Biography

Deborah Ross was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1963. She earned her bachelor's degree in international relations from Brown University in 1985 and her law degree from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1990. She previously worked as an attorney. Ross served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013.

Deborah Ross - Ballotpedia

Deborah and her husband Steve live in Raleigh with their dog Wylie.

About Congresswoman Deborah Ross

Deborah K. Ross earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from Brown University and a law degree from the University of North Carolina Law School. She lives in Raleigh with her husband, Steve.

About | Representative Deborah Ross

Prior to serving in public office, Deborah worked as a civil rights lawyer, helping to pass the South’s first anti-racial profiling law and reforms to the state’s juvenile justice laws. Later, in private practice, she worked to build North Carolina’s clean energy future, helping to create thousands of jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Deborah K. Ross previously worked as a civil rights lawyer and later worked in private practice in the renewable-energy sector.

Congresswoman Deborah Ross is a civil rights advocate, a clean energy champion, a lawyer, and a proud North Carolinian. She was sworn into the House of Representatives on January 3, 2025, for her third term representing North Carolina’s Second Congressional District, which includes most of Wake County.

Deborah currently serves as the U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District and is in her third term. She previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013.

2026 North Carolina General Election

I am fighting for an economy that works for everyone. As a state legislator during the Great Recession, I advocated for an earned income tax credit aimed at returning tax dollars to working families, supported raising the minimum wage, and sponsored paid sick leave legislation. I also supported tax breaks for small businesses and passed legislation to spur economic development here in Raleigh.

Supporting Our Economy & Workers

As a state legislator during the Great Recession, I advocated for an earned income tax credit aimed at returning tax dollars to working families, supported raising the minimum wage, and sponsored paid sick leave legislation. I also supported tax breaks for small businesses and passed legislation to spur economic development here in Raleigh.

It is shameful that women in America are still paid less than men for the same work. As a state representative, I cosponsored the 2013 Equal Pay Act, a bill that would have allowed women in the workforce to receive retroactive pay for up to two years and prohibited retaliation against employees seeking equal pay. In Congress, I am working to enact the Paycheck Fairness Act to eliminate gender-based wage discrimination and ensure that women in America receive equal pay for equal work.

Women & Families

As the daughter of an early childhood education teacher, I know that outstanding, affordable child care is essential for the development and future success of the next generation. That’s why I’m a proud cosponsor of the Child Care for Working Families Act, legislation that will make child care affordable by ensuring that no middle class family in America pays more than seven percent of their income on child care.

As a state legislator, advocated for an earned income tax credit, a higher minimum wage, and paid sick leave.

As a state legislator, supported small-business tax breaks and passed legislation to promote economic development in Raleigh.

Works to enact the Paycheck Fairness Act to address gender-based wage discrimination and promote equal pay.

Co-sponsors the Child Care for Working Families Act to limit middle-class families' child-care costs to seven percent of income.

- As a state legislator, advocated for an earned income tax credit, a higher minimum wage, and paid sick leave.
- As a state legislator, supported small-business tax breaks and passed legislation to promote economic development in Raleigh.
- Works to enact the Paycheck Fairness Act to address gender-based wage discrimination and promote equal pay.
- Co-sponsors the Child Care for Working Families Act to limit middle-class families' child-care costs to seven percent of income.

Economy

I came to North Carolina to attend law school and later became an attorney, civil rights advocate, and state legislator. As a progressive leader in Raleigh, I worked to pass the South’s first anti-racial profiling bill, fought to reform juvenile justice programs, passed bills to expand voting rights, and opposed laws that would take our state backward, including anti-LGBTQ Amendment One.

Equality & Justice

I also championed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 (VAWA). This bill made critical improvements to programs and laws aimed at combating gender-based violence and included my legislation to expand access to care from sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE nurses) following sexual assault.

Earlier this month, I was proud to join a group of bipartisan legislators to introduce a bill to help put an end to abuse and sexual violence in sports: The Safer Sports for Athletes Act. This bill will improve the investigative process for athlete survivors, revise training guidelines, and provide critical additional funding for SafeSport. We are committed to seeing this through next session.

The Safer Sports for Athletes Act

As a state legislator, worked to pass an anti-racial-profiling law and reform juvenile justice programs.

Championed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, including legislation expanding care provided by sexual-assault nurse examiners after sexual assault.

Co-introduced the Safer Sports for Athletes Act to improve investigations, training, and funding to address athlete abuse and sexual violence.

