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State Senator, 21st 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 Paul Taylor
Paul TaylorCampaign photo — paulforncsenate21.com

Paul Taylor

Democratic

Army veteran; church elder and community organizer · Spring Lake

The gist

  • Supports expanding affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.
  • Supports fair, equitable redistricting.
  • Supports rural job creation and workforce training.
  • Supports modernizing roads, broadband and water systems.
  • Pledges to co-sponsor and vote to ratify the ERA.
More about Paul
View sources (3)
  1. Supports expanding affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.

    About Paul - Paul Taylor for NC Senate District 21

    Campaign website · Paul Taylor for NC Senate District 21 · paulforncsenate21.com

    “Paul has championed policies and initiatives that expand housing opportunities, encourage neighborhood revitalization”
  2. Supports fair, equitable redistricting.

    About Paul - Paul Taylor for NC Senate District 21

    Campaign website · Paul Taylor for NC Senate District 21 · paulforncsenate21.com

    “Paul has consistently advocated for fair representation and equitable redistricting that reflects the voices of every community.”
  3. Supports rural job creation and workforce training.

    Priorities - Paul Taylor for NC Senate District 21

    Campaign website · Paul Taylor for NC Senate District 21 · paulforncsenate21.com

    “rural job creation, workforce training”
  4. Supports modernizing roads, broadband and water systems.

    Priorities - Paul Taylor for NC Senate District 21

    Campaign website · Paul Taylor for NC Senate District 21 · paulforncsenate21.com

    “Roads, broadband, water systems, storm resilience.”
  5. Pledges to co-sponsor and vote to ratify the ERA.

    2026 Candidate Survey - Equal Rights Amendment North Carolina Alliance

    Candidate questionnaire · Equal Rights Amendment North Carolina Alliance · Jun 29, 2026 · N.C. Senate table … N.C. Senate table · era-nc.org

    “A green checkmark means the candidate will co-sponsor and vote for the resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. … Paul Taylor D ✅”
Photo of Tom McInnis
Tom McInnisOfficial portrait — North Carolina General Assembly

Tom McInnis

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator; businessman · Pinehurst

The gist

  • Opposes restricting lawful gun ownership.
  • Supported tougher death-by-distribution drug penalties.
  • Supports requiring photo ID to vote.
  • Pledges to cut taxes on small businesses and families.
  • Sponsored repeal of the teacher licensure testing requirement.In office
  • Sponsored updates to the state's controlled substances law.In office

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

More about Tom
View sources (4)
  1. Opposes restricting lawful gun ownership.

    Issues - Tom McInnis

    Campaign website · Tom McInnis for NC State Senate · mcinnisfornc.com

    “Still, restricting lawful gun ownership is not the answer.”
  2. Supported tougher death-by-distribution drug penalties.

    Issues - Tom McInnis

    Campaign website · Tom McInnis for NC State Senate · mcinnisfornc.com

    “Senator McInnis worked with fellow legislators to strengthen the penalty for Death by Distribution”
  3. Supports requiring photo ID to vote.

    Issues - Tom McInnis

    Campaign website · Tom McInnis for NC State Senate · mcinnisfornc.com

    “Tom supports requiring all voters to show a valid photo ID at the polls”
  4. Pledges to cut taxes on small businesses and families.

    Issues - Tom McInnis

    Campaign website · Tom McInnis for NC State Senate · mcinnisfornc.com

    “committed to cutting taxes on small businesses and working families while eliminating burdensome regulations”
  5. Sponsored repeal of the teacher licensure testing requirement.

    Senator Tom McInnis, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Remove Testing Requirement for Teacher Lisc.”
    Senate Bill 204 (Remove Testing Requirement for Teacher Lisc.), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to repeal the standardized testing requirement for teacher licensure”
  6. Sponsored updates to the state's controlled substances law.

    Senator Tom McInnis, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Novel Opioid Control Act of 2025”
    Senate Bill 450 (Novel Opioid Control Act of 2025), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to update the controlled substances act”

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.