My roots extend between rural Georgia and rural Ohio, so I split the difference and settled into rural North Carolina.

About Steve | Steve Luking for North Carolina Senate

Biography. Steve Luking was born in Dayton, Ohio. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wright State University in 1980 and an M.D. from the University of Cincinnati in 1984. He also graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1987.

Steve Luking - Ballotpedia

I met my wife Sara (a public school teacher) and we had two kids. They attended public schools here in Reidsville.

Steve Luking for North Carolina Senate

My family belongs to Main Street United Methodist Church in Reidsville. I have served as Chief of Staff, Chief of Medicine, Chair of the Medical Ethics Committee, and Hospital Board Chairperson, for Annie Penn Hospital.

Steve Luking has roots in rural Georgia and rural Ohio and settled in rural North Carolina. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wright State University and an M.D. from the University of Cincinnati; he also graduated from the University of South Carolina. He and his wife, Sara, have two children; his family belongs to Main Street United Methodist Church in Reidsville.

Steve previously lost the 2024 election for the North Carolina State Senate District 26.

2026 North Carolina General Election

I will fight hard to reverse this assault on our public schools. The next generation deserves a fighting chance. My proposal: push corporate taxes back up to 2016 levels, and apply the difference directly to public schools and teacher pay—shooting for not 49th in the nation in public school funding, but 25th!

As a small business owner for over twenty years, I know the challenges of dealing with regulations and running a business. I support proposals, such as one made by Senator Michael Garrett, which would exempt a portion of a small business’s income from state corporate taxes. Small businesses do not have access to the legislative process like the large corporations do, and so they see less favorable legislation. As a major engine of economic growth for our state, they deserve a break.

Issues | Steve Luking for North Carolina Senate

Young families and middle and lower class families have been given a raw deal from legislative tax policy over the past dozen years. North Carolina taxes are now more regressive, falling more heavily on the shoulders of those who can least afford them. As your senator, I will work to restore a more progressive tax system to give these families the relief they deserve.

Proposes restoring corporate taxes to 2016 levels and directing the additional revenue to public schools and teacher pay.

Supports exempting a portion of small businesses' income from state corporate taxes.

Plans to restore a more progressive state tax system.

- Proposes restoring corporate taxes to 2016 levels and directing the additional revenue to public schools and teacher pay.
- Supports exempting a portion of small businesses' income from state corporate taxes.
- Plans to restore a more progressive state tax system.

Economy

There are other crucial issues in healthcare worth fighting for: the need to elevate and advance the state’s fight against the fentanyl poisoning crisis which has taken the lives of so many of our citizens (I wrote a two-piece article on this last fall for the Rockingham Now newspaper), the need to endorse science-based methods in healthcare policy, the need to limit the outsized influences of insurance companies and healthcare systems on the General Assembly, the need to deter aggressive medical debt tactics, the need to improve minority and rural access to healthcare, and the need to relieve excessive drug costs.

I fish a lot, but I also hunt some and own multiple guns. The NRA and others have hijacked the legislative process, once again with false claims of danger to second amendment rights. I strongly support our state instituting common-sense gun laws, to lower the risks of violent death to families, children, and members of law enforcement.

Calls for advancing the state's response to the fentanyl poisoning crisis.

Supports state gun laws intended to reduce violent deaths among families, children, and law-enforcement personnel.

- Calls for advancing the state's response to the fentanyl poisoning crisis.
- Supports state gun laws intended to reduce violent deaths among families, children, and law-enforcement personnel.

Public Safety

For over a decade I fought hard against Phil Berger on his pathetic stance against Medicaid expansion (which left mostly working poor women out in the cold.) Unforgivable—and a tragic example of incredibly bad legislative judgment by my opponent.

As your senator I will strongly resist any further attempt to erode women’s reproductive rights. Early in my career I did obstetrics. (Notice I did not say deliver babies, as my wife Sara always reminds me, it’s the women who deliver the babies!)

The right to an abortion is a fundamental healthcare right for women. I recall numerous patients—a pre-teen victim of sexual abuse by a foster father, a woman literally attacked by a once-friendly boss late one night (and afraid to report it to the authorities), a pregnant woman who spent the night bleeding heavily in the ICU—where patients and their families, along with their physicians, made a decision to terminate the pregnancy.

It must remain a woman’s right to make such a serious decision. And simply declaring exceptions for women who are victims of confirmed rape will not address this absolute need—over three-quarters of rapes in our country are not reported to medical or legal authorities.

