NC Deep Dive

Early voting is almost over, and many of you may still be weighing your options. To help, we recorded a full Democratic candidate forum for North Carolina’s U.S. House District 13 so you can cut through the noise, hear real answers, and decide with confidence. This famously gerrymandered district stretches from Caswell and Person to Johnston, Lee, and southeast Wake—we also explain how to confirm your district and find your sample ballot using the State Board of Elections voter search.

Two candidates took the stage: Paul Barringer and Frank Pierce. Paul draws on decades in health law and public policy, arguing Congress must reclaim its Article I role, strengthen constituent services, and protect ACA subsidies while rolling back new Medicaid barriers. Frank argues off-year wins come from doors, data, and early engagement, pointing to turnout gains, year-round organizing, and coalition building across Black voters, HBCUs, and Democratic caucuses.

You’ll hear contrasts—and overlap—on abortion rights, rural health access, paying for care, Ukraine, Taiwan, NATO, tariffs, and redistricting strategy.

If District 13 is on your ballot and you’re a Democrat or unaffiliated voter, this forum delivers substance flyers can’t. Listen, compare, and choose. If this helped, subscribe, leave a quick review, and share it with one person who still needs to hear it. Your vote—and your voice—can move this district. 

Democratic Ballot: US House of Representatives District 13 Candidates

Paul Barringer: Facebook/Instagram/X/Bluesky/[email protected]

Frank Pierce: Facebook/Instagram/X/TikTok/[email protected]

Alexander Nicholi: Facebook/X/Substack/SBENicholiFTW.com

Campaign Finance Reports for Federal Candidate Committees

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

February 12-28: Closest Early Voting Locations

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY

Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

The Democratic primary for Seat Three on the North Carolina Court of Appeals features two candidates offering distinct paths to the bench: James Weldon Whalen and Christine Walczyk. As a statewide court that reviews thousands of civil and criminal cases each year—and now has the final word in the vast majority of appeals—its decisions shape fundamental issues ranging from voting rights to public education and constitutional protections. This race highlights differing professional backgrounds and judicial philosophies at a time when the role and independence of the courts are central topics in public debate.

Whalen, an appellate attorney who previously served in the North Carolina Department of Justice and now practices in private law, centers his campaign on defending constitutional rights and checking what he describes as abuses of political power. He points to his work fighting gerrymandering, supporting public school funding, and helping defend a state Supreme Court election outcome as evidence of his appellate experience. Walczyk, by contrast, brings 18 years of experience as a Wake County district court judge, including leadership roles in family and civil court. She emphasizes her record of issuing fair, timely, and nonpartisan decisions, her commitment to equal treatment under the law, and her belief that judges must remain independent from political pressure.

NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 3 Candidates

James Weldon Whalen: Campaign Finance Report

----Facebook/Instagram/X/Bluesky/Threads/TikTok/LinkedIn

Christine Marie Walczyk: Campaign Finance Report

----Facebook/Instagram

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 12-28

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

In this episode, we break down the Democratic primary for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, featuring three distinct candidates:

• Paul Barringer – A healthcare consultant, attorney, and farm manager running on constitutional accountability, fiscal responsibility, and practical healthcare reform. He emphasizes independent, district-first representation, balanced budgeting, and bipartisan problem-solving rooted in “common sense” governance.
• Frank Pierce – A lifelong North Carolinian and small business owner focused on working families. His platform highlights affordable healthcare, strong public education funding, support for farmers and small businesses, immigration reform, housing solutions, climate action, and protecting democracy, alongside a commitment to community service and compromise.
• Alexander Nicholi – A software developer and self-described labor Democrat campaigning against deficit spending and tech-industry influence. He prioritizes protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, enforcing stricter border controls, ending omnibus bills, and restoring transparency and constitutional governance.

We explore how each candidate defines the district’s challenges and offers a different vision for its future.

Democratic Ballot: US House of Representatives District 13 Candidates

Paul Barringer: Facebook/Instagram/X/Bluesky/[email protected]

Frank Pierce: Facebook/Instagram/X/TikTok/[email protected]

Alexander Nicholi: Facebook/X/Substack/[email protected]

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County

Campaign Finance Reports for Federal Candidate Committees

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 12-28

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

We map the District 13 Republican primary between Sid Sharma and Brad Knott, laying out each platform, public record, and source so voters can compare claims and consequences. Clear contrasts emerge on immigration tactics, tax policy scope, and governing style.

