Name as it appears on the ballot: Ya Liu 

Age: 43 

Party affiliation: Democrat 

Campaign website: https://yaliu4nc.com/ 

Occupation & employer: Small Business Owner 

Years lived in North Carolina: 20 Years 

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? 

A: I bring a wealth of knowledge and a diverse background in academia, non-profit, as well as public and private sector to my work. I earned two doctoral degrees in sociology and law, published numerous articles in public health and geriatric research, and worked as a faculty member at Duke Law for nearly a decade. I advocated for solar infrastructure in both public facilities and private developments when I served on the Cary Town Council. 

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? 

A: I believe the three most urgent challenges facing the General Assembly are the Republican supermajority, gerrymandering, and inadequate funding for public schools and teachers. This fall, we are hopeful to break the supermajority, paving the way for more bipartisan legislation. Additionally, we are committed to advancing legislation that ensures a fair and transparent

redistricting process in our state. Finally, it’s crucial that we prioritize funding for public schools and make the teaching profession in our state more competitive and attractive compared to neighboring states. 

3. To what extent do you support municipalities exerting local control over issues such as regulating greenhouse gas emissions, criminal justice reforms and police oversight, and passing development-regulating ordinances? 

A: As someone who has served on a town council I support the autonomy of local municipalities to reflect the values and needs of their community. 

4. Do you support raising North Carolina’s minimum wage, and if so, by how much? 

A: I have supported bills in the legislature that aimed to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. 

5. What, if anything, should the state legislature do to address the growing affordability crisis and support low-income families in North Carolina? 

A: North Carolina is grappling with not only a significant homeownership crisis but also a pressing shortage of rental properties. To address these challenges, we must prioritize a substantial increase in the construction of new homes throughout the state. To promote affordable housing, we should implement financial incentives for builders to create more affordable units and modernize zoning laws to facilitate the construction of affordable homes. Finally, to further support these families, it is imperative that we advocate for an increase in the minimum wage in our state, ensuring that all North Carolinians have access to safe and affordable housing.

6. What is your vision for transit in North Carolina? What kind of regional transit systems should the state work to implement and what kind of transit legislation would you support? 

A: I have actively supported multiple transit-related legislative initiatives, with a particular emphasis on advancing rail transport solutions. My focus has been on identifying the most effective strategies to implement these transformative systems within our state, ensuring they meet both current and future transportation needs. 

7. Would you support an independent process for drawing new legislative and congressional districts? 

A: Yes, I have supported legislation that aimed to create an independent process for drawing new legislative and congressional districts. 

8. Do you support expanding funding for Opportunity Scholarships? Do you believe the legislature has a role in ensuring that private schools don’t further raise tuition on families and taxpayers with the infusion of hundreds of millions of dollars into the private school economy? Please explain your answer. 

A: I will not support the expansion of funding for opportunity scholarships until our public schools are adequately funded. We have a constitutional obligation in NC to adequately fund our public schools and provide equal opportunities to all students. 

9. North Carolina is one of the lowest-paying states for teachers in the nation. Schools across the state are facing shortages of educators, support staff, and other key personnel. By what percentage should the next budget

raise wages for teachers and school employees? What else can the General Assembly do to improve working conditions for teachers and make the teaching profession more attractive to potential future educators? 

A: In order to make education jobs in this state desirable we have to make our salary competitive with the states that are around us. I supported Governor Cooper’s budget which would have increased salaries by 8.5%. We need to restore master’s pay to educators in our state and restore retiree medical benefits. 

10. North Carolina bans abortion after 12 weeks’ gestation. Do you think abortion access in North Carolina should be expanded or further restricted, or do you support the current law? 

A: I supported the bill that would have codified Roe v. Wade for the state of North Carolina and will continue to fight for women’s reproductive freedom in North Carolina. 

11. Do you support reforming North Carolina’s marijuana laws? Do you support full legalization? Please explain your position. 

A: I support the legalization of medical marijuana in North Carolina. I have talked to families of cancer patients and they said it made a difference for their loved ones, and wished that it was legally and widely available. 

12. Do you support strengthening gun safety regulations such as expanding background checks, banning bump stocks, and raising the age to buy or otherwise regulating the sales of assault-style weapons? Please explain. 

A: Yes, I am a strong advocate for strengthening gun safety regulations. This includes implementing requirements for permits to purchase pistols and assault weapons, banning the use of dangerous modifications like bump stocks

and trigger cranks, and raising the minimum age to 21 for purchasing assault weapons and long guns. These common-sense measures are essential to ensure public safety and reduce the threat of gun violence in our communities. 

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

No.