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State Representative, 78th District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on North Carolina laws and the state budget in the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Photo of Matt Holway
Matt HolwayCampaign photo — holwayfornc.com

Matt Holway

Democratic

West End

The gist

  • Supports keeping public school money in public schools.
  • Supports funding state agencies to guard resources against data centers.
  • Supports setting rules before surveillance cameras are activated.
  • Supports health care access through the ACA, Medicaid and Medicare.
  • Opposes limits on mail-in and early voting.
More about Matt
View sources (5)
  1. Supports keeping public school money in public schools.

    Schools | Matthew Holway

    Campaign website · Matt Holway for NC Committee · holwayfornc.com

    “Ensure that our schools are properly funded, and that tax money designated for our public schools goes to our public schools”
  2. Supports funding state agencies to guard resources against data centers.

    Data Centers & the Environment | Matthew Holway

    Campaign website · Matt Holway for NC Committee · holwayfornc.com

    “state agencies responsible for stewarding our natural resources and public areas are sufficiently supported and funded so they can protect us from data centers”
  3. Supports setting rules before surveillance cameras are activated.

    Flock Cameras | Matthew Holway

    Campaign website · Matt Holway for NC Committee · holwayfornc.com

    “We must assure our 4th Amendment right to privacy by establishing standards and rules BEFORE we activate any surveillance cameras.”
  4. Supports health care access through the ACA, Medicaid and Medicare.

    Health Care | Matthew Holway

    Campaign website · Matt Holway for NC Committee · holwayfornc.com

    “Priorities for government spending need to encompass supporting The Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare, and accessible care even in rural areas”
  5. Opposes limits on mail-in and early voting.

    Voting Access | Matthew Holway

    Campaign website · Matt Holway for NC Committee · holwayfornc.com

    “We have to fight against messing around with mail-in voting ... reducing the time available for early voting”
Photo of Neal Jackson
Neal JacksonOfficial portrait — North Carolina General Assembly

Neal Jackson

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative; pastor · Robbins

The gist

  • Opposes abortion.
  • Supports school choice across public, charter and private options.
  • Sponsored the law opting into the federal scholarship tax credit.In office
  • Sponsored a bill shortening early voting outside general elections.In office
  • Voted for amendment capping income tax rate at 3.5%.In office
  • Voted for the 2026 state budget.In office

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

More about Neal
View sources (6)
  1. Opposes abortion.

    Issues | Neal Jackson for NC House

    Campaign website · Neal Jackson for NC House · nealjackson4nc.org

    “I am pro-life and believe that abortion is destroying the future of our country.”
  2. Supports school choice across public, charter and private options.

    Issues | Neal Jackson for NC House

    Campaign website · Neal Jackson for NC House · nealjackson4nc.org

    “I, therefore, support school choice for parents. I will work to strengthen all of the options available to parents, public, charter and private.”
  3. Sponsored the law opting into the federal scholarship tax credit.

    House Bill 87 (2025-2026 session), edition 6

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to participate in the federal tax credit established by the federal one big beautiful bill act”
    Representative Neal Jackson: primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · HB 87 · ncleg.gov

    “Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA).”
    Representative Neal Jackson: recorded votes, 2025-2026 session

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · Roll call 656, May 20, 2026 · ncleg.gov

    “Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). Veto Override”
  4. Sponsored a bill shortening early voting outside general elections.

    Representative Neal Jackson: primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · HB 411 · ncleg.gov

    “Reduce Early Voting Period for Primaries.”
    House Bill 411 (2025-2026 session), edition 1

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to reduce the early voting period for all elections other than the general election from seventeen days to six days”
  5. Voted for amendment capping income tax rate at 3.5%.

    Senate Bill 1080 (2025-2026 session), edition 3

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “the maximum tax rate on incomes cannot exceed three and one”
    Representative Neal Jackson: recorded votes, 2025-2026 session

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · Roll call 664, May 20, 2026 · ncleg.gov

    “Lower Taxes for All NC. Third Reading”
  6. Voted for the 2026 state budget.

    Representative Neal Jackson: recorded votes, 2025-2026 session

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · Roll call, July 2, 2026 · ncleg.gov

    “2026 Appropriations Act. R3 Ruled Mat'l C RPT Adoption”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.