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State Senator, 13th District

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

What this office does: A state senator votes on North Carolina laws and the state budget in the General Assembly.

Robert van Brederode

Republican

Former law professor · Fuquay-Varina

The gist

  • Supports requiring E-Verify for employers with five or more workers.
  • Opposes driver's licenses for immigrants without legal status.
  • Proposes performance-based pay for teachers.
  • Supports steering growth beyond the state's metro areas.
  • Supports shifting power to counties and municipalities.
More about Robert
View sources (1)
  1. Supports requiring E-Verify for employers with five or more workers.

    Policy Positions - Robert-for-NC

    Campaign website · Committee to Elect Robert van Brederode · robert-for-nc.com

    “I support lowering that to employers with 5 or more employees.”
  2. Opposes driver's licenses for immigrants without legal status.

    Policy Positions - Robert-for-NC

    Campaign website · Committee to Elect Robert van Brederode · robert-for-nc.com

    “I oppose legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.”
  3. Proposes performance-based pay for teachers.

    Policy Positions - Robert-for-NC

    Campaign website · Committee to Elect Robert van Brederode · robert-for-nc.com

    “We should evaluate teachers based on educational outcomes.”
  4. Supports steering growth beyond the state's metro areas.

    Policy Positions - Robert-for-NC

    Campaign website · Committee to Elect Robert van Brederode · robert-for-nc.com

    “I support economic policy that encourages growth beyond the metropolitan areas of the state”
  5. Supports shifting power to counties and municipalities.

    Policy Positions - Robert-for-NC

    Campaign website · Committee to Elect Robert van Brederode · robert-for-nc.com

    “allocate political power as much as reasonably possible to the county and municipal level”
Photo of Lisa Grafstein
Lisa GrafsteinOfficial portrait — North Carolina General Assembly

Lisa Grafstein

DemocraticIncumbent

State senator; civil rights attorney · Raleigh

The gist

  • Supports a nonpartisan redistricting commission.
  • Supports protecting abortion rights.
  • Supports restoring the N.C. Housing Trust Fund.
  • Supports reinstating the renewable energy tax credit.
  • Sponsored a return to nonpartisan judicial elections.In office
  • Sponsored repeal of limits on public-employee union organizing.In office
  • Sponsored withholding legislators' pay without a budget.In office

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

More about Lisa
View sources (5)
  1. Supports a nonpartisan redistricting commission.

    Issues - Lisa Grafstein For NC

    Campaign website · Lisa Grafstein For NC · lisagrafstein.com

    “We need a non-partisan redistricting commission to prevent gerrymandering”
  2. Supports protecting abortion rights.

    Issues - Lisa Grafstein For NC

    Campaign website · Lisa Grafstein For NC · lisagrafstein.com

    “We will have a healthier and more equitable community when we protect the right to abortion and reproductive freedom.”
  3. Supports restoring the N.C. Housing Trust Fund.

    Issues - Lisa Grafstein For NC

    Campaign website · Lisa Grafstein For NC · lisagrafstein.com

    “This includes restoring the depleted North Carolina Housing Trust Fund”
  4. Supports reinstating the renewable energy tax credit.

    Issues - Lisa Grafstein For NC

    Campaign website · Lisa Grafstein For NC · lisagrafstein.com

    “including reinstating the Renewable Energy Investment Tax Credit”
  5. Sponsored a return to nonpartisan judicial elections.

    Senator Lisa Grafstein, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act”
    Senate Bill 107 (Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to reenact nonpartisan judicial elections”
  6. Sponsored repeal of limits on public-employee union organizing.

    Senator Lisa Grafstein, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Remove Barriers to Labor Organizing”
    Senate Bill 120 (Remove Barriers to Labor Organizing), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “repealing RESTRICTIONS on labor organizing by public employees”
  7. Sponsored withholding legislators' pay without a budget.

    Senator Lisa Grafstein, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “No Budget, No Pay Act”
    Senate Bill 806 (No Budget, No Pay Act), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “the salaries of members of the general assembly shall be held in escrow”

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; 8 issues covered in this race.