Answer

Raymond Smith Jr. has the strongest record in North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District. Raymond Smith Jr. scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Greg Murphy at 58, as of October 9, 2026. Raymond Smith Jr.'s highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Greg Murphy's highest marks are relevant experience and integrity. Daniel Cavender (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 6

Who should I vote for in NC-04?

Accepted Answer

Valerie Foushee has the strongest record in North Carolina's 4th Congressional District. Valerie Foushee scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Valerie Foushee's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mahesh Ganorkar (6 of 15 criteria) and Guy Meilleur (4 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 7

Who should I vote for in NC-05?

Accepted Answer

Virginia Foxx has the strongest record in North Carolina's 5th Congressional District. Virginia Foxx scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Virginia Foxx's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Chuck Hubbard (7 of 15 criteria) and Robert Luffman (4 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 8

Who should I vote for in NC-06?

Accepted Answer

Addison McDowell has the strongest record in North Carolina's 6th Congressional District. Addison McDowell scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Cyril Jefferson at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Addison McDowell's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Cyril Jefferson's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 9

Who should I vote for in NC-07?

Accepted Answer

David Rouzer has the strongest record in North Carolina's 7th Congressional District. David Rouzer scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. David Rouzer's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Maad Abu-Ghazalah (5 of 15 criteria) and Kimberly Hardy (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 10

Who should I vote for in NC-08?

Accepted Answer

Mark Harris has the strongest record in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District. Mark Harris scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Mark Harris's highest marks are showing up and courage. Colby Watson (6 of 15 criteria) and Bo Whitehead (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 11

Who should I vote for in NC-09?

Accepted Answer

Richard Hudson has the strongest record in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District. Richard Hudson scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Richard Ojeda at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Richard Hudson's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Richard Ojeda's highest marks are relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 12

Who should I vote for in NC-10?

Accepted Answer

Pat Harrigan has the strongest record in North Carolina's 10th Congressional District. Pat Harrigan scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Pat Harrigan's highest marks are courage and relevant experience. Ashley Bell (5 of 15 criteria) and Steven Feldman (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 13

Who should I vote for in NC-11?

Accepted Answer

Jennifer Balkcom has the strongest record in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District. Jennifer Balkcom scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jamie Ager at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Jennifer Balkcom's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Jamie Ager's highest marks are roots in the constituency. Travis Groo (2 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 14

Who should I vote for in NC-12?

Accepted Answer

Alma S. Adams has the strongest record in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District. Alma S. Adams scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Alma S. Adams's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Jack Codiga (4 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 15

Who should I vote for in NC-13?

Accepted Answer

Brad Knott has the strongest record in North Carolina's 13th Congressional District. Brad Knott scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Paul Barringer at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Brad Knott's highest marks are courage and relevant experience. Paul Barringer's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Steven Swinton (1 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 16

Who should I vote for in NC-14?

Accepted Answer

Tim Moore has the strongest record in North Carolina's 14th Congressional District. Tim Moore scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Tim Moore's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. LaKesha Womack (3 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Who should I vote for in North Carolina?

U.S. Senate, North Carolina

U.S. House, North Carolina 1st Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 2nd Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 3rd Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 4th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 5th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 6th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 7th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 8th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 9th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 10th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 11th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 12th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 13th Congressional District

U.S. House, North Carolina 14th Congressional District