Name: Brandall Redd
Age: 25
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: https://brandallreddfornc.carrd.co/
Occupation and employer: Restaurant manager
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?
What qualifies me to represent this district is that I understand both the numbers and the people behind them.
I’ve earned two associate degrees and I’m finishing a bachelor’s in business management, with a background in accounting and finance. That means I know how to read budgets, evaluate legislation, and ask tough questions about how taxpayer dollars are spent—but I also know what it’s like to work hard, stretch a paycheck, and feel ignored by government.
My biggest career accomplishment is building this campaign from the ground up and stepping into leadership when my community needs it.
I chose to run not because it was easy, but because too many people feel disconnected from Raleigh. I’ve learned the law, followed the rules, and put forward real solutions—not talking points. That’s the same approach I’ll take in the General Assembly: prepared, accountable, and focused on results.
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?
First, education.
Strong schools are the foundation of a strong state, and right now too many classrooms are underfunded and understaffed. We need to fully fund public education, raise teacher pay, expand career and technical programs, and modernize classrooms so students graduate prepared for today’s economy, not yesterday’s.
Second, the cost of living.
Families are being squeezed by rising housing, healthcare, and utility costs. The state should invest in affordable housing, infrastructure, and workforce development while making sure tax policy actually helps working families and small businesses.
Third, protecting democracy and trust in government.
People need to know their votes matter and that the rules are fair. That means defending voting rights, ensuring transparent elections, and restoring accountability so government works for the people—not politicians.
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?
Medicaid expansion has brought healthcare to hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, and the state should not allow automatic trigger laws to take that coverage away. The General Assembly should revise the trigger to allow flexibility, use state reserves to cover temporary federal shortfalls, and actively advocate for continued federal support. Cutting Medicaid would cost more in emergency care and harm rural hospitals, so I will vote to protect coverage and maintain access to healthcare for those who rely on it.
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?
North Carolina needs more housing, but one-size-fits-all mandates from Raleigh are not the solution. I support setting statewide goals and incentives to encourage affordable and middle-income housing, while allowing municipalities the flexibility to make zoning decisions that reflect their local infrastructure, environment, and community needs. The state should partner with local governments, not override them, to responsibly increase housing supply.
5. How would you address the rising costs of housing, child care, and basic necessities facing North Carolina families?
Rising costs are squeezing working families across North Carolina. The state should expand affordable housing through smart incentives, increase support for child care providers to stabilize costs for families, and invest in infrastructure and workforce development that lowers everyday expenses. I also support tax policies that prioritize working families and small businesses, so people can keep more of what they earn.
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?
North Carolina must shift from reacting to disasters to preparing for them. I support investing in flood mitigation, resilient infrastructure, and updated building standards, while prioritizing buyouts, relocation assistance, and rebuilding support for affordable housing in high-risk areas. The state should strengthen emergency response capacity, better coordinate with local governments, and reduce reliance on overstretched federal programs by building a stronger state-level disaster resilience and recovery fund.
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 constant redrawing of congressional maps undermines public trust and weakens our democracy. I believe the most recent redistricting continues a cycle of partisan mapmaking that puts political advantage ahead of fair representation. I support an independent redistricting process so voters choose their representatives—not the other way around—and so our elections are transparent, stable, and fair.
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?
Teachers should not be used as leverage in budget gridlock. North Carolina’s low ranking in teacher pay is unacceptable, and I support meaningful, recurring raises that keep educators in the classroom and make teaching a sustainable career. I will push for an on-time budget that fully funds public education, treats teacher pay as a priority—not a bargaining chip—and holds the General Assembly accountable to doing its basic job.
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?
I do not support further restrictions on abortion. I believe access to reproductive healthcare should be expanded, and I support restoring access up to 24 weeks, with decisions guided by patients and their doctors—not politicians. The current law already places significant barriers to care, and I will oppose any effort to further restrict reproductive freedom in North Carolina.
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?
I support legalizing marijuana in North Carolina with a regulated, responsible framework. As federal hemp rules change, the state should protect farmers and small businesses by providing clear regulations, product safety standards, and transition assistance rather than sudden bans. Legalization would reduce confusion, support agriculture, create jobs, and allow the state to focus resources on public health and enforcement where it actually matters.
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?
I oppose the death penalty and do not support efforts to revive or expand its use in North Carolina. Provisions that accelerate appeals or seek alternative execution methods move the state in the wrong direction and risk irreversible harm in a system that is already flawed and unequal. While improving mental health evaluations is important, it should not be tied to expanding capital punishment. I believe our justice system should focus on fairness, accountability, and rehabilitation—not restarting executions.
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?
Data centers can bring economic benefits, but growth must be responsible. North Carolina should require strong environmental standards, transparency around water and energy use, and meaningful community input before approvals are granted. I support tying incentives to clean energy investments, water conservation, and local infrastructure support so communities benefit without bearing the environmental cost.
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.
While building this campaign, I initially focused on statewide housing supply solutions. After listening to constituents—especially renters, seniors, and local officials—I adjusted my position to place greater emphasis on local input and protections against displacement. Hearing directly from people worried about rising rents and losing their homes made it clear that increasing supply alone isn’t enough. As a result, I now prioritize policies that expand affordable housing while preserving local decision-making and protecting existing communities.
14. Are there any issues this questionnaire has not addressed that you would like to address?
One issue I would emphasize is the importance of restoring trust in government through transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. Too many people feel disconnected from state government and unheard in the decision-making process. I believe effective leadership starts with listening, showing up in the community, and being honest about both challenges and solutions. My goal is to represent constituents with integrity and ensure state government works for them—not around them.