Lindsey attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville as an NC teaching fellow, where she earned her bachelor's degree in sociology. She later earned a masters of public affairs from Western Carolina University. She is married to her husband, Eric.

Lindsey is an educator who has taught special education, civics, and U.S. history. She previously served as assistant director of admission at the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Lindsey Prather currently serves as a state representative for District 115. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. 

As of June 15, 2025, Lindsey Prather’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Candidate website

Supports increasing clean energy and electric vehicles to benefit the environment and create jobs.

Supports increasing clean energy and electric vehicles to help the environment and create jobs.

Believes Western North Carolina's mountains are at risk from climate change and supports protecting communities and infrastructure from its impacts.

Supports increasing the market share of clean energy and electric vehicles to benefit the environment and create jobs.

Believes in protecting natural environments for future generations. Said, "We need to protect our natural environments for years to come, for the sake of our children and grandchildren."

Said, "We need to protect our natural environments for years to come, for the sake of our children and grandchildren."

- Supports increasing clean energy and electric vehicles to help the environment and create jobs.
- Believes Western North Carolina's mountains are at risk from climate change and supports protecting communities and infrastructure from its impacts.
- Said, "We need to protect our natural environments for years to come, for the sake of our children and grandchildren."

Energy & the Environment

Believes North Carolina families struggle with high healthcare costs, corporate greed, and lack of telehealth access. Criticizes Republicans for prioritizing banning reproductive healthcare over ensuring quality maternal care.

Believes North Carolina families struggle with high healthcare costs, "corporate greed," and lack of telehealth access, saying, "Republicans in Raleigh have been more concerned with banning reproductive healthcare access than ensuring that expecting mothers are able to access quality maternal healthcare."

Believes North Carolina families face high healthcare costs and limited access to high-speed internet for telehealth. Criticizes Republicans for focusing on banning reproductive health instead of ensuring quality maternal care.

Believes politicians should "expand access to quality, affordable healthcare for our families."

- Believes North Carolina families struggle with high healthcare costs, "corporate greed," and lack of telehealth access, saying, "Republicans in Raleigh have been more concerned with banning reproductive healthcare access than ensuring that expecting mothers are able to access quality maternal healthcare."
- Believes politicians should "expand access to quality, affordable healthcare for our families."

Healthcare

Believes the government should serve all residents equally and ensure fair voting practices. Opposes "unjust maps" and voter suppression attempts.

Believes the government should serve all residents equally and ensure fair voting practices, and opposes "unjust maps," gerrymandering, and voter suppression attempts.

- Believes the government should serve all residents equally and ensure fair voting practices, and opposes "unjust maps," gerrymandering, and voter suppression attempts.

Voting & Elections

Public Safety

Believes North Carolina can regain its leadership in public education by better preparing youth and supporting school staff. Plans to recruit and retain top teachers and ensure all school staff receive necessary support.

Believes North Carolina can regain its leadership in public education by better preparing youth and supporting school staff, and plans to recruit and retain top teachers and ensure all school staff receive necessary support.

Believes every child in North Carolina deserves the best possible education. Supports improving education for children, including K-12 school policies and college opportunities.

Said, "Every child in North Carolina deserves the best possible education we can give them."

- Believes North Carolina can regain its leadership in public education by better preparing youth and supporting school staff, and plans to recruit and retain top teachers and ensure all school staff receive necessary support.
- Said, "Every child in North Carolina deserves the best possible education we can give them."

Education

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Lindsey Prather

Ruth is from South Carolina. She holds both a bachelor's degree in political science and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is married to her husband, with whom she has 2 sons. 

Ruth currently works as a managing partner at The Elmore and Smith Law Firm, PC. and as a disability attorney at her own law practice, The Law Offices of Ruth C. Smith. 

Ballotpedia, Ruth Smith

Ruth Smith's campaign for state representative in District 115 is her first run for public office. 

- Wants to address inflation.
- Wants to reduce taxes.

As of June 15, 2025, Ruth Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes undocumented immigration, and believes it has led to "flow of fentanyl into North Carolina."

Supports law enforcement and plans to ensure they have adequate resources for neighborhood safety.

- Opposes undocumented immigration, and believes it has led to "flow of fentanyl into North Carolina."
- Supports law enforcement and plans to ensure they have adequate resources for neighborhood safety.

Plans to work towards providing parents a more significant say in their child's education.

- Wants to enhance education.
- Plans to work towards providing parents a more significant say in their child's education.

Ruth Smith

- Your State Representative participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 129 members of the North Carolina House of Representatives. The North Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Representative 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 Representative can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Representative 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.
- State Representatives are elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.

Your representative and state lawmaker in North Carolina House of Representatives