• Ballot rules and who gets a primary ballot
• Sid Sharma’s bio and accountant-first agenda
• Sharma’s deportation strategy and sanctuary city penalties
• Sharma's Second Amendment absolutism and litigation plan
• Sharma's zero tax for under $50k and gas tax repeal
• Sharma's attacks on Brad Knott’s votes, bills, and endorsements
• Brad Knott’s prosecutor background and committees
• Brad Knott's border security penalties, school choice, balanced budget stance
• Brad Knott's rights, policing, and abortion positions
• Brad Knott's GovTrack ideology-leadership placement and bill focus
• Campaign finance snapshots and voting records

Make sure you check out our NC Deep Dive Voters' Guide for the 2026 primary election found below along with all the other relevant episodes for the 2026 primary election! Early Voting has begun, so it's time to make your voice heard! 

If you found value in this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, review, and share it to help us in our mission to help voters make their most informed choices.

Sid Sharma: Facebook/X/[email protected]

Brad Knott: Facebook/Instagram/X/[email protected]

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County

Campaign Finance Reports for Federal Candidate Committees

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 12-28

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

We walk through how the NC primary works, then break down the NC-04 Democratic race: Valerie Foushee’s record and endorsements, Nida Allam’s platform and organizing background, and Mary Patterson’s priorities and questionnaire. We close with redistricting shifts, fundraising context, and a clear path to research and vote.

• Early voting dates and ballot rules
• Scope of NC-04 and who appears on ballots
• Valerie Foushee’s biography, committees, and issue slate
• Foushee’s endorsements and questionnaire highlights
• Nida Allam’s story, county record, and platform pillars
• Allam’s endorsements, district info, and questionnaire
• Mary Patterson’s priorities and questionnaire responses
• Fundraising comparisons and cash on hand
• Redistricting changes and their potential effect

If you find this information valuable, we'd love for you to subscribe, review, and share it to help us in our mission to help voters make their most informed choices

US House of Representatives District 4 Candidates:
Valerie P. Foushee: Facebook/Instagram/X/Threads/Bluesky/[email protected]

Nida Allam: Facebook/Instagram/X/TikTok/[email protected]

Mary Patterson: [email protected]

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County

Campaign Finance Reports for Federal Candidate Committees

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 12-28

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

We guide voters through NC’s Democratic US Senate primary with a clear, side-by-side look at each candidate’s platform, background, and funding. From anticorruption plans and affordability to education, healthcare, and civil liberties, we delve into their campaign sites and relevant information.

• primary voting rules for party and unaffiliated voters
• overview of six Democratic candidates on the ballot
• Daryl Farrow’s limited public profile and prior run
• Justin Dues’ affordability/anti-corruption agenda and Project 2030 details
• Roy Cooper’s record, Medicaid expansion, and fundraising lead
• Robert Colon’s peace, justice, and constitutional planks
• Marcus W Williams’s legal services background and bids
• Orrick Quick’s faith-led platform and bold economic ideas

If you found value in this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, review, and share it to help us in our mission to help voters make their most informed choices.

Democratic US Senate Candidates
Daryl Farrow (no website found)/[email protected]

Justin E. Dues: YouTube/[email protected]

Roy Cooper: Facebook/Instagram/X/TikTok/Bluesky/Flickr/[email protected]

Robert Colon: [email protected]

Marcus W. Williams: Facebook/Instagram/X/LinkedIn/Marc7.ec.rr.com

Orrick Quick: Facebook/Instagram/X/Bluesky/[email protected]

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County

Campaign Finance Reports for Federal Candidate Committees

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 12-28

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

We walk through the North Carolina Republican U.S. Senate primary, explain ballot rules, and clarify why one name may not count. Then we profile each candidate with sourced highlights, policy priorities, and links so you can decide faster and vote smarter.

• Primary dates, ballot rules, and unaffiliated voter options
• Status of Margot Dupre’s residency challenge and implications
• Richard Dansie’s incentive-driven reforms and healthcare registry model
• Don Brown’s deep state cuts, tax overhaul, and national carry push
• Michael Whatley’s party leadership record and fundraising strength
• Elizabeth Temple’s affordability focus and AI concerns
• Michele Morrow’s border, education, and election integrity agenda
• Thomas Johnson’s veterans care, grocery costs, and religious liberty plans
• Where to find the NC Deep Dive's Voters' Guide and candidate links

Thanks for helping us in our mission to help voters make their most informed choices.

Republican Primary Candidates for US 

Richard Dansie: [email protected]/Facebook/X

Don Brown: [email protected]/Facebook

Michael Whatley: [email protected]/Facebook/Instagram/X

Elizabeth A. Temple: [email protected]

Michele Morrow: [email protected]/Facebook/Instagram/X

Thomas Johnson: [email protected]/Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County

Campaign Finance Reports for Federal Candidate Committees

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 12-28

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

Local power shapes daily life—from classrooms and bus routes to rent, taxes, and second chances in the courtroom. At the Western Wake Dems forum, we listened closely as five Wake County Commissioner candidates and a District Attorney contender laid out what’s at stake on the primary ballot and how their choices would ripple across every neighborhood. This episode isn’t about sound bites; it’s about taking the time to hear how each candidate thinks, prioritizes, and would lead if elected—on schools facing voucher expansion and federal cuts, housing stability as a prerequisite for student success, and public health systems stretched by SNAP reductions and mental health gaps.

