It was at Davidson College, during the Reagan era, that my advocate spirit awoke. Through protesting apartheid, leading the college’s Amnesty International chapter, tutoring marginalized girls, studying in India, traveling to war-ravaged Central America, and working in desperately poor Africa, I learned firsthand that the world is full of complex and difficult challenges.

About - Julie Mayfield for NC Senate

That passion to help people and effect change led me to law school at Emory University, where I became an environmental advocate and learned to use the power of the law to protect our natural resources. For me, this was an easy shift from advocating for people who had no voice to the environment, which also had no voice of its own.

Julie Mayfield attended Davidson College and Emory University School of Law.

After graduating from Davidson College, I worked for prisoners’ rights and against the death penalty at Amnesty International USA and later at the Georgia Justice Project. I also worked to help provide local families with food security at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

After law school, I worked for Kilpatrick Stockton and then returned to Emory Law School to run its new environmental law clinic, both teaching and representing nonprofits and community groups in legal cases. I then became vice president and general counsel at the Georgia Conservancy, a statewide environmental advocacy group where I lobbied for the environment at the Georgia General Assembly and Department of Natural Resources.

In 2008, I was given the opportunity to return to North Carolina as the executive director of the Western North Carolina Alliance – now MountainTrue – to fight for the very mountains that generations of my family have cherished. At MountainTrue, I led the organization through an incredible period of growth, from a scrappy organization of 5 people to a staff of over 20 dedicated environmental professionals. With my senate duties, I no longer serve as a director of MountainTrue, but I remain involved as a senior policy advisor.

Julie Mayfield remains involved with MountainTrue as a senior policy advisor. She previously worked at Amnesty International USA, the Georgia Justice Project, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank; worked for Kilpatrick Stockton; ran Emory Law School's environmental law clinic; and served as vice president and general counsel at the Georgia Conservancy.

Julie Mayfield (Democratic Party) is a member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing District 49. She assumed office on January 1, 2021. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Julie Mayfield - Ballotpedia

Raleigh, NC 27601

Terms in Senate:

3 ( 0 in House )

Main Phone:

(919) 715-3001

Julie Mayfield - North Carolina General Assembly

In 2015, after serving for several years on the City’s Transit Commission and Multi-Modal Transportation Commission, I decided to make the leap to public office where I could do even more. In the five years I served on Asheville’s City Council, I led the council’s advocacy for a better transit system, improvements to the I-26 Connector Project, a transition to clean energy, and other environmental issues.

Julie currently serves as the North Carolina state senator for District 49. She assumed office in 2021 and is serving her third term. Julie previously served five years on Asheville City Council.

North Carolina State Senate District 49 - Ballotpedia

2026 North Carolina General Election

That’s why I voted against the abortion ban and why I filed bills to exempt menstrual products from the “pink tax”, to make it easier for women to leave abusive marriages, and to finally pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution.

Issues - Julie Mayfield for NC Senate

There is nowhere in North Carolina where a person working forty hours a week at a minimum wage job can support a family of four—and that didn’t always used to be the case. I’ve made it my mission to always stand up for giving working people a fair shot, whether that’s filing a bill to institute a minimum wage of $15/hour, to make sure that landlords can’t discriminate against renters based on the source of their income, or to expand housing options and protect against displacement.

And I was proud to sponsor a bill to institute a living wage and end the subminimum “tipped” wage, because no one who works a full time job should be struggling to make ends meet.

Some other housing provisions I’ve advocated, including allowing residential development in retail and commercial zoning districts and allowing the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs or granny flats) in residential areas, are included in the House version of the annual Regulatory Reform Act. That bill needs to be reconciled with the Senate’s version, which does not contain those provisions, so it remains to be seen if they will become law.

NCGA Updates - June 2026 - The Office of Senator Julie Mayfield

Filed bills to exempt menstrual products from the "pink tax."

Filed a bill to establish a $15 hourly minimum wage.

Sponsored a bill to establish a living wage and end the subminimum tipped wage.

Filed a bill to prohibit landlords from discriminating against renters based on their income source.

Advocates allowing housing in retail and commercial districts and accessory dwelling units in residential areas.

