U.S. House, North Carolina 2nd Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District?
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.
Republican
Eugene Douglass
On the ballot as Eugene F. Douglass
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Libertarian
Matthew Laszacs
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Deborah Ross
On the ballot as Deborah K. Ross
71 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 85
- Performance
- 69
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Eugene Douglass
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Matthew Laszacs
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Deborah Ross
- On the record2023-05-14
Filed a periodic transaction report on May 14, 2023 for a spouse IRA stock exchange from a merger, dated Nov. 7, 2022, with notification on Nov. 30, 2022.
Source: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20022808
- On the record2021-01-06
Voted Nay on the House objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
- Credit2026-09
Missed 0.8 percent of roll call votes from January 2021 to September 2026,, per GovTrack.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
- Credit2022-12
Was the primary sponsor of the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022, one of six bills she sponsored that were enacted.
Source: GovTrack, enacted legislation
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Eugene Douglass. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed April 26, 2026. His committee is registered with the FEC, which shows no 2025 to 2026 financial data. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076198, FEC administrative fines search
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. Her 2025 annual financial disclosure was filed May 11, 2026. WRAL reports she owns stocks but did not trade in her latest annual disclosure. One 2023 periodic transaction report is in the Record. No House Ethics finding or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10074987, WRAL, July 2026, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. In the U.S. House since 2021 and the state House from 2003 to 2013. No formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Deborah Ross
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. Voted Nay on the House objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes on Jan. 6 and 7, 2021. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Eugene Douglass. Retired chemistry professor who taught college chemistry for more than 30 years, including at UNC Pembroke from 2005, with a doctorate from N.C. State. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Eugene Douglass (candidate survey), INDY Week candidate questionnaire, 2026
Matthew Laszacs. Business executive who says he directs a $70 million business and has 20 years of team leadership. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Matthew Laszacs (candidate survey), Campaign site, Meet Matt
Deborah Ross. U.S. representative since January 2021 and a state representative from 2003 to 2013 (E9).
Source: Ballotpedia, Deborah Ross
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Eugene Douglass. Lists three priorities (nuclear power with large loads supplying their own generation, ending duplicative federal rules, merit at NSF and in federal education) with limited detail.
Matthew Laszacs. His Ballotpedia survey states positions on congressional authority in general terms.
Deborah Ross. Ranking member of the Science Committee's Energy subcommittee and serves on Judiciary and Ethics (E11); publishes issue priorities.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Campaign site, Priorities
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Eugene Douglass. Three channels documented: Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, the INDY Week questionnaire and a campaign newsletter site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Eugene Douglass, INDY Week candidate questionnaire, 2026, Campaign site (Substack)
Matthew Laszacs. One channel documented: Ballotpedia's 2026 survey (E19). His campaign site carries pages from a prior state legislative run.
Source: Ballotpedia, Matthew Laszacs
Deborah Ross. Three channels documented: an email newsletter, the INDY Week questionnaire and issue priority pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: House office site, newsletters, INDY Week candidate questionnaire, 2026, Campaign site, Priorities
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Eugene Douglass. Has lived in North Carolina since 2005 and files from a Raleigh address.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Eugene Douglass (candidate survey), NC State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list
Matthew Laszacs. Has lived in North Carolina since 2001 and files from a Cary address.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Matthew Laszacs (candidate survey), NC State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list
Deborah Ross. Came to North Carolina for law school (law degree 1990) and represented Raleigh in the state House from 2003 to 2013. FEC by-state totals show about 71 percent of itemized individual contributions from North Carolina.
Sources: INDY Week candidate questionnaire, 2026, Ballotpedia, Deborah Ross, NC State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. Legislative Effectiveness Score 0.765 against a benchmark of 0.526 in the 118th Congress, meets expectations; primary sponsor of six enacted bills, including the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. Missed 22 of 2,915 roll call votes, 0.8 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. Runs a Raleigh district office and offers help with federal agencies and a casework survey. No published casework totals found.
Sources: House office site, office locations, House office site
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.20449 in the latest posted House scores (2023), ranked 167 of 436.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Eugene Douglass. No public record found.
Matthew Laszacs. No public record found.
Deborah Ross. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District?
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.
Who is running in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District in 2026?
Eugene Douglass (Republican), Matthew Laszacs (Libertarian), Deborah Ross (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Eugene Douglass a good candidate for Congress?
Eugene Douglass has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Matthew Laszacs a good candidate for Congress?
Matthew Laszacs has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Deborah Ross a good candidate for Congress?
Deborah Ross scores 71 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 85 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every North Carolina race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the North Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.