The Gist
State Senator, 50th District
Photo of Tom Downing
Tom DowningCampaign photo — tomdowning4nc.com

Tom Downing

Candidate for State Senator, 50th District

Democratic

Background

Occupation
Local government administrator
Lives in
Cullowhee
Campaign website
tomdowning4nc.com

Has worked in local government administration for the City of Asheville for 15 years, after teaching special education in Wisconsin and in Jackson County Public Schools. He has a master's in public administration from Western Carolina University.

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Photo: Campaign photo — tomdowning4nc.com

Documented positions

Taxes & budget

  • Supports rethinking the flat income tax and corporate tax cuts.

    As summarized by The Smoky Mountain News. In the Public School Forum survey he called for exploring "ways to make our corporate and individual tax rates reasonable and fair across the board."

    Corbin defends Senate seat against Downing

    News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · smokymountainnews.com

    “including rethinking flat income taxes and corporate tax cuts that he sees as unfair and fiscally short-sighted”
    2026 NCGA Candidate Survey response: Tom Downing

    Candidate questionnaire · Public School Forum of North Carolina · Question 2 · ncforum.org

    Report

Public safety

  • Supports a clearer regional plan for disaster response.

    Corbin defends Senate seat against Downing

    News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · smokymountainnews.com

    “argued that the state and region lack a clear, widely understood plan for how people should get information and respond”
    Report

Education

  • Opposes public money for private school vouchers.

    He told the Public School Forum that private schools "should receive no public funding at all."

    Corbin defends Senate seat against Downing

    News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · smokymountainnews.com

    “We just have to stop siphoning off our tax dollars and giving it to private schools”
    2026 NCGA Candidate Survey response: Tom Downing

    Candidate questionnaire · Public School Forum of North Carolina · Question 4 · ncforum.org

    Report

  • Supports changing how lottery money helps schools.

    He argues lottery dollars replace existing school funding rather than adding money for construction and repairs.

    Corbin defends Senate seat against Downing

    News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · smokymountainnews.com

    “Downing is interested in making changes to the North Carolina Education Lottery to better support schools.”
    Report

Housing

  • Pledges bipartisan work on housing, child care and insurance costs.

    Tom Downing for NC: For Everyone

    Campaign website · Tom Downing for NC Senate · tomdowning4nc.com

    “find real solutions to our shortages of affordable housing, affordable daycare, and the rising costs of health insurance”
    Report

Other issues in this race

Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Tom Downing on them.

  • Roads & infrastructureNo documented position found.
  • Health & human servicesNo documented position found.

All sources (12)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.