- Filed bills to exempt menstrual products from the "pink tax."
- Filed a bill to establish a $15 hourly minimum wage.
- Sponsored a bill to establish a living wage and end the subminimum tipped wage.
- Filed a bill to prohibit landlords from discriminating against renters based on their income source.
- Advocates allowing housing in retail and commercial districts and accessory dwelling units in residential areas.

Economy

I’ve made it my mission to always stand up for giving working people a fair shot, whether that’s filing a bill to institute a minimum wage of $15/hour, to make sure that landlords can’t discriminate against renters based on the source of their income, or to expand housing options and protect against displacement. I have also championed “second chance” legislation for people coming out of prison who want to get ahead.

I’ve also been proud to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights—I’ve proudly voted against attacks on our transgender community and filed bills to fully repeal HB2 and end the “gay/trans panic” defense in North Carolina.

Champions "second chance" legislation for people leaving prison.

Filed bills to repeal House Bill 2 and end the "gay/trans panic" defense in North Carolina.

- Champions "second chance" legislation for people leaving prison.
- Filed bills to repeal House Bill 2 and end the "gay/trans panic" defense in North Carolina.

Public Safety

Short Title: Prohibit the Corporate Practice of Medicine. (Public)
Sponsers: Senator Mayfield (Primary Sponsor).

AN ACT TO RESTORE THE SUPREMACY OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS' PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT AND TO PROHIBIT THE "CORPORATE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE".

Senate Bill 570 (2025-2026 Session) - North Carolina General Assembly

"§ 90-8.3. Control over medical decisions of patient care.
If a licensee is employed by or is an independent contractor in a contractual agreement with an employer under G.S. 90-8.4(a) to practice medicine or surgery, then the employment agreement or contract shall ensure and require that the licensee has control over all medical decisions of patient care without clinical interference from (i) an individual not licensed to practice medicine or surgery, (ii) a stakeholder of a management services organization, or (iii) an out-of-state physician or medical professional who may be employed by or affiliated with the professional corporation. For purposes of this section, the term "stakeholder" and "management services organization" are defined as in Chapter 55B of the General Statutes."

Healthcare  Several provisions I crafted are in S978 that passed two senate committees this month. These provisions include whistleblower protections, limitations on non-disclosure agreements, and a ban on noncompete clauses for healthcare providers who work for hospitals.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen an all-out assault on women’s rights both nationally and right here at home. Women living in North Carolina right now have less ability to access abortion than our mothers did and less safety in our ability to access basic health care as a result. That’s why I voted against the abortion ban and why I filed bills to exempt menstrual products from the “pink tax”, to make it easier for women to leave abusive marriages, and to finally pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution.

I’ve filed bills to prevent healthcare mergers that would negatively impact the cost, quality, availability, and accessibility of care and was proud to vote to expand Medicaid to more than 600,000 uninsured North Carolinians.

Sponsored Senate Bill 570 to require physicians to control patient-care decisions without specified nonclinical interference.

Crafted provisions providing whistleblower protections, limiting nondisclosure agreements, and banning hospital-provider noncompete clauses.

Voted against North Carolina's abortion ban.

Filed bills to prevent healthcare mergers that increase the cost of, or harm the quality, availability, or accessibility of, care.

Voted to expand Medicaid to more than 600,000 uninsured North Carolinians.

- Sponsored Senate Bill 570 to require physicians to control patient-care decisions without specified nonclinical interference.
- Crafted provisions providing whistleblower protections, limiting nondisclosure agreements, and banning hospital-provider noncompete clauses.
- Voted against North Carolina's abortion ban.
- Filed bills to prevent healthcare mergers that increase the cost of, or harm the quality, availability, or accessibility of, care.
- Voted to expand Medicaid to more than 600,000 uninsured North Carolinians.

Healthcare

Stances on issues: Mayfield said she wants to continue to lead North Carolina into a "clean energy future" through mandated carbon reduction, such as in the bipartisan House Bill 951 that she helped pass, while also protecting low-income residents in the transition. Federal abortion rights should be reinstated, she said, local living wage laws should be allowed and private school vouchers ended.