I fought hard for twelve years to expand Medicaid for the sake of my working poor patients--and for our rural hospitals. I will work equally hard to improve availability and affordability of healthcare to all, and I have the expertise to effectively advocate on healthcare issues.

Plans to resist further restrictions on women's reproductive rights and supports abortion access as a healthcare right.

Advocates for science-based healthcare policy and limiting the influence of insurance companies and healthcare systems on the General Assembly.

Advocates for deterring aggressive medical-debt collection practices, improving minority and rural healthcare access, and reducing drug costs.

Plans to improve healthcare availability and affordability.

- Advocates for expanding Medicaid.
- Plans to resist further restrictions on women's reproductive rights and supports abortion access as a healthcare right.
- Advocates for science-based healthcare policy and limiting the influence of insurance companies and healthcare systems on the General Assembly.
- Advocates for deterring aggressive medical-debt collection practices, improving minority and rural healthcare access, and reducing drug costs.
- Plans to improve healthcare availability and affordability.

Healthcare

At the rally Thursday, advocates asked for immediate action. “Don’t waste a dozen years like you did with Medicaid expansion,” said Steve Luking, a physician from Rockingham County who is also running for the state Senate seat in District 26, currently occupied by Senate leader Phil Berger. “Our families cannot wait that long. Our child care workers need improved wages. Our families need more affordable services. And our owners and operators need the financial support of the state to survive this crisis. It’s all a matter of priorities.”

Child care providers rally at NC legislature, advocate stabilization funding

As your senator I will fight with everything I’ve got to restore good public school funding and substantially improve teacher pay. My wife and daughter are public school teachers. We raised our kids in Rockingham County’s public schools.

School vouchers for the wealthy are a foolish waste of resources, and we must pay our teachers substantially more.

Calls for higher child-care worker wages, more affordable child-care services, and state financial support for child-care providers.

Plans to increase public-school funding and substantially raise teacher pay.

Opposes school vouchers and supports substantially higher teacher pay.

- Calls for higher child-care worker wages, more affordable child-care services, and state financial support for child-care providers.
- Plans to increase public-school funding and substantially raise teacher pay.
- Opposes school vouchers and supports substantially higher teacher pay.
- Proposes restoring corporate taxes to 2016 levels and directing the additional revenue to public schools and teacher pay.

Education

The state government must take an active role in protecting our environment. There are folks in the halls of the capitol building who do not give a hoot about the environment, as long as they can make a little more money on their pet projects.

As your senator I will do my part to ensure that North Carolina maintains an excellent natural environment for our health—and the next generation.

Supports an active state role in environmental protection.

- Supports an active state role in environmental protection.

Energy & the Environment

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

Foreign Policy and Immigration

We all need to endorse sensible reforms aimed at limiting gerrymandering by both sides. This would give voters a true say once again in the outcome of issues important to their community.

Supports reforms to limit gerrymandering by both parties.

- Supports reforms to limit gerrymandering by both parties.

Voting & Elections

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Steve Luking

- Plans to increase public-school funding and substantially raise teacher pay.
- Opposes school vouchers and supports substantially higher teacher pay.
- Proposes restoring corporate taxes to 2016 levels and directing the additional revenue to public schools and teacher pay.

Steve Luking has a bachelor's degree from Wright State University, a medical degree from the University of Cincinnati, and a master's degree from the University of South Carolina. He and his wife, Sara, attend Main Street United Methodist Church in Reidsville. 

Steve is a physician. He co-founded Reidsville Family Medicine in 1993. He previously worked as a physician and did overseas volunteer work with the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission.

Steve previously ran for North Carolina State Senate District 26 in 2024 but did not win. 

Supports tax exemptions for small businesses.

Plans to install a more progressive tax system.

Said, "The state government must take an active role in protecting our environment... The fight to maintain a healthy environment and climate will be one of the most important of the 21st century. As your senator I will do my part to ensure that North Carolina maintains an excellent natural environment for our health—and the next generation."

Supports access to abortion and opposes restrictions on reproductive rights.

Supports improving access to healthcare for minorities and rural communities.

Opposes the use of vouchers for private schools, which are funds that wealthier citizens can use to send their children to private schools.

Supports increasing corporate taxes and using the funds for public schools and teacher salaries.

Believes that reducing the influence of money in politics will improve communities and citizens' futures.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Sam Page

- 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.

Your representative and state lawmaker in North Carolina Senate.