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NC Voter Coalition

North Carolina

Ballotpedia, David Bankert

David was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He has a son. 

David has experience working jobs in the engineering, manufacturing, and construction industries. 

David Bankert ran for state senator in District 13 in 2022, but he did not win. 

Candidate website

NORTH CAROLINA FAMILY VOTER GUIDE

Believes in "bringing manufacturing back" and adopting sensible crisis policies.

Wants to revive manufacturing and adopt "sensible crisis policies."

Opposes legalizing sports betting in North Carolina (NC).

Opposes state-provided tax reductions or any other financial benefits to encourage businesses to relocate to NC.

- Wants to revive manufacturing and adopt "sensible crisis policies."
- Opposes legalizing sports betting in North Carolina (NC).
- Opposes state-provided tax reductions or any other financial benefits to encourage businesses to relocate to NC.
- Supports religious-based tax exemptions.

Economy

As of June 14, 2024, David Bankert’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Supports mental health policies and initiatives.

Opposes allocating state funds to organizations that provide abortions.

- Supports mental health policies and initiatives.
- Opposes abortion access.
- Opposes allocating state funds to organizations that provide abortions.

Healthcare

Supports upholding and promoting state and federal constitutional protections and rights.

Supports upholding "transparency and accountability in government and media."

Supports upholding election integrity to "regain and confirm trust in our voting processes and systems."

Plans to involve the community to help address district issues.

- Supports upholding and promoting state and federal constitutional protections and rights.
- Supports upholding "transparency and accountability in government and media."
- Supports upholding election integrity to "regain and confirm trust in our voting processes and systems."
- Plans to involve the community to help address district issues.
- Believes "Our society it too divided."
- Supports term limits.

Voting & Elections

Public Safety

Believes in "fighting for solid, academic fundamentals and protecting our children." Supports strong educational policies for K-12 and college.

Supports "solid, academic fundamentals and protecting our children." in schools. 

Opposes allowing transgender women to participate on female sports teams.

Opposes teaching students from kindergarten to third grade about sexual orientation and gender identity.

- Supports "solid, academic fundamentals and protecting our children." in schools. 
- Opposes allowing transgender women to participate on female sports teams.
- Opposes teaching students from kindergarten to third grade about sexual orientation and gender identity.

Education

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Facebook

David Bankert

- Supports mental health policies and initiatives.
- Supports abortion access.
- Opposes allocating state funds to organizations that provide abortions.

- Supports upholding and promoting state and federal constitutional protections and rights.
- Supports upholding "transparency and accountability in government and media."
- Supports upholding election integrity to "regain and confirm trust in our voting processes and systems."
- Plans to involve the community to help address district issues.
- Believes "Our society it too divided."
- Supports term limits.
- Supports allowing one's religious beliefs to influence a government official's decisions while serving in public office.

David Bankert was adopted from an orphanage at age two and had a childhood rich in faith, family, and music. He attended Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned an electrical engineering degree, and also obtained an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. While the specific details about where he lives, his church affiliation, and his family life are not provided, it is mentioned that he has faced the challenge of having a son with mental illness.

David Bankert has a 35-year business career spanning engineering, manufacturing, and construction. He holds an electrical engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Specific companies or roles within these sectors are not mentioned.

As of July 8, 2024, David Bankert’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The News & Observer - Jay Chaudhuri, candidate for NC Senate District 15

Jay was born in Chattanooga and raised in Fayetteville. He attended Fayetteville public schools and graduated from Davidson College, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and North Carolina Central University School of Law. He currently lives in the Cameron Village neighborhood with his wife, and their 2 children.

Jay previously served as special counsel to Attorney General Roy Cooper and as general counsel & senior policy advisor to State Treasurer Janet Cowell. 

Jay J. Chaudhuri currently serves as a state senator in District 15. He was elected in 2016 and is serving his fourth term. 

Plans to cut taxes for working and middle class people, and make the wealthy and upper class pay their fair share.

Supports equal pay between women and men.

As a State Senator, filed the T.R.U.M.P. Act to ensure presidential candidates disclose tax returns, revealing potential conflicts of interest.

As a state senator, filed the T.R.U.M.P. Act to ensure presidential candidates disclose tax returns, revealing potential conflicts of interest.

