Name: Ralph Clements

Age: 59

Party affiliation: Democrat

Campaign website: www.ralphclements.com

Occupation and employer: Management Consultant, self employed

1. What in your background qualifies you to represent the people of your North Carolina district effectively? What would you cite as your biggest career accomplishment? 

With more than 35 years of experience in business leadership, I have held roles across the military, government, and a range of industries throughout most of the United States and several other countries. My professional background includes developing robust solutions for complex technical challenges through assembling and leading diverse teams.
My community service work includes serving as a school volunteer, youth sports coach, and Red Cross instructor. Within Scouting, I have held multiple leadership positions at the regional level. Additionally, I have been a Presbyterian Church Elder for over two decades, contributing to both local and regional leadership initiatives.
Among my greatest career achievements is mentoring younger colleagues to develop their management and leadership abilities and witnessing their subsequent success in their own careers.

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?

My main goal is to restore regular legislative operations by ending the republican super-majority, reinstating the governor’s veto, and passing laws that benefit citizens.

We need sustained investment in public education, meeting constitutional and court requirements. This means competitive pay for educators, secure retirement benefits, upgrades to infrastructure and materials, and bold, bipartisan tax reform.

Everyone should have reliable access to quality healthcare, including mental health. We must fully fund Medicaid, address care shortages in NC, and use our universities and hospitals to improve preventive care and make healthcare a right for all.

3. North Carolina expanded Medicaid two years ago. However, federal budget cuts now threaten the program due to a state “trigger law” that ends expansion if federal support drops below 90%. How would you address Medicaid funding to maintain coverage for the millions of North Carolinians enrolled?

The Medicaid expansion provides coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income adults who previously lacked access to affordable healthcare. This initiative reduces expenditure on emergency services and enhances preventive care, leading to long-term cost savings and improvements in both quality of life and healthcare affordability.

Additionally, the expansion decreases uncompensated care, thereby helping to prevent the closure of rural healthcare facilities. Expanding coverage generates economic benefits for local communities by reducing absenteeism due to illness and creating additional employment opportunities within the healthcare sector.

State contributions comprise less than 10% of the total program costs. Should the trigger law prompt funding reductions, a significant portion of these advantages would be lost.

Expansion does not rely on new funding sources; instead, it generates cost savings that help offset expenditures. Federal funding stimulates local economies, lowers the frequency of costly emergency room visits, and reduces hospital expenses related to treating uninsured individuals, decreasing the need for supplementary financial support.

Some states allocate revenue from alcohol and tobacco sales to offset healthcare expenses and employ provider incentives to encourage the use of cost-effective preventive care, thus supporting sustained patient wellness over time.

4. The General Assembly has recently passed legislation limiting local control over zoning and development standards to address housing shortages. Do you support the legislature’s approach of limiting local zoning authority to increase housing supply, or should municipalities retain greater autonomy over land use decisions?

Local governments should manage housing policies, including affordable unit requirements and inclusionary zoning. Housing costs are a major burden, with about 40% of Wake County residents spending over 30% of their income on housing. Zoning should support higher density, transit-oriented development, and protect housing access for all North Carolinians, including low-income households, people with disabilities, and those on fixed incomes.

5. How would you address the rising costs of housing, child care, and basic necessities facing North Carolina families?

Housing costs are rising due to limited supply and corporate investment. Solutions include supporting multi-unit housing for the “missing middle,” regulating against price gouging, and easing lot size, parking, and design restrictions. Building homes near workplaces also helps.

To reduce childcare expenses, increase workplace care options, offer employer tax credits, and expand school care programs.

Lower basic costs by regulating monopolies and pricing, providing portable benefits for contract workers, expanding child tax credits, negotiating drug prices, improving public transit, and managing utility bills to avoid unfair subsidies.

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?


It is important to eliminate political influence from disaster relief efforts. There have been instances where assistance was withheld from states led by the Democratic Party or those that did not vote for Trump, which is both unlawful and unacceptable. FEMA’s resources are already limited, and further strain arises when they are managed based on political considerations rather than professional expertise.

Additionally, residential development should be avoided in regions known to face natural hazards. The Outer Banks, for example, are barrier islands that will naturally shift over time. Insurance policies should discourage payouts for vacation homes in these areas, as such payments can raise costs for everyone else.

Flood plain maps must be updated to account for climate change impacts. Tax incentives could help encourage moving housing out of at-risk locations. When houses in vulnerable regions are destroyed, reconstruction should only occur after their susceptibility to future disasters is properly addressed.

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? 

The Republican-led legislature has engaged in extreme gerrymandering, as an illegal and unethical way to limit the voting power of certain racial communities. After years of partisan district drawing and subsequent legal battles, North Carolina should establish an independent commission to determine voting districts free from political influence. Similar commissions have been implemented successfully in several other states.

8. The General Assembly failed to pass a 2025–27 budget, leaving teachers without raises. North Carolina ranks 43rd nationally in teacher pay. How would you address teacher compensation, and what will you do to ensure a budget passes that adequately funds education?

Educator salaries in North Carolina remain low due to ongoing reductions in public education funding and the diversion of resources to private institutions lacking accountability. The state Constitution guarantees the right to a high-quality public education. 

Historically recognized as the “Education State,” North Carolina has the potential to regain this reputation. Access to quality education supports numerous community benefits, including improved employment opportunities, higher wages, better health outcomes, and an enhanced standard of living.

To attract and retain highly qualified educators, North Carolina should implement competitive pay and benefits packages. Additionally, tax policies should be evaluated to ensure they support sustainable investments in schools, educators, and staff. 

Private schools receiving public funds ought to be regulated to guarantee appropriate use of these resources and adherence to performance standards.

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, do you believe access should be expanded, or would you support further restrictions?

Abortion is healthcare and should be a decision made by the patient and doctor. If needed, a constitutional amendment could protect healthcare freedoms, including abortion, from state interference.

10. Federal legislation will ban most hemp-derived THC products, like delta-8, by November 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 how would you address the upcoming federal ban, if at all?

Congress should provide clearer federal definitions and regulations, especially regarding THC products, to safeguard children. State laws should require age restrictions for intoxicating hemp products, mandate independent lab testing, and set standards for packaging and labeling to ensure transparency and prevent inappropriate marketing to children. Overall, regulations should prioritize public health and safety.

11. Gov. Josh Stein recently signed “Iryna’s Law,” which 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 changes made by the law?

Court errors have led to wrongful convictions and, in some cases, death sentences so I oppose the death penalty. 

Iryna’s Law was quickly enacted after a high-profile crime but does not address root causes like inadequate mental health care, lack of community support, and substance abuse. The law increases jail populations by holding suspects longer and its unfunded mental health requirements strain hospitals and police resources.

12. Tech companies are investing heavily in North Carolina data centers, bringing jobs and tax revenue but also consuming significant electricity and water resources. How should the state balance data center investment with environmental protection and community concerns?

North Carolina offers strong transportation, data infrastructure, and seismic stability for new data centers. However, environmental concerns should be weighed when granting tax exemptions for these large facilities. 

Data centers provide minimal long-term job growth, mainly limited to short-term construction roles. Infrastructure like power distribution often takes longer to finish than the center itself, and reliance on local generation can create additional environmental challenges.

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.

Recent discussions with various religious organizations have highlighted intricate challenges concerning school vouchers. Instead of implementing a total prohibition, it is advisable to develop regulations that ensure private schools receiving state funding meet established performance and management standards.

14. Are there any issues this questionnaire has not addressed that you would like to address?