House District 34: Tim Longest

Name: Tim Longest

Age: 35

Party affiliation: Democrat

Occupation & employer: Attorney

Years lived in the area:

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 was born and raised in North Carolina, and have dedicated my life to serving our state. I have served two terms as Representative for House District 34, and I previously worked at the NC Supreme Court, the NC Court of Appeals, and the Attorney General’s Office. I also work as a consumer protection lawyer representing ordinary people against powerful corporations. As a proud product of North Carolina public schools and the son of a public school teacher, I am committed to expanding opportunity for all North Carolinians.

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 biggest issues facing the next General Assembly include tackling the rising of cost living, investing in our state’s future, and ending political corruption.

Tackling the Rising Cost of Living. Across the state, North Carolinians are feeling the impacts of the rising cost of living. The General Assembly must take steps to address it. I have filed legislation to reinstate the Earned Income Tax Credit to help families who work hard but can’t get ahed. This session, I sponsored several bills that addressed the affordability crisis through raising the minimum wage, streamlining the building of affordable housing, and expanding access to affordable child care.

Investing In Our State’s Future. The General Assembly must also pass a state budget that fully funds our public schools, raises teacher pay to competitive levels, and ensures every child has access to a quality education. North Carolina deserves a legislature that passes a budget on time, rather than leaving our communities and schools in limbo. When we invest in our communities, we invest in the long-term strength of our state.

Taking on Political Corruption. North Carolinians deserve a government they can trust. But political corruption undermines that trust. In the wake of the Greater Carolina investigation, I will work to strengthen ethics laws, close loopholes, and pass lobbying reform that makes it clear that 501(c)(4)s cannot be used to circumvent our state laws requiring transparency and limit a pay-to-play culture. Good governance is a nonpartisan issue. We must restore public trust by strengthening our laws and demanding full transparency.

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?

Medicaid is essential to people across our state, especially in rural areas. Rural hospitals are often the only source of care for miles and are already operating on thin margins. When rural hospitals close, entire communities lose access to basic health services. North Carolina cannot absorb these cuts without devastating consequences to people’s healthcare. The federal cuts should be reversed. However, we can protect Medicaid at the state level by passing a budget on time that fully funds Medicaid so we avoid the Medicaid rebase standoffs we saw this past legislative session. We must also make sure Medicaid reimbursement rates are appropriate and that providers, especially in rural communities, are fairly compensated so they can continue to serve their patients.

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 support this amendment. The General Assembly already has the power to provide relief from property taxes and the levy limit would not actually reduce any individual homeowner’s property tax bill. Beyond that, local property taxes are one of the primary sources of funding for local essential services like emergency response, law enforcement, and public schools. A cap does not reduce the need for these services, it only reduces the public’s ability to access them. Instead, we should pursue meaningful property tax relief for those who need it. That’s why I introduced House Bill 1092, which would expand the homestead exemption and circuit breaker programs.”

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

Housing, childcare, and basic necessities cost more than ever and too many working families are falling behind. I spent this past session working to address these issues. I sponsored a handful of bills to sensibly address the rising cost of living. This included bills to raise the minimum wage (HB 1059), increase the housing supply (HB 1056), enact a child tax credit (HB 628), support NC farmers and bring down food costs (HB 1057), reinstate the Earned Income Tax credit (HB 1082), and provide universal free school breakfast and lunch (HB 1031).

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?

Hurricane Helene’s impact on Western North Carolina was devastating, and recovery and rebuilding will demand continued sustained investments. We should prepare now for the next major hurricane by upgrading stormwater systems, roads, bridges, utilities, and natural flood protections while prioritizing vulnerable and low-income communities. Along the coast, I support science-based erosion management, wetland and dune restoration, and resilient infrastructure. Finally, whenever an extreme storm strikes, we must be efficient and effective with investing in rebuilding efforts. Bureaucratic delays are unacceptable.

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?

In October 2025, the majority in the General Assembly passed the seventh congressional map in less than a decade. Not because our communities are changing or growing dramatically, but because those in power want to entrench a political outcome. Partisan gerrymandering has no place in our government. I spoke out against the most recent mid-decade congressional map when it passed and I will continue to do so because gerrymandered maps means voters across the state don’t have a say in who represents them. Going forward, I support the task of redistricting to be given to an independent redistricting commission to ensure fair representation.

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?

While I am glad the recent budget raised teacher pay, North Carolina’s ranking near the bottom in teacher pay is unacceptable. All teachers should be able to afford to support themselves and their families. I support a meaningful pay scale that rewards experienced educators and ensures teaching is a sustainable lifelong career. We also cannot ignore school infrastructure needs like HVACs and outdated facilities. We should be investing in our public schools rather than taxpayer-funded private school vouchers for the wealthiest.

Every dollar diverted from public schools is one that could have been used to fund a classroom, a teacher’s salary, or basic infrastructure improvements. Our educators and students deserve better. I will fight to pass a budget that treats public education as a priority.

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?

I strongly opposed, voted against, and spoke out against the 12-week abortion ban. My position has not changed. I do not support the current law, and I will oppose any effort to restrict access further. I fully support protecting women’s reproductive freedom.

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?

We need stronger regulations on hemp-derived THC products to protect youth and consumers, such as age verification and testing requirements. However, codifying the federal ban into state law would only drive consumers to the black market, ultimately benefiting the cartels.

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?

I voted for Iryna’s Law because on balance, I believe it will make North Carolinians safer. The law enhances requirements for pretrial release for defendants charged with a violent crime, requires judges and magistrates to carefully consider conditions of release, and requires mental health examinations for defendants charged with a violent offense who have previously been committed and those who are a danger to themselves or others. That said, it is far from perfect, and it lacks the significant investments our criminal justice and mental health systems need, including in our jails, district attorney offices (especially in Wake County), and state psychiatric hospitals. I support the community having the ability to choose the death penalty in the most heinous cases provided the defendant receives a fair trial.

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?

I believe data centers should pay their fair share, but as it stands, North Carolina ratepayers are not getting a fair deal. I introduced the Ratepayer and Resource Protection Act because ordinary people should not bear the costs of data centers while benefiting big corporations. Data centers consume staggering amounts of electricity and water, and the cost burden should not be placed on hard working families through higher utility rates. I have also pushed to repeal the sales tax exemptions and incentives that cost North Carolina tens of millions per year in giveaways to big tech. Data center growth in our state does not have to come at the expense of North Carolina ratepayers.

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.

I voted against the original House budget because I believed it was not ambitious enough in the investments that are needed in our public schools, public safety, and state employees. However, after over 1000 days without a budget, and after hearing from many constituents about the need for raises and a budget as soon as possible, I voted in favor of the final budget. In such circumstances, the perfect should not be the enemy of the good.

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