Name: Gale Adcock
Age: 72
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: GaleAdcock.com
Occupation & employer: Family nurse practitioner since 1987; former chief health officer at SAS
Years lived in the area: 48
1. What in your background qualifies you to represent the people of your North Carolina district effectively? What would you cite as your three biggest career accomplishments?
I’ve served and represented Cary citizens for the last 19 years on the Town Council (2007-2014), in the NC House (2015-2022), and in the NC Senate (20023-2026,) and citizens of west/northwest Raleigh since 2023. Since 1978, I’ve lived, worked, volunteered, bought and sold 2 homes, and raised 2 children in the Cary/Raleigh area.
I am a Registered Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner, a first-generation college graduate. I’ve been president of the NC Nurses Association; chief heath officer for SAS; and the first nurse elected to the NC Senate.
2. What do you believe to be the three most pressing issues facing the next General Assembly? What steps do you believe the state should take to address them?
The cost of housing and healthcare; access to healthcare and healthcare providers; and adequate funding for public education, Medicaid, state employee healthcare and retirement, and transportation infrastructure.
The steady drop in personal and corporate income tax rates without considering the full effect on the state’s ability to fund its obligations and priorities should be reevaluated in light of revenue forecasts made by OSMB and legislative fiscal staff.
The legislature should increase funding for the NC Housing Finance Agency and pass bills requiring more transparency in healthcare pricing, regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and elimination of antiquated occupational licensing laws that restrict access to healthcare providers and limit their scope of practice.
3. Federal cuts to Medicaid are expected to cost the state $50 billion over the next decade, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. How would you address Medicaid funding to maintain coverage for the millions of North Carolinians enrolled?
Three million North Carolinians rely on Medicaid for health coverage. These are pregnant women and infants, children and adults with disabilities, the elderly living at home and in care facilities, and working adults whose incomes are too low to afford commercial insurance. We also have thousands of individuals with IDD on the Innovations Waiver Waiting list.
I don’t have the solution for completely addressing all these needs, but the current budget funds non-essentials like private school tuition for families with resources to pay for it, “directed grants” for Republican districts, and nonprofits with sketchy operations and results. I would change that, redirecting those funds to actual priorities like Medicaid (among others).
The NCGA passed legislation moving traditional Medicaid from a fee-for-service to a capitated model (aka managed care) in 2015 and the first phase of open enrollment was in Spring 2021. The rationale given by those who pushed for the change was cost control and predictability (and a refusal to expand Medicaid until we did so). We are now 5 years into managed care, and we have not achieved either of those goals. As uncomfortable as it is to consider, the legislature needs to evaluate how Medicaid managed care is actually functioning and consider adjustments/options to better control costs and get improved health outcomes for beneficiaries.
4. The General Assembly has voted to put a constitutional amendment on ballots that, if passed, would put a cap on property tax increases. Do you support the amendment? Why or why not?
I do not. The legislature has been shirking its responsibility to fund public schools, mental health, DSS, and infrastructure since 2011, pushing these costs down to local governments. Over that 15-year span, counties have had to raise property tax rates to keep up with pressing needs in their communities that by all rights should be funded by the state. In Wake County this includes salary supplements for public school teachers and Wake Tech faculty; mental health services; and DSS staff/services. Property taxes fund 75% of Wake County’s annual budget, making it the county’s largest and most stable source of revenue. Passage of this short-sighted constitutional amendment will starve our fast-growing county of funds needed for critical services.
5. How would you address the rising costs of housing, childcare, and basic necessities facing North Carolina families?
There is no single answer for these complicated issues. The legislature certainly can create and maintain systems that put individuals and families in a better financial situation: excellent K-12 public schools and school supports/resources that achieve high graduation rates; a robust community college system offering programs that provide credentials for in-demand jobs; an increased minimum wage; childcare subsidies; and pass legislation that gives local governments authority for land planning and zoning that facilitates construction of more affordable housing.
6. Climate disasters are intensifying: Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina in 2024, Tropical Storm Chantal flooded the Triangle in 2025, and coastal erosion threatens the Outer Banks. With much affordable housing located in flood-prone areas and FEMA resources stretched thin, what is your plan for climate resilience and disaster relief?
I worry about climate change for many reasons, particularly its effects on health, my subject matter expertise. On this topic I listen to and learn from my legislative colleagues who have a deeper understanding and follow the latest evidence and recommendations for state governments.
7. The General Assembly recently passed a new congressional redistricting map. This marks the state’s seventh congressional map since 2016. How do you view the most recent redistricting? And do you support independent redistricting processes, or do you believe the legislature should retain this power?
Redistricting should be done by a group of citizens who won’t manipulate district lines to keep their party in power. While it’s unlikely to be truly “independent” (since it would be appointed by elected officials), I have to believe it would be preferable to our current, overtly politicized system. The Congressional redistricting done this session was a complete sham.
8. North Carolina ranks near the bottom nationally in teacher pay. How would you address teacher compensation, and what will you do to ensure a budget passes that adequately funds education?
Reinstate means-testing for private school tuition vouchers and redirect the bulk of that recurrent funding to public schools. Restore the original statutory requirement that 35% of state lottery proceeds go to public school capital needs. As long as Democrats are not allowed to participate in writing the budget, I cannot ensure that there is adequate education funding included.
9. North Carolina currently has a 12-week abortion ban with certain exceptions. Some legislators have proposed further restrictions. Do you support the current law, believe access should be expanded, or would you support further restrictions?
The legislature has no legitimate role in reproductive healthcare decisions. At a minimum, NC should return to the pre-2023 20-week abortion policy and repeal all restrictions not based in science.
10. Federal legislation will ban most hemp-derived THC products, like Delta-8, by December 2026, threatening North Carolina’s hemp industry. Meanwhile, recreational marijuana remains illegal and medical marijuana bills have stalled. What is your position on hemp regulation and would you address the upcoming federal ban, if at all?
North Carolina needs regulation to prohibit the marketing and sale of intoxicating hemp to minors (just like tobacco and alcohol) while allowing farmers of nonintoxicating hemp to continue their businesses.
11. Iryna’s Law eliminates cashless bail, requires mental health evaluations for certain defendants, and attempts to restart the death penalty by requiring alternative execution methods if lethal injection is unavailable. The law also accelerates death penalty appeals. Where do you stand on the death penalty and these criminal justice reforms?
The negatives in Iryna’s law far outweigh the positives and I voted against it. The state should not execute people.
12. Tech companies are investing heavily in North Carolina data centers, bringing tax revenue but also consuming significant electricity and water resources. How should the state balance data center investment with environmental protection and community concerns?
Land use decisions like these are the jurisdiction of counties and municipalities and should remain so. The state should not give energy companies tax breaks for these facilities (a step already taken this session).
13. Give an example of an opinion, policy, vote or action you changed based on constituent feedback. If you have not yet held elected office, describe a time when you changed your position on an issue after listening to those affected by it.
When mobile sports betting legislation was first introduced, I voted against it. When the bill was reintroduced in 2023, I heard from dozens of supportive constituents and very few opponents. Several suggestions I made (including raising the tax to at least 18%) were incorporated, and I voted yes.
14. Are there any issues this questionnaire has not addressed that you would like to address?