North Carolina State Senate District 49 - Asheville Citizen-Times

Education

Additionally, I’ve proposed legislation that would ensure that when big corporations illegally pollute our air and water, they’ll be on the hook for the costs of cleanup, not our state’s taxpayers.

Additionally, I was instrumental in securing funding to help improve water quality in the French Broad River and have filed bills to incentivize investments in renewable energy, reduce plastic pollution, better control sediment-laden runoff, and ban “forever chemicals”.

Sadly, one of the bills overridden repealed the state’s interim 70% carbon reduction goal originally established in H951, passed in 2021. I was deeply involved in the drafting and passage of that bill in my first term, and it is truly a step back for our state. Thankfully, the final goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 remains.

NCGA Updates - August 2025 - Julie Mayfield for NC Senate

Proposed requiring corporations that illegally pollute air or water to pay cleanup costs.

Filed bills to incentivize renewable-energy investment.

Filed bills to better control sediment-laden runoff and ban "forever chemicals."

Opposes repeal of North Carolina's interim 70% carbon-reduction goal established in House Bill 951.

- Proposed requiring corporations that illegally pollute air or water to pay cleanup costs.
- Filed bills to incentivize renewable-energy investment.
- Filed bills to reduce plastic pollution.
- Filed bills to better control sediment-laden runoff and ban "forever chemicals."
- Opposes repeal of North Carolina's interim 70% carbon-reduction goal established in House Bill 951.

Energy & the Environment

I have also championed “second chance” legislation for people coming out of prison who want to get ahead. I was also proud to file bipartisan legislation that would have extended eligibility for in-state tuition to Dreamers and make it easier for high school graduates to access the higher education they need to succeed.

Filed bipartisan legislation to extend in-state tuition eligibility to Dreamers.

- Filed bipartisan legislation to extend in-state tuition eligibility to Dreamers.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

The General Assembly has been an obstacle to local progress for far too long. That’s why I’ve voted for and introduced multiple bills to unchain local governments from what legislative leaders in Raleigh think is best, whether that’s filing a bill to allow local governments to enact tree ordinances and inclusionary zoning to allowing cities to enact a dedicated local sales tax for transit to changing the way Buncombe County occupancy taxes are allocated.

Introduced bills to expand local authority over tree ordinances, inclusionary zoning, transit sales taxes, and Buncombe County occupancy-tax allocation.

- Introduced bills to expand local authority over tree ordinances, inclusionary zoning, transit sales taxes, and Buncombe County occupancy-tax allocation.

Voting & Elections

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Julie Mayfield

- Filed bills to repeal House Bill 2 and end the "gay/trans panic" defense in North Carolina.

- Voted against North Carolina's abortion ban.
- Filed bills to prevent healthcare mergers that increase the cost of, or harm the quality, availability, or accessibility of, care.
- Voted to expand Medicaid to more than 600,000 uninsured North Carolinians.

Supports working people by advocating for a living wage, expanding Medicaid, and preventing harmful healthcare mergers.

Supports a $15 minimum wage, anti-discrimination measures for renters, and expanding housing options to protect against displacement.

Supports raising the minimum wage to $15/hour, preventing income-based discrimination in housing, and expanding housing options to protect against displacement.

For Candidate Julie Mayfield on Issue public-safety:  
Champions "second chance" legislation for individuals coming out of prison who seek to reintegrate into society.

Supports instituting a living wage and ending the subminimum tipped wage, believing that full-time workers should not struggle to make ends meet.

Supports preventing healthcare mergers that negatively impact care and voted to expand Medicaid for over 600,000 uninsured North Carolinians.

Opposes the abortion ban in North Carolina, advocates for women's access to healthcare, and supports legislation to exempt menstrual products from the "pink tax" and promote women's rights.

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

Supports a Green New Deal for North Carolina and played a leading role in the adoption of a bipartisan clean energy bill.

Supports a legislatively mandated goal for a 70% carbon reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050, while advocating for resilience to climate change, improved transportation options, EV infrastructure, and protections for low-income residents.

Opposes changes to election laws that prioritize speed over accuracy in vote counting and may ensure a Republican majority on state and local election boards.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

CJ Domingo

- 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.