The conversation sharpens around transportation and land use—building housing near existing infrastructure, protecting tree canopy, and accelerating the Wake County Transit Plan—along with safe routes to school, Vision Zero coordination, and property tax relief for seniors. In the District Attorney segment, trust and accountability take center stage, with a clear focus on prosecutorial experience—why it matters in a role that carries immense discretion, and the reality that not all candidates bring it to the table. Commitments to equal justice, constitutional policing, and reducing jail crowding by diverting nonviolent cases into services that address root causes underscore the contrasts. Two votes for County Commissioner. One vote for District Attorney. Clear differences, practical ideas, and real urgency—meant to help you listen carefully, compare leadership styles, and feel informed before you cast your ballot.

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County-pgs. 23 & 35-Candidate Websites

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 12-28

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY
 Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

Ballots are about choices, and US House District 4’s Democratic primary offers a clear one. We bring you inside a sharp, respectful forum between Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and Durham Councilwoman Nida Allam as they wrestle with living wages, immigration enforcement, and the fast-rising footprint of AI data centers. The conversation moves past slogans to the tools that change outcomes: setting national wage standards, curbing ICE’s reach and funding, and deciding whether to pause new data centers until federal rules protect water, energy costs, and neighborhood health.

You’ll hear how each candidate’s path shaped their priorities. Foushee draws on decades of service—from school board to Congress—arguing for steady, results-driven governance and tighter federal guardrails. Allam, the daughter of immigrants and a county leader and organizer, presses for a $24 living wage, Medicare for All, and a moratorium on new data centers, while refusing corporate and AI lobby money. On immigration, both commit to protecting neighbors, with Allam backing abolition of ICE and Foushee emphasizing funding restraints and legislative reform. On tech and infrastructure, Foushee points to an AI commission and the need for national guidelines; Allam highlights rising rates, heavy water use, and the need to stop construction until safeguards exist.

Along the way, we root the policy in the realities of our local communities— where affordability, school infrastructure, and growth pressures meet at the kitchen table. If you’re deciding a Democratic ballot, this forum surfaces the trade-offs between institutional experience and movement energy, and how a safe blue seat can best deliver for working families, students, and small businesses.

2026 Voters' Guide for Southern Wake County

Valerie Foushee-https://valeriefoushee.com/ * [email protected] Facebook/Instagram/X

Nida Allam-https://nidaallam.com/ * [email protected]

Facebook/Instagram/X/TikTok

Mary Patterson-[email protected]

Voter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information)
Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting)

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 12-28

WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly Springs/Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay Varina

ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!

Primary season is here, and District 37 voters are weighing real tradeoffs: how do we make life more affordable, strengthen public schools, and restore trust in state government? We brought all three Democratic candidates—Ralph Clements, Wynn Decker, and Marcus Gadson—into one room for a substantive, fast-moving forum that gets specific on budgets, vouchers, healthcare, and the path to a flipped seat in Southern Wake County. These candidates are vying for the chance to run against incumbent Erin Pare come November to be elected into the NC House of Representatives.  

We start with clarity on voting: who gets which ballot, how to confirm your districts with the NCSBE Voter Search, and why printing a sample ballot can calm “test anxiety” at the polls. Then, the forum begins, and we turn to policy. On education, candidates confront the voucher surge, teacher pay, capital needs like HVAC and tech, and how to keep special education services strong. You’ll hear competing strategies to restore voucher income caps, require private schools taking public funds to publish test scores, and freeze or tighten voucher growth until public schools are fully funded.

Affordability threads through everything: proposals to reinstate the earned income tax credit, cut taxes on essentials like OTC meds and prepared foods, and boost housing supply with duplexes, triplexes, and ADUs. Property tax fairness and better infrastructure funding round out a pragmatic approach to costs families feel every day. The healthcare segment spotlights Medicaid reimbursement rates, mental health capacity, hospital price transparency, and protecting reproductive freedom—with calls to secure choice through state constitutional safeguards.

Undergirding it all is the health of democracy: breaking budget gridlock, protecting the governor’s veto, and reforming redistricting so general elections—not just primaries—shape policy. If you want clear contrasts, concrete ideas, and an honest look at how to actually pass laws in Raleigh, this forum delivers.

Subscribe to NC Deep Dive Podcast, share this episode with a neighbor, and leave a review so more voters can find it. Your voice shapes the outcome—what’s the one change you want your next representative to prioritize?

Support the show

As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email [email protected].  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Now, let's dive in!