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State Senator, 19th 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.

Photo of Venus de la Cruz
Venus de la CruzCampaign photo — votevenus.com

Venus de la Cruz

Republican

Business owner · Fayetteville

The gist

  • Supports law enforcement and holding criminals accountable.
  • Supports curriculum transparency and educational choice.
  • Supports lower taxes and fiscally responsible budgets.
  • Supports stronger ethics standards and open government.
  • Supports holding polluters accountable to protect water quality.
More about Venus
View sources (1)
  1. Supports law enforcement and holding criminals accountable.

    Priorities - Vote Venus de la Cruz

    Campaign website · Vote Venus de la Cruz · votevenus.com

    “Venus supports law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day and believes criminals should be held accountable for their actions.”
  2. Supports curriculum transparency and educational choice.

    Priorities - Vote Venus de la Cruz

    Campaign website · Vote Venus de la Cruz · votevenus.com

    “She supports curriculum transparency, increased parental involvement, educational choice, and empowering teachers to focus on academic achievement.”
  3. Supports lower taxes and fiscally responsible budgets.

    Priorities - Vote Venus de la Cruz

    Campaign website · Vote Venus de la Cruz · votevenus.com

    “She will support fiscally responsible budgets, lower taxes where possible, reduce unnecessary regulations, oppose wasteful spending”
  4. Supports stronger ethics standards and open government.

    Priorities - Vote Venus de la Cruz

    Campaign website · Vote Venus de la Cruz · votevenus.com

    “She will fight for open government, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, stronger ethics standards”
  5. Supports holding polluters accountable to protect water quality.

    Priorities - Vote Venus de la Cruz

    Campaign website · Vote Venus de la Cruz · votevenus.com

    “Venus believes government has a responsibility to protect our natural resources while holding polluters accountable under the law.”
Photo of Val Applewhite
Val ApplewhiteOfficial portrait — North Carolina General Assembly

Val Applewhite

DemocraticIncumbent

State senator; real estate broker · Fayetteville

The gist

  • Sponsored a requirement to report lost or stolen guns.In office
  • Sponsored allowing eviction moratoriums during declared emergencies.In office
  • Sponsored an independent redistricting commission amendment.In office
  • Sponsored food aid for deployed military families.In office

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

More about Val
View sources (5)
  1. Sponsored a requirement to report lost or stolen guns.

    Senator Val Applewhite, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “The Jenesis Firearm Accountability Act”
    Senate Bill 161 (The Jenesis Firearm Accountability Act), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to require the reporting of a lost or stolen firearm”
  2. Sponsored allowing eviction moratoriums during declared emergencies.

    Senator Val Applewhite, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Disaster Relief Eviction Moratorium Act”
    Senate Bill 395 (Disaster Relief Eviction Moratorium Act), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to allow the governor to issue an executive order enforcing a residential eviction moratorium in declared states of emergency”
  3. Sponsored an independent redistricting commission amendment.

    Senator Val Applewhite, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Fair Districts Stronger Democracy Act”
    Senate Bill 698 (Fair Districts Stronger Democracy Act), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to provide for an INDEPENDENT redistricting process”
  4. Sponsored food aid for deployed military families.

    Senator Val Applewhite, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Military Family Food Security & Readiness Act”
    Senate Bill 1059 (Military Family Food Security & Readiness Act), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to provide temporary nutritional support and eligibility flexibility for military families during periods of deployment or activation”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.

State Senator, 19th District · North Carolina 2026 General Election · The Gist