U.S. House, North Carolina 7th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in North Carolina's 7th Congressional District?
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.
Libertarian
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Kimberly Hardy
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
David Rouzer
65 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
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.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Kimberly Hardy
- On the record2020-11-03
Was the Democratic nominee for North Carolina House District 43 in 2020.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kimberly Hardy
David Rouzer
- On the record2021-01-07
Voted Yea on the objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes on Jan. 6 and 7, 2021.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
- On the record2020-12-10
Was one of 126 House members who signed the amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania, the suit to block four states' certified 2020 results.
Source: Texas v. Pennsylvania, amicus brief of 126 House members
- On the record2018 to 2020
PolitiFact has rated two of his statements: a May 2018 tweet on the Iran nuclear deal False and a December 2020 tweet on marijuana and IQ Mostly False.
Sources: PolitiFact, David Rouzer scorecard, PolitiFact, May 22, 2018, PolitiFact, Dec. 8, 2020
- Credit2025-12-18
Sponsored H.R. 6410, the Atlantic Coast Shipping Safety Act; its provisions were enacted in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, signed Dec. 18, 2025.
- Credit2025
Chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit in the 119th Congress.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Rouzer office site, committees
- Credit2022-12-29
Sponsored H.R. 5029, extending Vet Center counseling to families of service members and veterans who died by suicide; it was enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through Sept. 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 13, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077852, FEC administrative fines search
Kimberly Hardy. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076382, FEC administrative fines search
David Rouzer. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 filed Aug. 6, 2026, after an extension. His two 2026 stock transaction reports were filed within 45 days. No House Ethics finding or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10081433, House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20033758, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. Voted against the Majority Leader and Whip on six floor amendments in 2025 and 2026, including Aye on a July 2025 Greene amendment and No on an April 2026 Self amendment.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 204, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 151, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. In public office since 2009, including two state Senate terms and six U.S. House terms, with no censure, reprimand or House Ethics conduct finding found.
Sources: Rouzer office site, biography, House Committee on Ethics site search for Rouzer
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. Voted Yea on the objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes on Jan. 6 and 7, 2021, and signed the December 2020 House amicus brief in Texas v. Pennsylvania.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021, Texas v. Pennsylvania, amicus brief of 126 House members
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. Works as a consultant and holds degrees from Notre Dame, the University of Virginia and Santa Clara University law school. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Kimberly Hardy. Associate professor of social work at Fayetteville State University since 2016 and a former school social worker; second vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party since 2023. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kimberly Hardy, Campaign site, Meet Kimberly
David Rouzer. In the U.S. House since 2015, now in his sixth term, after two terms in the North Carolina Senate; earlier a senior USDA Rural Development official and senior aide to two U.S. senators.
Sources: GovTrack, David Rouzer, Rouzer office site, biography
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. Answered Ballotpedia's survey with positions on foreign wars, the federal budget, water and data centers, in general terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Kimberly Hardy. Publishes a priorities page with specific proposals, including closing the overtime salary loophole, expanding Opportunity Zone and Community Development Block Grant programs and coastal resilience funding.
Source: Campaign site, Priorities
David Rouzer. Chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit and is vice chair of an Agriculture subcommittee; two of his bills were enacted in the last three Congresses.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Rouzer office site, committees
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026.
Source: Ballotpedia, Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Kimberly Hardy. Publishes a priorities page. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey; completed it in 2020.
Sources: Campaign site, Priorities, Ballotpedia, Kimberly Hardy
David Rouzer. Offers an e-newsletter, publishes issue pages and answered the Wilmington StarNews 2022 candidate questionnaire. Did not respond to the 2026 WECT and Port City Daily questionnaire or to Ballotpedia's surveys.
Sources: Rouzer office site, home page, Ballotpedia, David Rouzer, Wilmington StarNews via Yahoo News, Oct. 16, 2022, WECT, Sept. 30, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. Lives in Wilmington, which is in the district. FEC by-state totals show about 57 percent of itemized individual contributions from North Carolina.
Sources: Rouzer office site, biography, U.S. Census Bureau, 119th Congress district relationship file (place), FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through Sept. 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Kimberly Hardy. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
David Rouzer. Campaign 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.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 1.603 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.473, meets expectations. His Atlantic Coast Shipping Safety Act was enacted in the FY2026 defense authorization, signed Dec. 18, 2025.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, H.R. 6410 (119th Congress), GovTrack, David Rouzer
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. Missed 64 of 6,404 roll call votes, 1.0 percent, from January 2015 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. Runs four district offices and monthly staff office hours in at least six towns across the district, and offers casework help.
Sources: Rouzer office site, offices, Rouzer office site, mobile office hours, Rouzer office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.72133 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 272 of 436, a negative score above the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Maad Abu-Ghazalah. No public record found.
Kimberly Hardy. No public record found.
David Rouzer. 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 7th Congressional District?
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.
Who is running in North Carolina's 7th Congressional District in 2026?
Maad Abu-Ghazalah (Libertarian), Kimberly Hardy (Democratic), David Rouzer (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Maad Abu-Ghazalah a good candidate for Congress?
Maad Abu-Ghazalah 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 Kimberly Hardy a good candidate for Congress?
Kimberly Hardy 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 David Rouzer a good candidate for Congress?
David Rouzer scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 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.