{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Deb Butler","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Deborah Armfield \"Deb\" Butler is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 18, a seat she has held since her appointment on February 6, 2017. Her current term runs until January\u202f1,\u202f2027, and she is on the ballot for re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election [2][8]. As a state representative, Butler is responsible for drafting, debating, and voting on state legislation, serving on standing committees, and representing the interests of her constituents in New Hanover County.\n\nButler was born in Columbia, South Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1983 and a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1986 [2][8][12]. She is married to Anni\u202fParra and resides in Wilmington, North Carolina.\n\nProfessionally, Butler works as an attorney. She is the managing partner of The Butler Firm, a law practice based in Wilmington, and has practiced law since graduating from law school [12][2]. Her legal background informs her legislative work, particularly on judiciary and regulatory issues.\n\nButler first entered state politics in 2012 when she ran for the North Carolina Senate\u2019s District\u202f9 seat, losing to incumbent Republican Thom\u202fGoolsby by about eight points [8]. In 2017 Governor Roy\u202fCooper appointed her to the House to fill the vacancy left by Susi\u202fHamilton, who moved to lead the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Since then, Butler has been re\u2011elected four times (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024), most recently winning 82.7% of the vote against write\u2011in candidate Wallace\u202fWest in 2024 [2][8].\n\nDuring the 2023\u20112024 session, Butler serves on the Banking, Commerce, House Finance, Judiciary\u202fII, Regulatory Reform, and UNC Board of Governors Nominations committees [2]. In prior sessions she has also sat on Transportation, Redistricting, Aging, State and Local Government, and State Personnel committees, reflecting a broad policy portfolio.\n\nIn the legislature, Butler has championed measures to improve government accountability. In 2025\u20112026 she co\u2011authored a proposal for a constitutional amendment that would require the state to pass a budget on time, with enforcement provisions that could suspend legislators\u2019 pay if deadlines are missed. She has also spoken out against a proposed amendment that would limit local property\u2011tax increases, arguing it could harm essential services such as schools and police [10].\n\nButler\u2019s work has earned her several recognitions, including the Tammy Baldwin Breakout Award from the Victory Institute and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters\u2019 Legislator of the Year \u201cGreen Tie\u201d award, highlighting her leadership on progressive and environmental issues [20]. She holds leadership roles on numerous community boards, including the New Hanover Commission for Women, Equality\u202fNorth\u202fCarolina, and the Historic Wilmington Commission, and she is a member of the Progressive House Caucus.\n\nHer 2026 campaign emphasizes continued investment in public education, modern infrastructure, and policies that support working families while attracting new businesses to the state. The campaign website states her commitment to \u201cguarantee a stellar public education for every child, build state\u2011of\u2011the\u2011art infrastructure, and cultivate a culture that welcomes new businesses while supporting working families\u201d [11].\n\n## Sources\n- [2] [Deb Butler - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Deb_Butler)\n- [6] [Representative Deb Butler - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/730)\n- [8] [Deb Butler - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb_Butler)\n- [9] [Deborah Butler's Political Summary](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/136591/deborah-butler)\n- [10] [News - Deb Butler](https://www.electdebbutler.com/news)\n- [11] [Deb Butler for NC House District 18](https://www.electdebbutler.com/)\n- [12] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/136591/deborah-butler)\n- [14] [Deborah Butler (@deb.butler.nc) - Wilmington](https://www.facebook.com/deb.butler.nc/)\n- [17] [Deb Butler - NC House District 18 | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/deborah.butler.nc/)\n- [20] [Deborah Butler | Center for Climate Integrity](http://climateintegrity.org/projects/leaders-network/deborah-butler)","firstname":"Deborah","lastname":"Butler","middlename":"Armfield","suffix":null,"token":"9c1134a4b5e4e9b7"},"token":"jKm7RmkSjaru1Zoj"},{"candidatename":"Latisha Grady","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Latisha Monique Grady is the Republican candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District 18 in the 2026 general election, scheduled for November 3, 2026. The race pits her against incumbent Democrat Deb Butler, with the Republican primary having been cancelled and Grady automatically advancing to the general ballot [1].\n\nGrady earned a summa cum laude degree from East Carolina University\u2019s University Studies Program, concentrating in Business Systems, graduating in 2022. She describes herself as \u201ceclectic and light\u2011hearted,\u201d noting that personal caregiving experiences in 2021 shaped her commitment to public service and humility [19].\n\nProfessionally, Grady has built a diverse portfolio in operations, fintech, and compliance. She worked at Ripple, where she built and maintained a centralized document hub for the user\u2011research team, and at Moen, where she authored a standard operating\u2011procedure handbook to streamline HR coordinator processes. She also served as a fraud analyst for Bank of America, educating customers on fraud prevention. After a layoff in 2024, she drove for Lyft while pursuing continuing education in fintech compliance, SQL, and data analytics, and she actively invests in digital assets, staying current on regulatory developments such as the Genius and Clarity Acts [20].\n\nGrady\u2019s campaign finances, as reported by Transparency USA, show modest fundraising: a total of $1,636 in contributions, with the largest donors being Brian Eckel ($1,041.98), the North Carolina Republican Party ($339.51), John Hinnant ($150.00), and Davis Kiyonaga ($104.48) [18].\n\nWhile her official campaign platform details are not yet published, her professional focus on fintech, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency suggests a policy interest in modernizing financial services, enhancing consumer protection, and supporting technology\u2011driven economic growth in her district. Grady\u2019s public speaking experience, including a 2024 commencement address at her alma mater, indicates a willingness to engage constituents directly.\n\nGrady\u2019s candidacy reflects a blend of technical expertise, private\u2011sector experience, and personal resilience, positioning her as a candidate who aims to bring a \u201cSwiss Army knife\u201d approach to legislative work\u2014addressing a wide range of issues with a multifaceted skill set.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Latisha Grady - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Latisha_Grady)\n- [7] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [9] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [12] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [18] [Latisha Grady - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/latisha-grady)\n- [19] [About | Latisha Grady](https://latishagrady.com/about/)\n- [20] [Latisha Grady | Helping Businesses Create and Convey Product Value](https://latishagrady.com/)","firstname":"Latisha","lastname":"Grady","middlename":"Monique","suffix":null,"token":"7578942fd5f8527f"},"token":"rIvSKC2htL_a_A5T"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house","office":"state_house","officedescription":"The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and \u2014 with the Senate \u2014 confirm gubernatorial appointments and 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 Representative","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 018"}