- As a state legislator, worked to pass an anti-racial-profiling law and reform juvenile justice programs.
- Championed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, including legislation expanding care provided by sexual-assault nurse examiners after sexual assault.
- Co-introduced the Safer Sports for Athletes Act to improve investigations, training, and funding to address athlete abuse and sexual violence.

Public Safety

For more than 10 years in the General Assembly, I fought to pass Medicaid expansion. I am grateful that after more than a decade, North Carolina finally became the 40th state to expand Medicaid, delivering life-saving health care to 600,000 North Carolinians. I fought for billions of dollars in federal funding in the American Rescue Plan that helped incentivize leaders to finally get expansion over the finish line.

Access to Affordable Health Care

In my first term, I was proud to help pass the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation that capped the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors and empowered Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. But we must do more to put affordable health care within reach for every North Carolinian.

For example, access to affordable mental health care is a critical and growing problem in our community. To help address this acute need, I was proud to secure $6 million in federal funding for WakeMed’s new Mental Health and Well-Being Hospital.

Finally, I am honored to serve on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, where I am fighting for policies that will support public health and prepare us for future health emergencies.

Like the vast majority of Americans, I strongly believe that women should be able to make their own decisions about their own bodies and their own health care. I am committed to ensuring that reproductive health is – and always will be – a private matter between a woman and her doctor. I won’t stop fighting until the protections of Roe are enshrined in law.

Every American should be able to enjoy a comfortable and secure retirement. Our seniors have paid into Social Security and Medicare over a lifetime of hard work, and I won’t stop fighting to protect these hard-earned benefits.

Retiring With Dignity

That’s why I fought to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, once-in-a-generation legislation that is already lowering health care and prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare. In Congress, I’m working to strengthen Social Security and will strenuously oppose any attempt to turn Medicare into a voucher program. I also support lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60.

While costs are rising on everything from groceries to rent, millions of hardworking Americans are having to make the difficult decision of whether they can afford to keep their health insurance next year. Republicans in Congress need to extend the ACA tax credits or get out of the way.

Republicans Need to Extend ACA Tax Credits

Advocated for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina and secured federal American Rescue Plan funding to help advance it.

Helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped seniors' insulin costs at $35 per month and authorized Medicare drug-price negotiations.

Secured $6 million in federal funding for WakeMed’s Mental Health and Well-Being Hospital.

Advocates for public-health policies that prepare for future health emergencies.

Supports federal legislation to enshrine Roe protections and maintain reproductive health decisions as private matters between a woman and her doctor.

Pledges to protect Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Supports strengthening Social Security and lowering Medicare eligibility to 60, and opposes converting Medicare to a voucher program.

Calls for extending Affordable Care Act tax credits.

- Advocated for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina and secured federal American Rescue Plan funding to help advance it.
- Helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped seniors' insulin costs at $35 per month and authorized Medicare drug-price negotiations.
- Secured $6 million in federal funding for WakeMed’s Mental Health and Well-Being Hospital.
- Advocates for public-health policies that prepare for future health emergencies.
- Supports federal legislation to enshrine Roe protections and maintain reproductive health decisions as private matters between a woman and her doctor.
- Pledges to protect Social Security and Medicare benefits.
- Supports strengthening Social Security and lowering Medicare eligibility to 60, and opposes converting Medicare to a voucher program.
- Calls for extending Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Healthcare

A quality education is the key to success in our highly competitive 21st century economy. That’s why as both an attorney and a state legislator, I fought for quality public education for all students, working to reduce class sizes, raise teacher pay, and increase investment in early childhood education.

Education & Opportunity

In Congress, I am fighting for greater federal resources for our schools as well as free, high quality pre-K programs for all our children. I strongly believe an investment in our students is an investment in our shared future.

I strongly support tuition-free community college, which offers disadvantaged students a fair shot at a great education and future professional success.

As a state legislator, worked to reduce class sizes, raise teacher pay, and increase investment in early-childhood education.

Advocates for greater federal school funding and free, high-quality prekindergarten programs for all children.

- As a state legislator, worked to reduce class sizes, raise teacher pay, and increase investment in early-childhood education.
- Advocates for greater federal school funding and free, high-quality prekindergarten programs for all children.
- Supports tuition-free community college.

Education

Climate change represents an existential threat to our people and our planet. As a state legislator, I voted to support clean energy alternatives, halt fracking, and implement measures to reduce emissions in North Carolina.

