State

State Senator, 26th 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.

Candidates Compare by issue

Sam Page

Republican

Rockingham County Sheriff · Eden

The gist

Supports restarting the death penalty in North Carolina.
Proposes raising starting teacher pay to $50,000.
Supports school choice with guardrails against tuition hikes.
Supports repealing the legislature's public records exemption.
Supports term limits for legislative leadership posts.
Supports ending state income tax on overtime and tips.

More about Sam

View sources (1)

Supports restarting the death penalty in North Carolina.
Sam Page - N.C. Senate, District 26
Campaign website · Sam Page 4 NC · sampagenc.com
“Push to restart the death penalty so victims' families are not left waiting for justice”
Proposes raising starting teacher pay to $50,000.
Sam Page - N.C. Senate, District 26
Campaign website · Sam Page 4 NC · sampagenc.com
“Raise teacher starting pay to $50,000 to keep North Carolina competitive”
Supports school choice with guardrails against tuition hikes.
Sam Page - N.C. Senate, District 26
Campaign website · Sam Page 4 NC · sampagenc.com
“Allow smart, accountable school choice with commonsense guardrails to ensure it works for all families, not just the wealthy or lucky few … Implement policies to prevent private schools from inflating tuition due to school choice vouchers”
Supports repealing the legislature's public records exemption.
Sam Page - N.C. Senate, District 26
Campaign website · Sam Page 4 NC · sampagenc.com
“Supports repealing the legislative public records exemption Phil Berger passed so lawmakers aren't shielded from public scrutiny”
Supports term limits for legislative leadership posts.
Sam Page - N.C. Senate, District 26
Campaign website · Sam Page 4 NC · sampagenc.com
“Supports term limits for legislative leadership to ensure new conservative leaders have a seat at the table”
Supports ending state income tax on overtime and tips.
Sam Page - N.C. Senate, District 26
Campaign website · Sam Page 4 NC · sampagenc.com
“Stop taxing overtime pay and tipped wages”

Steve Luking

Democratic

Retired family physician · Reidsville

The gist

Proposes raising corporate taxes to fund public schools.
Opposes vouchers for wealthy families; supports higher teacher pay.
Opposes further restrictions on abortion access.
Supports stricter, 'common-sense' state gun laws.
Pledges to refuse donations from those with legislative business.
Supports a more progressive state tax system.

More about Steve

View sources (2)

Proposes raising corporate taxes to fund public schools.
Steve Luking for NC: Home
Campaign website · Steve Luking 4 NC · steveluking4nc.org
“push corporate taxes back up to 2016 levels, and apply the difference directly to public schools and teacher pay”
Opposes vouchers for wealthy families; supports higher teacher pay.
Steve Luking for NC: Home
Campaign website · Steve Luking 4 NC · steveluking4nc.org
“School vouchers for the wealthy are a foolish waste of resources, and we must pay our teachers substantially more.”
Opposes further restrictions on abortion access.
Steve Luking for NC: Issues
Campaign website · Steve Luking 4 NC · steveluking4nc.org
“As your senator I will strongly resist any further attempt to erode women's reproductive rights.”
Supports stricter, 'common-sense' state gun laws.
Steve Luking for NC: Issues
Campaign website · Steve Luking 4 NC · steveluking4nc.org
“I strongly support our state instituting common-sense gun laws, to lower the risks of violent death to families, children, and members of law enforcement.”
Pledges to refuse donations from those with legislative business.
Steve Luking for NC: Issues
Campaign website · Steve Luking 4 NC · steveluking4nc.org
“I will not accept campaign contributions or PAC money from corporations or individuals who have business pending before the General Assembly.”
Supports a more progressive state tax system.
Steve Luking for NC: Issues
Campaign website · Steve Luking 4 NC · steveluking4nc.org
“As your senator, I will work to restore a more progressive tax system to give these families the relief they deserve.”

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.