NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 065
WOODALL, SETH MATTHEW Seth Woodall REP 12/19/2025 202 RIVER RIDGE RD EDEN, NC 27288
MCGAUGHEY, WILLIAM GAVIN CONNER Gavin McGaughey DEM 12/05/2025 100 PRATT ST MADISON, NC 27025

2026_general_candidate_list_by_contest_federal_and_state.pdf

Gavin McGaughey lives in Madison, North Carolina.

Gavin McGaughey - Ballotpedia

Gavin is a first-time candidate for political office.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Economics
Every hardworking North Carolinian deserves a fair shot at a stable future. Our economy and tax system should put people first, not corporations or Wall Street. I support real tax exemptions for tips and overtime so workers keep more of what they earn. Corporate taxes should be fair too. Raising the corporate rate to 5 percent, matching neighboring states, ensures businesses contribute their share while funding vital programs.

Economics

We must eliminate taxes on groceries so families can afford basic necessities. Wall Street should not control Main Street. Large investment firms should not buy up single family homes, forcing families to rent forever. We must limit corporate property ownership and protect housing for residents. Partnering with municipalities to expand housing opportunities will help communities grow responsibly and affordably.

Supports tax exemptions for tips and overtime pay.

Supports raising the corporate tax rate to five percent.

Calls for eliminating taxes on groceries.

Calls for limits on corporate ownership of residential property to protect housing for residents.

Supports partnering with municipalities to expand housing opportunities.

- Supports tax exemptions for tips and overtime pay.
- Supports raising the corporate tax rate to five percent.
- Calls for eliminating taxes on groceries.
- Calls for limits on corporate ownership of residential property to protect housing for residents.
- Supports partnering with municipalities to expand housing opportunities.

Economy

We must strengthen enforcement of environmental laws so no community is put at risk again. Companies that pollute our land, water, or air should face real consequences. A state level carbon credit system would give businesses financial incentives to cut emissions and modernize operations.

Environment

New industries bring new risks. Data centers in rural counties consume massive amounts of water for cooling and often rely on diesel generators until connected to the grid, releasing harmful exhaust. Some use chemicals to slow evaporation and transport wastewater to treatment plants. Communities deserve clear information about these practices and their potential impact on drinking water.

Energy
Clean energy is the future of North Carolina. It supports energy independence, protects families from global market swings, and helps our state sustain itself. By investing in modern energy solutions, we can build a stronger, cleaner, and more affordable economy.

Energy

We should create a state program that offers low interest loans to residents in remote areas or places without access to financial support. Every homeowner should be able to upgrade their energy systems and lower their bills no matter where they live.

North Carolina should also offer tax credits to renewable energy companies that want to expand here, especially in Rockingham County. This would bring jobs, investment, and economic growth while helping our state lead in clean energy.

We also need to recognize that artificial intelligence infrastructure is already putting pressure on power and water systems. Data centers use enormous resources and the strain falls on local residents. The long term benefits of AI may take decades, but the costs are immediate. The state must understand, monitor, and regulate this industry before the impact becomes too great.

Supports a state carbon-credit system to incentivize businesses to reduce emissions and modernize operations.

Calls for stronger enforcement of environmental laws and consequences for companies that pollute land, water, or air.

Calls for communities to receive clear information about data-center practices and potential effects on drinking water.

Supports investment in clean-energy solutions.

Proposes low-interest state loans for homeowners in remote areas or without financial support to upgrade home-energy systems.

Supports tax credits for renewable-energy companies expanding in North Carolina.

Calls for the state to monitor and regulate data centers' effects on power and water systems.

- Supports a state carbon-credit system to incentivize businesses to reduce emissions and modernize operations.
- Calls for stronger enforcement of environmental laws and consequences for companies that pollute land, water, or air.
- Calls for communities to receive clear information about data-center practices and potential effects on drinking water.
- Supports investment in clean-energy solutions.
- Proposes low-interest state loans for homeowners in remote areas or without financial support to upgrade home-energy systems.
- Supports tax credits for renewable-energy companies expanding in North Carolina.
- Calls for the state to monitor and regulate data centers' effects on power and water systems.

Energy & the Environment

Access to adequate modern medicine is a fundamental right, and North Carolina should be doing far more to expand both affordability and availability. My vision is for our state to one day transition to its own single payer system so that every resident can receive the care they need without fear of debt or denial. Until that becomes possible, there are meaningful steps we can take right now to close the gaps.

Health Care

We should offer reduced tuition for students pursuing careers in medical fields, paired with an agreement that they remain employed in North Carolina for a set number of years after graduation. Our state already uses a similar model for teachers, and expanding it to healthcare would strengthen our workforce and keep more medical professionals serving the communities that need them.