Combating Climate Change

However, there are additional steps that the federal government should take in the face of this existential threat. Specifically, Congress should revisit a proposal passed by the House as part of an earlier version of the IRA to incentivize utilities to reduce emissions through a set of regulatory carrots and sticks.

Specifically, Congress should revisit a proposal passed by the House as part of an earlier version of the IRA to incentivize utilities to reduce emissions through a set of regulatory carrots and sticks. We must also continue the urgent process of building out a nationwide network of charging stations to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles.

In addition, offshore wind energy is one the best resources in our toolbox to combat climate change and unleash the power of American clean energy. I was proud that my provision to overturn the previous administration’s 10-year moratorium on offshore wind leasing in North Carolina and other states in the Southeast was included in the historic Inflation Reduction Act.

North Carolina’s economy and way of life are rooted in our natural environment. Our state depends on a pristine coastline and a clean and healthy marine ecosystem to support robust tourism, recreation, and fishing economies—the lifelines of our coastal communities. I proudly introduced the Defend Our Coast Act to prevent offshore oil and gas drilling along the mid-Atlantic seaboard, and I will never stop fighting to protect North Carolina’s priceless environmental heritage for future generations.

In Congress, I am working to drive investment in transportation and infrastructure projects and increase renewable energy options in pursuit of a cleaner, greener future for our children. I proudly voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a transformational investment in our nation’s aging infrastructure which is already creating good-paying jobs in North Carolina.

Infrastructure

As a state legislator, voted to support clean-energy alternatives, halt fracking, and reduce North Carolina emissions.

Calls for Congress to incentivize utilities to reduce emissions through regulatory incentives and penalties.

Calls for continued construction of a nationwide charging network to support electric-vehicle adoption.

Secured a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act to end a 10-year offshore-wind leasing moratorium in North Carolina and other Southeastern states.

Introduced the Defend Our Coast Act to prevent offshore oil and gas drilling along the mid-Atlantic seaboard.

Works to increase investment in transportation infrastructure and renewable-energy options.

- As a state legislator, voted to support clean-energy alternatives, halt fracking, and reduce North Carolina emissions.
- Calls for Congress to incentivize utilities to reduce emissions through regulatory incentives and penalties.
- Calls for continued construction of a nationwide charging network to support electric-vehicle adoption.
- Secured a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act to end a 10-year offshore-wind leasing moratorium in North Carolina and other Southeastern states.
- Introduced the Defend Our Coast Act to prevent offshore oil and gas drilling along the mid-Atlantic seaboard.
- Works to increase investment in transportation infrastructure and renewable-energy options.

Energy & the Environment

My district is home to a large immigrant population. These students, families, and workers contribute to our communities, our culture, our economy, and our institutions of higher education. In Congress, I am committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform to keep families together, enhance border security, provide a fair pathway to citizenship, and meet our nation’s economic needs.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Another top priority for me in Congress is passing legislation to enable the so-called Documented Dreamers to remain in the United States. I introduced the America’s CHILDREN Act to protect Documented Dreamers from aging out of temporary protections and becoming vulnerable to deportation by providing a pathway to permanent residence.

I am committed to defending the Dreamers, undocumented young people brought to this country as children. They attend American schools, work for American companies, and run businesses and raise families in American communities. In short, they are American in every respect except on paper. I am a proud original cosponsor of the American Dream and Promise Act, a bill that offers protection from deportation and a fair path to citizenship for eligible Dreamers.

In addition, I am working to support the guest farm workers who keep our nation’s agriculture industry strong. I voted to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which establishes a program for agricultural workers to earn legal status through continued employment in the agricultural sector. This bipartisan bill will help stabilize our farm workforce and promote fair wages and working conditions for the guest workers who contribute so much to our nation.

Is committed to comprehensive immigration reform combining family unity, border security, a pathway to citizenship, and economic needs.

Introduced the America’s CHILDREN Act to provide Documented Dreamers a pathway to permanent residence.

Co-sponsors the American Dream and Promise Act to protect eligible Dreamers from deportation and provide a pathway to citizenship.

Voted for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which lets agricultural workers earn legal status through continued agricultural employment.

