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State
State Senator, 47th 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.
Taxes & budget
Frank Patton Hughes IIIDemocratic
No documented position found.
Ralph HiseRepublican
- Pledges to keep cutting state taxes.
- Sponsored Helene aid to local governments and property owners.In office
Education
Frank Patton Hughes IIIDemocratic
- Supports ending vouchers and raising per-pupil spending.
Ralph HiseRepublican
- Pledges to end critical race theory teaching in schools.
Environment & parks
Frank Patton Hughes IIIDemocratic
- Opposes unregulated expansion of data centers.
Ralph HiseRepublican
No documented position found.
Health & human services
Frank Patton Hughes IIIDemocratic
- Pledges to protect rural hospitals' Medicaid reimbursement rates.
- Pledges opioid settlement money for local treatment and recovery.
Ralph HiseRepublican
- Sponsored grants to expand midwifery education at UNC campuses.In office
Government & transparency
Frank Patton Hughes IIIDemocratic
- Pledges to serve no more than two terms.
Ralph HiseRepublican
- Supports barring tech-company donations to election boards.
- Sponsored ending payroll dues deductions for public employee associations.In office
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.