The Trump administration is spending billions of dollars on immigration enforcement to target hardworking, law-abiding residents and citizens. Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” provides tax cuts to the ultrarich and leaves the rest of us reeling from the excessive costs of health care, housing, and groceries. When our basic needs are out of reach, we suffer. But when government leaders reflect the people they are elected to serve, we have the chance to make things right.
Government oppression causes us to lose hope, but we must not forfeit our rights or dreams in advance. This year, we must show up to the polls en masse and be prepared to engage in a long process to renew the promise of this nation: life, liberty, and justice for all. Those values have always required struggle, and in the 250th year of the United States of America, the fight continues.
I’ve seen how our collective battles show up in the most intimate corners of my life. For years, I dreamed of being a mother. I dealt with infertility and was surprised and excited to get a positive pregnancy test in early December 2022, just a few days before being sworn in as a Raleigh City Council member.
Unfortunately, I suffered a miscarriage. This is a common but often isolating event. One out of four pregnancies meet this fate.
The loss strengthened my resolve to try again. I have a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome, which affects about 10% of women. I tried hormone treatments for months on end, eventually moving onto intrauterine insemination, but with no luck. This was a long process with no guarantee of success.
Each month of trying and failing required every ounce of faith I could muster, not to mention out-of-pocket medical expenses. It was emotionally and financially taxing. At times, I was miserable.
Too many families relate to this exhaustion. The cost of health care for a middle-class family is increasingly out of reach. My husband’s Affordable Care Act monthly premium has doubled. For state employees (which is my main gig), retirement coverage is no longer included. Rates for spouses and children are high, and we are losing access to preferred providers. State and federal leaders ignore the real needs of the American public.
But on the other end of the spectrum is the city of Raleigh. My family’s options expanded tremendously with changes to the city’s health care plan. A new provision helps cover in vitro fertilization (IVF), a treatment my doctor recommended early on but I had held off on because of the cost.
In Raleigh, we are committed to ensuring that our essential workers can meet their family’s needs. In the 2026 budget, Raleigh City Council increased pay by 11% for public safety, solid waste, and parks personnel, among other dedicated employees. The city does not run without its workers, and they deserve living wages and benefits in return.
I got pregnant again with the help of IVF and by the time you read this will have welcomed our baby girl. I’m beyond grateful for the fertility doctors and medical staff that supported me. My husband and I needed their help.
I expect to be the first Raleigh city councilor to give birth while holding office. This is possible because of a local government policy that changed my life.
My pregnancy journey took over five years. This presidential administration may last four terribly long years, but we can shift away from authoritarian control this year. Who we elect to Congress, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and local offices can force the checks and balances we so badly need.
To defeat despair and helplessness requires consistent and deep engagement with one another. For me, that means showing up. I attend community meetings and listen to my neighbors. I strive to represent my constituents as fully as I can, staying in conversation with those I agree and disagree with. I call my U.S. senators and hold our political representatives to account.
I recognize the powers against us—gerrymandered political districts, dark money funding political campaigns, and disagreement over basic facts. But we can overcome these forces when we work together. I feel hopeful with simple acts like a stranger bringing groceries to families in need and volunteer school safety patrols ensuring students get to class. Let’s commit to caring for our community—day after day after day.
The March 3 primary election will determine who moves forward in races for Raleigh City Council, Wake County Board of Commissioners, Wake County district attorney, and the U.S. Congress, among others. I’m not on this ballot, but this is my personal plea to participate in our electoral process. We can’t win if we don’t show up.
The March primary is the first opportunity to weigh in on who will represent us in 2026. Then we must get the vote out for the November election to return accountability and focus to the issues that matter to us all.
It will be a long road ahead to change the trajectory of our nation. It always has been. We must fight not just for ourselves but for the generations to come. Our determination to do so and commitment to one another is what will make the difference.
Primaries for Raleigh City Council are being held for the first time this year, with early voting beginning on February 12. At-large and District C races have primaries due to the number of candidates. The top four at-large vote getters move on to November’s general election, while the top two District C vote-getters will be on November’s ballot. You can vote for your favorite candidates in November only if they make it through March’s election.
Jane Harrison is mayor pro tem of the Raleigh City Council and has represented District D since 2022.
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