{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Bob Brinson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Bob Brinson is the incumbent Republican State Senator for North Carolina\u2019s 3rd Senate District, seeking a second term in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. He was first appointed to the Senate by Governor Roy Cooper on July\u202f30,\u202f2024 to fill the vacancy left by Jim\u202fPerry in District\u202f2, and was elected by voters in November\u202f2024 to represent District\u202f3, which covers Beaufort, Craven and Lenoir counties\u30101\u2020L1-L4\u3011\u30104\u2020L4-L7\u3011. In the 2025\u20112026 session he serves on the Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee; the Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources Committee; the Education/Higher Education Committee; the Senate State and Local Government Committee; and the Senate Transportation Committee\u30101\u2020L13-L19\u3011.\n\nBorn Robert\u202fWayne\u202fBrinson\u202fJr., he earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from the United States Military Academy at West\u202fPoint in 1991 and later completed a Master of Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma in 2010\u301013\u2020L1-L4\u3011. He served 28 years in the United States Army, holding command and inspector\u2011general positions, and was deployed to Somalia, Bosnia, Kuwait and Japan after the 2011 earthquake\u301013\u2020L5-L9\u3011. After retiring from the military he settled in New\u202fBern, where he was elected Alderman for Ward\u202f6 in May\u202f2022 and later served as Mayor Pro\u202fTem\u301013\u2020L10-L13\u3011.\n\nBrinson\u2019s political career began at the municipal level. As an Alderman he created a Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee to prioritize sidewalk and bike\u2011lane projects and represented New\u202fBern on the Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Civil\u2011Military Affairs Commission at Cherry Point\u301013\u2020L14-L18\u3011. He also held leadership roles in the Craven County Republican Party, serving as County Chairman, Precinct Organizer and Human\u2011Resources Volunteer Coordinator, and is secretary of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Men\u301013\u2020L19-L22\u3011.\n\nIn the Senate Brinson has sponsored a range of legislation, including the Veterans Appreciation Act (SB\u202f109), the Freedom to Carry NC bill (SB\u202f50), the Disaster Recovery Act of\u202f2025 (SB\u202f56), and measures on public safety, agriculture and education such as the Agricultural Land Protection Act and school\u2011choice initiatives\u30103\u2020L1-L20\u3011\u30103\u2020L71-L84\u3011. His stated priorities for his 2026 campaign focus on strengthening public safety, protecting constitutional rights\u2014including the Second Amendment\u2014supporting agriculture and economic development, and expanding school\u2011choice and workforce pathways for eastern North Carolina residents\u301020\u2020L1-L9\u3011.\n\nBrinson lives in New\u202fBern with his wife Amy and their three adult children. He remains active in his community through church leadership, youth sports coaching and veterans organizations. Voters can contact him by phone at 252\u2011349\u20113444 or by email at bob@votebobbrinson.com, and learn more about his platform at his campaign website.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Bob Brinson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Bob_Brinson)\n- [2] [Senator Bob Brinson - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/s/448)\n- [3] [Senator Bob Brinson's Introduced Bills - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/IntroducedBills/s/448)\n- [4] [Bob Brinson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Brinson)\n- [6] [HOME | Vote Bob Brinson 1](https://www.votebobbrinson.com/)\n- [7] [MEET BOB | Vote Bob Brinson 1](https://www.votebobbrinson.com/meet-bob)\n- [11] [Meet Bob Brinson, a distinguished candidate for NC Senate ...](https://www.facebook.com/jacksonrobolmedia/videos/meet-bob-brinson-a-distinguished-candidate-for-nc-senate-featured-on-the-jackson/339045651819138/)\n- [12] [State Senator Robert Brinson | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/29294)\n- [13] [CRAVEN COUNTY ELECTIONS: NC Senate District 3 candidates answer questions ahead of primary | Local News | newbernsj.com](https://www.newbernsj.com/news/local/craven-county-elections-nc-senate-district-3-candidates-answer-questions-ahead-of-primary/article_2341bc9f-8299-57c6-9637-8a0a2eb96205.html)\n- [20] [Sen. Brinson to seek reelection in 2026 | Local News | kinston.com](https://www.kinston.com/news/local/sen-brinson-to-seek-reelection-in-2026/article_bba8dfb6-0e31-5e42-85ca-c6f8d97e866a.html)","firstname":"Robert","lastname":"Brinson","middlename":"Wayne","suffix":"JR","token":"56017deb75d02154"},"token":"heIgNDiy3b"},{"candidatename":"Charles Dudley","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Charles Thomas Dudley is the Democratic nominee for North Carolina State Senate District\u202f3 in the 2026 general election, scheduled for November\u202f3,\u202f2026. The district\u2019s primary was canceled, so Dudley advanced to the ballot without a contested Democratic primary [1].\n\nBorn in Louisville, Kentucky, Dudley now resides in Havelock, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in theology from Sacramento Theological Seminary in 1978 and has served as a Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps before retiring [13]. After his military service he became a pastor, founding the New Beginnings Ministry of Faith Church in 2001, and has held leadership roles in several community organizations, including vice\u2011president of the Craven County Democratic Party, tax commissioner for the Harlowe Fire Department, and board memberships with Area\u202f93 Toastmasters International, GoldWing Road Riders Association, Coastal Community Action, Craven Community College Foundation, the Craven County Sheriff\u2019s Advisory Council, Habitat for Humanity, and Lord\u2019s Church [13].\n\nDudley first ran for public office in 2018, seeking the North Carolina House of Representatives District\u202f3 seat, and again in 2024 for the State Senate District\u202f3, losing to incumbent Republican Bob Brinson 60\u202f% to 40\u202f% in the general election [1]. He is again contesting the Senate seat in 2026, facing Brinson once more.\n\nHis campaign platform emphasizes expanding funding for public education and health care (including mental health services), restoring voting rights, addressing climate\u2011change vulnerability, raising living wages, protecting reproductive health decisions, and improving health care for veterans [20].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Charles Dudley - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Charles_Dudley)\n- [2] [Michael Speciale - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Speciale)\n- [3] [North Carolina elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2026)\n- [4] [Charles Dudley May Jr # 129663 - Attorney Licensee Search](https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/129663)\n- [5] [Charles Dudley Family Bible Records - North Carolina Digital Collections](https://digital.ncdcr.gov/documents/detail/1376032)\n- [9] [Charles E. Dudley - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_E._Dudley)\n- [10] [2026 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_North_Carolina)\n- [11] [2026 North Carolina elections - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_North_Carolina_elections)\n- [13] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/178360/charles-dudley)\n- [15] [Charles Dudley (@Dudley4NCSenate) / X](https://x.com/dudley4ncsenate)\n- [17] [Charles Dudley (@Dudley4NCSenate) / Posts ...](https://x.com/Dudley4NCSenate)\n- [19] [Charles Dudley Senate NC 3](https://www.facebook.com/CharlesDudleyNC3/posts/happy-anniversary-to-charles-and-marion-dudley-with-a-new-billboard-in-new-bern-/1010084397784220/)\n- [20] [Charles Dudley for NC Senate 3](https://www.charlesdudley4nc.com/)","firstname":"Charles","lastname":"Dudley","middlename":"Thomas","suffix":null,"token":"286243cebd7d3450"},"token":"dGgnEU2tJR"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"state_senator","o.office":"state_senate","office":"state_senate","officedescription":"The Tennessee Senate is the upper chamber of the state legislature, with 33 members elected from single-member districts to four-year terms. Senators pass state laws, approve the state budget, confirm certain gubernatorial appointments, and \u2014 with the House \u2014 propose constitutional amendments.","officequalities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"State Senator","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Nc State Senate District 03"}