We must also provide state funded healthcare plans that are available to the public regardless of circumstance. Creating a public option would put real pressure on private insurers to lower prices and improve coverage, ensuring that families do not have to choose between medical care and financial stability.

My mission is to ensure that Rockingham County has the resources, the leadership, and the commitment to protect the programs our neighbors rely on. I will fight to safeguard SNAP, to fund Medicaid, and make sure that every resident has access to the support and care they deserve. Because in North Carolina, we do not abandon our neighbors. We stand with them.

Social Programs

Plans to transition North Carolina to a single-payer health care system.

Supports reduced tuition for medical students who agree to work in North Carolina after graduation.

Calls for state-funded health plans to be available to the public, creating a public health insurance option.

Pledges to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and fund Medicaid.

- Plans to transition North Carolina to a single-payer health care system.
- Supports reduced tuition for medical students who agree to work in North Carolina after graduation.
- Calls for state-funded health plans to be available to the public, creating a public health insurance option.
- Pledges to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and fund Medicaid.

Healthcare

As of January 5, 2026, Gavin McGaughey’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Public Safety

Education
Teachers are the backbone of our education system and they deserve better. Every child deserves a world class education, and that begins with supporting the people who make it possible. I am committed to offering a competitive starting salary of 55,000 dollars for new teachers and proportional raises for existing educators to attract and retain top talent.

Education

A state with world class universities should also provide world class K-12 education. We must stop funding schools primarily through property taxes, a system that creates inequalities. Rural schools deserve the same support as urban schools, regardless of their tax base.

Our schools must prepare students for the information age by prioritizing modern skills like computer literacy, technology, and financial literacy. Higher education should be affordable, especially for students who grew up here. I will work to provide free or reduced tuition for students who complete their K-12 public education in-state.

Committed to a $55,000 starting salary for new teachers and proportional raises for current educators.

Calls for ending the primary reliance on property taxes to fund schools and providing equal support to rural and urban schools.

Prioritizes computer, technology, and financial literacy in schools.

Plans to provide free or reduced tuition for students who complete kindergarten through 12th-grade public education in North Carolina.

- Committed to a $55,000 starting salary for new teachers and proportional raises for current educators.
- Calls for ending the primary reliance on property taxes to fund schools and providing equal support to rural and urban schools.
- Prioritizes computer, technology, and financial literacy in schools.
- Plans to provide free or reduced tuition for students who complete kindergarten through 12th-grade public education in North Carolina.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Gavin McGaughey

- Calls for stronger enforcement of environmental laws and consequences for companies that pollute land, water, or air.
- Calls for communities to receive clear information about data-center practices and potential effects on drinking water.
- Supports investment in clean-energy solutions.
- Proposes low-interest state loans for homeowners in remote areas or without financial support to upgrade home-energy systems.
- Supports tax credits for renewable-energy companies expanding in North Carolina.
- Calls for the state to monitor and regulate data centers' effects on power and water systems.

- Supports reduced tuition for medical students who agree to work in North Carolina after graduation.
- Calls for state-funded health plans to be available to the public, creating a public health insurance option.
- Pledges to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and fund Medicaid.

Gavin McGaughey's campaign for North Carolina State Representative, District 65, is his first time running for public office.

Supports eliminating taxes on groceries to help families afford basic necessities.

Supports real tax exemptions for tips and overtime to help workers keep more of their earnings, and advocates for raising the corporate tax rate to 5% to ensure fair contributions from businesses while funding essential programs.

Supports limiting corporate property ownership to protect housing for residents and partnering with municipalities to expand affordable housing opportunities.

Supports offering tax credits to renewable energy companies to promote job creation, investment, and economic growth in North Carolina.

Supports transitioning to a single-payer healthcare system for all residents to ensure access to care without fear of debt or denial.

Supports state-funded healthcare plans available to the public and advocates for a public option to pressure private insurers to lower prices and improve coverage.

For Candidate Gavin McGaughey on Issue Voting & Elections: Advocates for equitable funding for schools, emphasizing that rural schools should receive the same support as urban schools regardless of their tax base.

For Candidate Gavin McGaughey on Issue public-safety: Believes that cuts to Medicaid threaten community health and safety, emphasizing the importance of local hospitals in medical emergencies.

Supports prioritizing modern skills like computer literacy, technology, and financial literacy in education to prepare students for the information age.

Supports making higher education affordable by providing free or reduced tuition for in-state students who complete their K-12 public education.

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Seth Woodall

- 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).
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- 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.