State

State Senator, 17th District

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

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

Candidates Compare by issue

Patrick J. Bowersox

Libertarian

Holly Springs

The gist

Supports leaving education decisions to families.
Supports removing regulations that burden small businesses.
Supports smaller, more efficient state government.
Supports more patient choice in health care.

More about Patrick

View sources (2)

Supports leaving education decisions to families.
Meet Patrick Bowersox
Campaign website · Patrick Bowersox for NC Senate · bowersoxforfreedom.org
“Education decisions need to be made by families not bureaucrats.”
Supports removing regulations that burden small businesses.
Meet Patrick Bowersox
Campaign website · Patrick Bowersox for NC Senate · bowersoxforfreedom.org
“Government has stood in the way of too many small businesses with regulations and restrictions”
Supports smaller, more efficient state government.
Meet Patrick Bowersox
Campaign website · Patrick Bowersox for NC Senate · bowersoxforfreedom.org
“Smaller government when it's possible, more efficient government when it's necessary.”
Supports more patient choice in health care.
Better healthcare options for patients and families - Patrick Bowersox
Campaign website · Patrick Bowersox for NC Senate · bowersoxforfreedom.org
“Putting patients and families at the center of the healthcare system starts by offering choice.”

Shirley Johnson

Republican

Consultant · Cary

The gist

Supports stronger abortion restrictions than the 12-week law.
Opposes independent redistricting commissions.
Supports school choice scholarships to spur accountability.
Supports state limits on restrictive local zoning.
Supports teacher raises funded by cutting waste, not taxes.
Supports Medicaid work programs and anti-fraud efforts.

More about Shirley

View sources (1)

Supports stronger abortion restrictions than the 12-week law.
N.C. Senate District 17: Shirley Johnson (2026 primary candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · INDY Week · Feb 6, 2026 · indyweek.com
“North Carolina's 12-week abortion limit is an important step toward protecting life, but it does not go far enough.”
Opposes independent redistricting commissions.
N.C. Senate District 17: Shirley Johnson (2026 primary candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · INDY Week · Feb 6, 2026 · indyweek.com
“I believe the legislature should retain primary authority over redistricting.”
Supports school choice scholarships to spur accountability.
N.C. Senate District 17: Shirley Johnson (2026 primary candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · INDY Week · Feb 6, 2026 · indyweek.com
“Scholarship-based options give parents greater control, promote competition, and incentivize schools to raise academic standards”
Supports state limits on restrictive local zoning.
N.C. Senate District 17: Shirley Johnson (2026 primary candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · INDY Week · Feb 6, 2026 · indyweek.com
“I support the General Assembly's efforts to address North Carolina's housing shortage by placing reasonable limits on overly restrictive local zoning policies.”
Supports teacher raises funded by cutting waste, not taxes.
N.C. Senate District 17: Shirley Johnson (2026 primary candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · INDY Week · Feb 6, 2026 · indyweek.com
“addressing teacher pay does not require raising taxes”
Supports Medicaid work programs and anti-fraud efforts.
N.C. Senate District 17: Shirley Johnson (2026 primary candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · INDY Week · Feb 6, 2026 · indyweek.com
“we should expand and modernize work-support initiatives, including the Work First program”

Mrs. Sydney Batch

DemocraticIncumbent

State senator; attorney and social worker · Raleigh

The gist

Supports public schools, affordable health care and reproductive freedom.
Sponsored a state paid family leave insurance program.In office
Sponsored protections for workers affected by artificial intelligence.In office
Sponsored shielding state workers' pay from health premium hikes.In office

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

More about Mrs.

View sources (5)

Supports public schools, affordable health care and reproductive freedom.
About Sydney Batch
Campaign website · Friends for Sydney Batch · sydneybatch.com
“Senate Democrats are fighting for strong public schools, affordable health care, clean air and water, reproductive freedom”
Sponsored a state paid family leave insurance program.
Senator Sydney Batch, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“NC Paid Family Leave Insurance Act”
Senate Bill 480 (NC Paid Family Leave Insurance Act), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“to enact the north carolina Paid Family Leave Insurance Act”
Sponsored protections for workers affected by artificial intelligence.
Senator Sydney Batch, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“Protecting Workers in the Age of AI Act”
Senate Bill 988 (Protecting Workers in the Age of AI Act), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“to protect workers in the age of artificial intelligence”
Sponsored shielding state workers' pay from health premium hikes.
Senator Sydney Batch, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“Lower Healthcare Costs”
Senate Bill 987 (Lower Healthcare Costs), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“for state employees due to increases in THE North Carolina State Health Plan”

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; 5 issues covered in this race.