{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Paul Lowe, Jr.","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Paul Arthur Lowe\u202fJr. is the incumbent Democratic State Senator for North Carolina\u2019s 32nd Senate district and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election.  North Carolina senators serve two\u2011year terms, represent roughly 200,000 constituents, and are responsible for introducing, debating, and voting on state legislation, as well as serving on standing committees that shape the state budget and policy agenda [1].\n\nBorn May\u202f19,\u202f1959 in Seattle, Washington, Senator Lowe earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Bishop College, a Master of Divisions in Theology from Virginia Union University, a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development from Drew University School of Theology, and a Master of Divinity from Christ Church College, according to his VoteSmart biography [11].  He is a Baptist pastor, having led Shiloh Baptist Church in Winston\u2011Salem for more than two decades, and has served as an adjunct professor at Shaw University\u2019s Divinity School [9][11].\n\nLowe entered the North Carolina Senate in January\u202f2015 when Governor Pat McCrory appointed him to fill the vacancy left by Senator Earline W.\u202fParmon\u2019s resignation.  He has been re\u2011elected in every subsequent cycle, most recently advancing from the Democratic primary with 59.1\u202f% of the vote and facing Republican Peter Antinozzi in the 2026 general election [1].  Throughout his tenure he has held a variety of committee assignments, most recently serving on the Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources Committee; the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee; the Commerce and Insurance Committee; the Senate Finance Committee; and the Rules and Operations of the Senate Committee for the 2025\u20112026 session [1].  Earlier sessions saw him on the Redistricting and Elections Committee, the Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee, and the Environmental Review Commission, among others [11][17].\n\nIn the legislature, Senator Lowe has focused on economic development, tax\u2011credit incentives for historic preservation and film production, and expanding access to quality health care and education.  He has sponsored legislation to revive tax credits and promote job creation, and he has been an outspoken advocate for the interests of Forsyth County and the broader state economy [9][17].  He also served as Chairman of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, using that platform to push for economic equality, educational justice, and a more responsive health\u2011care system [9][17].\n\nBeyond his legislative work, Lowe is active in civic and fraternal organizations.  He is a member of Alpha\u202fPhi\u202fAlpha fraternity, a 33rd\u2011degree Scottish Rite Mason, and holds leadership roles in the General Baptist Convention of North Carolina and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.  He is married to LaGail Crews, a retired Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force, and they reside in Winston\u2011Salem [11][17].\n\nSenator Lowe\u2019s current campaign emphasizes continued work on good\u2011paying jobs, quality health care, and affordable education for the 32nd district, pledging to collaborate across party lines and with Governor Roy Cooper to keep North Carolina\u2019s priorities at the top of the legislative agenda [8].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Paul Lowe - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_Lowe)\n- [4] [Senator Paul A. Lowe, Jr. - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/s/394)\n- [7] [Paul A. Lowe Jr. - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_A._Lowe_Jr.)\n- [8] [Paul Lowe for NC - Paul Lowe for NC](https://www.paullowefornc.com/)\n- [9] [Meet Paul Lowe for NC - Paul Lowe for NC](https://www.paullowefornc.com/meet-paul/)\n- [11] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/156190/paul-lowe-jr)\n- [15] [State Senator Paul Lowe | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/20956)\n- [16] [North Carolina State Sen. Paul Lowe - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/241010/Paul_A_Lowe_Jr_.html)\n- [17] [Paul Lowe | NC Senate Democratic Caucus](https://www.ncsenate.org/paul-lowe)\n- [19] [Paul Lowe - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/rev-paul-lowe)","firstname":"Paul","lastname":"Lowe","middlename":"Arthur","suffix":"JR","token":"4ad8b418f4abfa2d"},"token":"uZtg5XfXOamdrRYQ"},{"candidatename":"Gardenia Henley","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nGardenia Mae Henley (Democrat) has run repeatedly in the NC State Senate District 32 Democratic primary (Forsyth County/Winston-Salem area) since 2010, challenging incumbent Sen. Paul Lowe. She lost the 2026 primary.\n\nHenley has advocated for reproductive rights; redirecting education lottery funding to increase teacher salaries; repealing North Carolina's \"Right to Work\" law; affordable housing; an increased minimum wage; lower property tax rates; and tax exemptions for military veterans.\n\n## Background and education\nBorn and raised in northeast Winston-Salem, Henley graduated from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, NC. She holds a B.S. in Accounting and an M.S. in Taxation, and taught taxation at Strayer University in Arlington, VA.\n\n## Career\nA decorated Air Force veteran, Henley was subsequently appointed to the U.S. Diplomatic Corps by President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She spent 22 years as an Inspector General Auditor-in-Charge at USAID (U.S. Department of State's Agency for International Development), 1987\u20132005. She is also an author and publishes \"The Henley Reports\" blog.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Gardenia Henley for NC Senate \u2013 Campaign Website](https://thepeoplescandidate.org/)\n","firstname":"Gardenia","lastname":"Henley","middlename":"Mae","suffix":null,"token":"18a96d3343dc9a72"},"token":"8ugTao2265C-tQ3J"}],"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 32"}