- Is committed to comprehensive immigration reform combining family unity, border security, a pathway to citizenship, and economic needs.
- Introduced the America’s CHILDREN Act to provide Documented Dreamers a pathway to permanent residence.
- Co-sponsors the American Dream and Promise Act to protect eligible Dreamers from deportation and provide a pathway to citizenship.
- Voted for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which lets agricultural workers earn legal status through continued agricultural employment.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy. It’s imperative that we work to strengthen voting rights—not make it more difficult for North Carolinians to cast a ballot. That’s why I have been working with my colleagues to combat gerrymandering—a tool employed by North Carolina Republicans to increase their political power by diluting the voices of voters who disagree with them.

That’s why I have been working with my colleagues to combat gerrymandering—a tool employed by North Carolina Republicans to increase their political power by diluting the voices of voters who disagree with them. I have introduced legislation that would reform North Carolina’s partisan, secretive redistricting process as well as a bill that would end the harmful, undemocratic practice of prison gerrymandering.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy. It’s imperative that we work to strengthen voting rights—not make it more difficult for North Carolinians to cast a ballot.

Introduced legislation to reform North Carolina’s redistricting process and end prison gerrymandering.

Advocates for strengthening voting rights and opposes making it harder for North Carolinians to vote.

- Opposes gerrymandering.
- Introduced legislation to reform North Carolina’s redistricting process and end prison gerrymandering.
- Advocates for strengthening voting rights and opposes making it harder for North Carolinians to vote.

Voting & Elections

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Deborah K. Ross

- Co-sponsors the American Dream and Promise Act to protect eligible Dreamers from deportation and provide a pathway to citizenship.
- Voted for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which lets agricultural workers earn legal status through continued agricultural employment.

- Advocates for strengthening voting rights and opposes making it harder for North Carolinians to vote.

As a state representative, supported tax breaks for small businesses and passed legislation to spur economic development in Raleigh.

Supports the American Rescue Plan, which provided relief to small businesses and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Said, "I will continue fighting for policies that will create jobs, lower costs, and support our innovative businesses in Wake County and beyond."

Supports lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60.

Opposes converting Medicare into a voucher program.

Supports public education for all, reducing class sizes, raising teacher pay, investing in early childhood education, alleviating student loan debt, and more.

Cosponsored the Child Care for Working Families Act, which would make child care more affordable.

Supports clean energy and opposes fracking.

Supports the Inflation Reduction Act, which invests in clean energy, reduces carbon pollution, and aims to meet President Obama's greenhouse gas emission reduction goal of 40 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

Supports building a nationwide network of charging stations to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles.

Said, "offshore wind energy is one the best resources in our toolbox to combat climate change and unleash the power of American clean energy."

Said, "I proudly introduced the Defend Our Coast Act to prevent offshore oil and gas drilling along the mid-Atlantic seaboard."

Said, "In Congress, I am committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform to keep families together, enhance border security, provide a fair pathway to citizenship, and meet our nation’s economic needs."

Supports protecting undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.

Said, "I introduced the America’s CHILDREN Act to protect Documented Dreamers from aging out of temporary protections and becoming vulnerable to deportation by providing a pathway to permanent residence."

Said, "I have worked hard to protect and expand voting rights, combat partisan and racial gerrymandering, enhance judicial ethics and transparency..."

Supports funding for affordable, mixed-income rental units at below-market rents.

Said, "I also support lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60."

Said, "I also obtained funding to support a new 127-unit development in Cary that will provide quality, affordable, mixed-income rental units at below-market rents."

Said, "In Congress, I’m working to strengthen Social Security and will strenuously oppose any attempt to turn Medicare into a voucher program. I also support lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60."

Wants to lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60.

Supports quality, affordable, mixed-income rental units at below-market rents.

Supports tuition-free community college to provide disadvantaged students with access to education and future professional success.

Said, "In Congress, I am fighting for greater federal resources for our schools as well as free, high quality pre-K programs for all our children. I strongly believe an investment in our students is an investment in our shared future."

Said, "Climate change represents an existential threat to our people and our planet. Deborah supports clean energy alternatives, opposes fracking, and fights to preserve NC’s environmental heritage."

Supports strengthening voting rights, combating gerrymandering, and reforming North Carolina's redistricting process.

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Eugene (Gene) F. Douglass

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- Your U.S. representative represents the interests of your district in the U.S. House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. North Carolina currently has 14 U.S. representatives.
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- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain areas of policy, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the speaker of the house or majority/minority leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms and there are no term limits. U.S. representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.
-  Representatives must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for seven years, and an inhabitant of the state from which he or she is elected. 

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