- Plans to cut taxes for working and middle class people, and make the wealthy and upper class pay their fair share.
- Plans to raise the minimum wage.
- Supports equal pay between women and men.
- As a state senator, filed the T.R.U.M.P. Act to ensure presidential candidates disclose tax returns, revealing potential conflicts of interest.

Intends to "work to combat climate change by making clean, renewable energy like wind and solar more accessible and affordable for North Carolina families and businesses."

- Intends to "work to combat climate change by making clean, renewable energy like wind and solar more accessible and affordable for North Carolina families and businesses."

Believes in expanding health care for all and building a stronger public health system.

- Believes in expanding health care for all and building a stronger public health system.
- Supports the legalization of marijuana.
- Supports access to abortion.

As a State Senator, sponsored the T.R.U.M.P. Act requiring presidential candidates to release five years of tax returns to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

As a state senator, sponsored the T.R.U.M.P. Act requiring presidential candidates to release 5 years of tax returns to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

- As a state senator, sponsored the T.R.U.M.P. Act requiring presidential candidates to release 5 years of tax returns to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

As a State Senator, proposed new gun laws following the Parkland shooting. Supports stricter gun control measures to enhance public safety.

Supports strict gun control measures to enhance public safety.

As a State Senator, supported expanding hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, disability, and gender.

As a state senator, supported expanding hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, disability, and gender.

- Supports strict gun control measures to enhance public safety.
- As a state senator, supported expanding hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, disability, and gender.

Intends to restore state funding to public schools.

- Intends to restore state funding to public schools.
- Plans to raise teacher salaries.

As of June 14, 2024, Jay J. Chaudhuri’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Jay J. Chaudhuri

Jay was born in Chattanooga and raised in Fayetteville. He attended Fayetteville public schools and graduated from Davidson College, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and North Carolina Central University School of Law. He currently lives in the Cameron Village neighborhood with his wife, and their two children.

Jay J. Chaudhuri currently serves as State Senator in State Senate District 15. He was elected in 2016 and is serving his 4th term. 

- As a State Senator, filed the T.R.U.M.P. Act to ensure presidential candidates disclose tax returns, revealing potential conflicts of interest.
- Plans to cut taxes for working and middle class people, and make the wealthy and upper class pay their fair share.
- Plans to raise the minimum wage.
- Supports equal pay between women and men.

- The candidate website says, "[He] will work to combat climate change by making clean, renewable energy like wind and solar more accessible and affordable for North Carolina families and businesses."

- Believes in expanding health care for all and building a stronger public health system.
- Supports the legalization of marijuana.
- Supports abortion rights.

- As a State Senator, sponsored the T.R.U.M.P. Act requiring presidential candidates to release five years of tax returns to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

- As a State Senator, supported expanding hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, disability, and gender.
- Supports strict gun control measures to enhance public safety.

Jay J. Chaudhuri was born in Chattanooga and is the son of Indian immigrants. He grew up in Fayetteville, attended Fayetteville public schools, graduated from Davidson College, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and North Carolina Central University School of Law with honors. He currently lives in the Cameron Village neighborhood with his wife, their two children, who attend Wake County public schools, and their black lab. Information about the church he attends is not provided.

Jay J. Chaudhuri is a State Senator representing District 15 in North Carolina, and he has been elected as the Senate Minority Whip for the 2019-20 general assembly session. He previously served as Special Counsel to Attorney General Roy Cooper and as General Counsel & Senior Policy Advisor to State Treasurer Janet Cowell. In these roles, he has been involved in significant investigations and initiatives, including leading an investigation with all 50 Attorneys General and establishing the first ever Innovation Fund in North Carolina.

Jay J. Chaudhuri has served in the North Carolina legislature since being appointed to the District 16 Senate seat in April, prior to his election victory in November. He has been elected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as the Senate Minority Whip for the 2019-20 general assembly session, which is the second-highest ranking position within the caucus.

The candidate's website says, "The NC Midterm Election has been called resulting in the re-election of US and State House representatives, the passing of four out of six proposed amendments and approval of all Wake County bond referenda."

Believes Republicans can either collaborate with Democrats or continue a partisan agenda after losing their supermajority.

As a State Senator, introduced a bill to address issues from the 2016 election, emphasizing the need for public support.

