{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"John A. Torbett","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"John Alan Torbett is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f108, covering northeastern Gaston County. The North Carolina House is a 120\u2011member lower chamber that meets annually to draft, debate, and vote on state legislation, approve the state budget, and provide constituent services; members serve two\u2011year terms and sit on standing and select committees that shape policy in specific areas\u202f[1]. Torbett is seeking re\u2011election in the 2026 general election for the same seat\u202f[1].\n\nBorn May\u202f21,\u202f1956 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Torbett earned college credits at Middle Tennessee State University (1975\u20111977)\u202f[7]. He resides in Stanley, North Carolina, and is married with one child\u202f[7]. His professional background is in manufacturing and defense technology; he has been Vice President of North Carolina Operations for Defense Technologies, Inc. since 2003 and previously served as CEO of Corrugated Converting\u202f[1].\n\nBefore entering state politics, Torbett served eight years on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners (2002\u20112010)\u202f[4][7]. He was first elected to the state House in 2010 and has been re\u2011elected every two years, most recently in 2020\u202f[4]. Over his tenure he has held numerous leadership positions on key committees. In the 2023\u20112024 session he is Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Chair of the Appropriations\u2011Education Committee, Chair of the Education\u2011K\u201112 Committee, and Vice Chair of the House Redistricting Committee, among others\u202f[1]. Earlier sessions show a consistent focus on appropriations, education, transportation, and redistricting, including chairing the Appropriations\u2011Transportation Committee (2019\u20112020) and serving as Senior Chair of the Transportation Committee (2019\u20112020)\u202f[1].\n\nTorbett\u2019s legislative record includes sponsoring bills on economic policy, education, and government efficiency. In 2017 he introduced H\u2011249, \u201cEconomic Terrorism,\u201d proposing felony penalties for boycott activities\u202f[4]. In 2025 he was named co\u2011chair of the new Select Committee on Government Efficiency, reflecting his emphasis on streamlined state operations\u202f[20]. He has also been active in community organizations, serving on the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum board, various Republican party committees, and local civic groups\u202f[7].\n\nOutside the legislature, Torbett continues his business role at Defense Technologies and maintains a presence in his district through a constituent office in Raleigh (300 N. Salisbury St., Room\u202f538) and a local mailing address in Stanley\u202f[3]. He communicates with voters via his campaign website, social media, and a public email address (John.Torbett@ncleg.gov)\u202f[18].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [John Torbett - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Torbett)\n- [3] [Representative John A. Torbett - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/606)\n- [4] [John Torbett - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Torbett)\n- [7] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/92622/john-torbett)\n- [11] [State Representative John Torbett | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/6072)\n- [12] [North Carolina State Rep. John Torbett - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/192909/John_A_Torbett.html)\n- [13] [John Torbett \u2013 NC House District 108 Gaston County](https://johntorbett.com/)\n- [17] [John Torbett - North Carolina House Republican Caucus](https://www.nchouserepublicans.com/members/john-torbett/)\n- [18] [John Torbett - Yahoo Search Results](https://m.search.yahoo.com/v1/en-US/w/sapp?ei=UTF-8&p=John+Torbett&fr2=p:s,v:sfp,m:ovncp&fr=sfp)\n- [20] [John Torbett | The North State Journal](https://nsjonline.com/article/2025/02/new-government-efficiency-committee-announced-in-state-house/john-torbett/)","firstname":"John","lastname":"Torbett","middlename":"Alan","suffix":null,"token":"9404a1800271959f"},"token":"EXm0PTxhpX"},{"candidatename":"Sydnie Hutchinson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Sydnie Lynn Hutchinson is the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 108, on the November 3, 2026 ballot.  Members of the North Carolina House serve two\u2011year terms, represent roughly 80,000 constituents, introduce and vote on state legislation, and serve on standing committees that oversee policy areas such as education, health, and public safety.  Hutchinson will seek to replace incumbent Republican Rep. John Torbett if elected.\n\nBorn in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hutchinson earned her high\u2011school diploma from Highland High School and an associate degree in Paralegal Studies from Ivy Tech Community College in 2014\u30101\u3011.  She has worked as a paralegal handling personal injury, wrongful\u2011death, family law, and workers\u2011compensation cases, and has also held jobs in the hospitality sector as a server, bartender, hostess, and manager\u30101\u3011.\n\nHutchinson\u2019s political experience is rooted in local party leadership.  She serves as the Third Vice Chair of the Gaston County Democratic Party, is Vice President of the Gaston County Young Democrats, and is a member of the Gaston County Democratic Women\u2019s Group\u30101\u3011.  In the 2024 general election she ran for the same House seat, receiving 35.4% of the vote against Rep. Torbett\u30101\u3011.  The Democratic primary for 2026 was cancelled, allowing her to advance automatically to the general election\u30101\u3011.\n\nHer campaign platform emphasizes expanding affordable housing, strengthening public education and childcare access, protecting reproductive and LGBTQ rights, promoting economic growth, and ensuring affordable health care for all North Carolinians\u301011\u3011.  Endorsements listed by voter\u2011guide sites include Every Town For Gun Safety, Equality NC PAC, and Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic\u301010\u3011.  Hutchinson also advocates for ending voter suppression, gerrymandering, and restrictions on women\u2019s health care, and supports union rights, a higher minimum wage, and universal school lunch programs as outlined on BallotReady\u301020\u3011.\n\nWhile she has not yet completed Ballotpedia\u2019s Candidate Connection survey for 2026, her prior candidacy and community involvement demonstrate a focus on translating legal experience and grassroots activism into legislative action at the state level.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Sydnie Hutchinson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sydnie_Hutchinson)\n- [10] [Voter Guide Profile for NC State Rep., Dist. 108 candidate - Sydnie Hutchinson](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/80097/race/8448/election/1206)\n- [11] [Sydnie Hutchinson - Run For Something](https://directory.runforsomething.net/candidate/0bf5ccc9c0cbc37fea266631b5a0c559/hutchinson-sydnie/)\n- [16] [Sydnie Hutchinson for NC House 108](https://www.facebook.com/p/Sydnie-Hutchinson-for-NC-House-108-61557177504020/)\n- [20] [Sydnie Hutchinson | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/sydnie-hutchinson)","firstname":"Sydnie","lastname":"Hutchinson","middlename":"Lynn","suffix":null,"token":"971dcb24c6eadf28"},"token":"a9pvK7FpWO"}],"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 108"}