State Representative, 16th District · North Carolina 2026 General Election

Jim Harris

Democratic

Retired healthcare IT director · Hampstead

The gist

Supports ending Opportunity Scholarships for higher-income families.
Supports term limits and a stock-trading ban for officials.
Supports a higher minimum wage and repealing right-to-work.
Supports limiting retention and sharing of license plate data.
Opposes the proposed state cap on local property taxes.

More about Jim

View sources (2)

Supports ending Opportunity Scholarships for higher-income families.
Jim Harris 2026 candidate questionnaire
Candidate questionnaire · Port City Daily (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk media consortium) · portcitydaily.com
“I would propose the repeal of Opportunity Scholarships for those above a certain income level”
Supports term limits and a stock-trading ban for officials.
Jim Harris 2026 candidate questionnaire
Candidate questionnaire · Port City Daily (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk media consortium) · portcitydaily.com
“I would further propose term limits for public service elected officials, age-related retirement ceilings, prohibit stock/bond trades while in office”
Supports a higher minimum wage and repealing right-to-work.
Jim Harris 2026 candidate questionnaire
Candidate questionnaire · Port City Daily (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk media consortium) · portcitydaily.com
“I would propose an increase in the minimum wage, the repeal of Right to Work laws prohibiting union development”
Supports limiting retention and sharing of license plate data.
Jim Harris 2026 candidate questionnaire
Candidate questionnaire · Port City Daily (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk media consortium) · portcitydaily.com
“Not only should data be time-bound in its retention, it should be specifically “white-listed””
Opposes the proposed state cap on local property taxes.
About — Harris for NC 16
Campaign website · Harris for NC 16 Campaign Committee · harris4nc16.com
“State legislative power grabs, like the pending property tax ceiling legislation currently under consideration in the General Assembly”

Carson Smith

RepublicanIncumbent

Retired Pender County sheriff · Hampstead

The gist

Sponsored letting retired officers return to work with benefits.In office
Sponsored changes to post-release supervision of offenders.In office
Sponsored limited malpractice immunity for supervised nurses.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Carson

View sources (3)

Sponsored letting retired officers return to work with benefits.
House Bill 753, "LEOs Return to Work." (2025-2026 session, as filed)
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“AN ACT to allow for the continuation of retirement benefits for certain law ENFORCEMENT officers”
Sponsored changes to post-release supervision of offenders.
House Bill 575, "The Hunter Robinson Act." (2025-2026 session, as filed)
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“AN ACT to revise the laws governing post”
Sponsored limited malpractice immunity for supervised nurses.
House Bill 746, "Limited Immunity/Nurses." (2025-2026 session, as filed)
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“AN ACT to provide limited immunity against medical malpractice for registered nurses acting under the supervision of a health care provider”