Ballotpedia, Kat McDonald

Kat was born and raised in Wake County. She attended Wake Technical Community College and holds a bachelor's degree in political science and government from North Carolina State University and a law degree from Campell University School of Law. She lives in Raleigh. 

Kat currently works as an associate attorney at Charles R. Ullman & Associates. She previously worked as a law clerk at Triangle Divorce Lawyers and as a legal assistant at McKnight Law. 

Kat McDonald ran for state representative in District 34 in 2022 and for state senator in District 15 in 2020, but did not win either race. 

Wants to provide more opportunities for small businesses.

Supports measures for affordable housing.

Opposes single-family zoning and strict government housing regulations.

Opposes funding large projects "designed for splash and attention..."

Supports efforts for transportation and road safety.

Wants to abolish the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control System. 

Wants the alcohol industry to be privatized.

Opposes "anti-competitive restrictions and over-regulation of the alcohol industry."

- Wants to provide more opportunities for small businesses.
- Wants less government regulation.
- Supports housing choice vouchers.
- Supports measures for affordable housing.
- Wants to reduce cost of living.
- Opposes "Exclusionary zoning..."
- Opposes single-family zoning and strict government housing regulations.
- Opposes funding large projects "designed for splash and attention..."
- Supports efforts for transportation and road safety.
- Wants to abolish the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control System. 
- Wants the alcohol industry to be privatized.
- Opposes "anti-competitive restrictions and over-regulation of the alcohol industry."

As of June 14, 2024, Kat McDonald’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes anyone receiving "special treatment."

- Opposes anyone receiving "special treatment."

Believes conventional school policies hinder personalized learning and fail to challenge students academically. Opposes political and bureaucratic control over education, advocating for greater involvement from students and families.

Believes conventional school policies hinder personalized learning and do not promote effective learning or challenge students academically. 

Supports expanding North Carolina’s state-funded Education Savings Account program to provide better education options for all students, especially those with special learning needs and financial hardships.

Wants to expand North Carolina’s state-funded Education Savings Account program to provide better education options for students, especially students from low-income backgrounds and studnets with learning challenges. 

Supports expanding open enrollment within and between public-school districts, allowing families to choose the best school without needing permission from their home district.

Supports expanding open enrollment in public school districts. 

Supports "more freedom for parents to choose what’s best for their children" and greater school choice.

Supports school choice and parental control over their child's education.

- Believes conventional school policies hinder personalized learning and do not promote effective learning or challenge students academically. 
- Wants to expand North Carolina’s state-funded Education Savings Account program to provide better education options for students, especially students from low-income backgrounds and studnets with learning challenges. 
- Supports expanding open enrollment in public school districts. 
- Supports school choice and parental control over their child's education.

Kat McDonald

- Wants to provide more opportunities for small businesses.
- Wants less government regulation.
- Supports housing choice vouchers.
- Wants to abolish the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control System.
- Supports measures for affordable housing.

- Supports school choice and parental control over their child's education.

Kat McDonald was born and raised in Wake County. She attended Wake Technical Community College and holds a bachelor's degree in political science and government from North Carolina State University and a law degree from Campell University School of Law. She currently lives in Raleigh. 

Kat McDonald was born and raised in Wake County and has a deep affection for the area. They attended Wake Tech and N.C. State University, where they earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 2017. Details about their church affiliation or family life are not provided.

As of July 8, 2024, Kat McDonald’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes single-family zoning and strict regulations, believing they contribute to urban sprawl and less diverse neighborhoods.

Supports using transportation funds for sustainable projects in areas where people live and work to benefit workers and the environment.

Believes giving students, families, and teachers greater choice builds successful lives, improves learning environments, and strengthens communities.

Supports diverse, high-quality educational choices tailored to individual student needs. Supports a dynamic, future-oriented educational system based on choice.

Believes state education policy significantly impacts North Carolina’s 1.8 million K-12 students and their readiness for college and careers. Supports diverse educational options, including public, charter, private schools, and tech learning centers.

Wants to expand education opportunities for students and families.

- Your State Senator participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 50 members of the North Carolina Senate. The North Carolina Senate is the upper house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Senator drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Senator can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Senator is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- The State Senator is elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.

North Carolina State Senator, District 15

Candidates (3)

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