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State Senator, 5th 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 Henry Hostetler
Henry HostetlerCampaign photo — henryhostetler.com

Henry Hostetler

Republican

Business owner · Winterville

The gist

  • Supports continued cuts to the state income tax.
  • Supports a Parents' Bill of Rights and curriculum transparency.
  • Supports giving first responders resources against opioids.
  • Supports a balanced budget that cuts wasteful spending.
  • Supports cutting fees and paperwork for small businesses.
More about Henry
View sources (2)
  1. Supports continued cuts to the state income tax.

    Platform - Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate

    Campaign website · Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate · henryhostetler.com

    “Support continued reductions in the state income tax to keep North Carolina competitive”
  2. Supports a Parents' Bill of Rights and curriculum transparency.

    Platform - Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate

    Campaign website · Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate · henryhostetler.com

    “to ensure transparency in curriculum and empower parents to be the primary decision-makers”
  3. Supports giving first responders resources against opioids.

    Platform - Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate

    Campaign website · Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate · henryhostetler.com

    “provides first responders with the resources they need to combat the opioid crisis”
  4. Supports a balanced budget that cuts wasteful spending.

    Platform - Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate

    Campaign website · Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate · henryhostetler.com

    “Advocate for a balanced state budget that prioritizes essential services like infrastructure and disaster resilience while eliminating wasteful government spending.”
  5. Supports cutting fees and paperwork for small businesses.

    Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate

    Campaign website · Henry Hostetler for NC State Senate · henryhostetler.com

    “Our country survives on small business. We should NOT be making it MORE difficult.”
Photo of Kandie D. Smith
Kandie D. SmithOfficial portrait — North Carolina General Assembly

Kandie D. Smith

DemocraticIncumbent

State senator · Greenville

The gist

  • Pledges to fight to lower the cost of living.
  • Supports full funding for public schools.
  • Sponsored a bill reenacting the state earned income tax credit.In office
  • Sponsored creation of a state housing department.In office
  • Sponsored funding for a nurse in every Edgecombe, Pitt school.In office
  • Sponsored full retirement for officers after 25 years.In office

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

More about Kandie
View sources (6)
  1. Pledges to fight to lower the cost of living.

    Priorities - Kandie Smith

    Campaign website · Kandie Smith for NC Senate · kandiesmith.com

    “Fighting to lower the cost of living and keep North Carolina affordable”
  2. Supports full funding for public schools.

    Priorities - Kandie Smith

    Campaign website · Kandie Smith for NC Senate · kandiesmith.com

    “Supporting full funding for public schools and access to opportunity for all students”
  3. Sponsored a bill reenacting the state earned income tax credit.

    Senator Kandie D. Smith, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Reenact EITC”
    Senate Bill 304 (Reenact EITC), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to reenact the earned income tax credit”
  4. Sponsored creation of a state housing department.

    Senator Kandie D. Smith, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Create Dept. of Housing and Comm. Development”
    Senate Bill 325 (Create Dept. of Housing and Comm. Development), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to establish the north carolina department of housing and community development”
  5. Sponsored funding for a nurse in every Edgecombe, Pitt school.

    Senator Kandie D. Smith, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “Edgecombe and Pitt County School Nurses”
    Senate Bill 238 (Edgecombe and Pitt County School Nurses), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “to fund a school nurse for every public school in edgecombe and pitt”
  6. Sponsored full retirement for officers after 25 years.

    Senator Kandie D. Smith, primary-sponsored bills, 2025-2026 session, North Carolina General Assembly

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “25-Year LEO Retirement With Full Benefits”
    Senate Bill 707 (25-Year LEO Retirement With Full Benefits), 2025-2026 session, edition 1 text

    Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov

    “TO RETIRE WITH UNREDUCED BENEFITS AFTER ACHIEVING”

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.