{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Shelly Headen","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Shelly Kates Headen is the Democratic candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives District 62 in the 2026 general election on November 3, 2026 [1]. The office she seeks is a seat in the North Carolina House, the state\u2019s lower legislative chamber where members serve two\u2011year terms and represent specific districts [1].\n\nHeaden earned a high\u2011school diploma from Mountain Heritage High School and a bachelor\u2019s degree from Appalachian State University in 1991 [1]. She spent a decade working as a recruiter in the accounting field before becoming a small\u2011business owner in the construction industry. Her professional experience also includes owning a business, as noted on her Ballotpedia profile [1].\n\nBeyond her career, Headen has been deeply involved in her community in Guilford County. She co\u2011treasured her daughters\u2019 elementary school, tutored underprivileged children, coached a youth cheerleading team, and participated in local organizations such as the Oak Ridge Lion\u2019s Club, the League of Women Voters, and Guilford for All. She also supports scholarships for construction\u2011industry students through the Greensboro Builders Association [1].\n\nIn her campaign, Headen emphasizes fully funding public schools, arguing that North Carolina\u2019s historic leadership in education has been eroded by funding cuts. She pledges to raise teacher and staff wages and restore investment in the public\u2011school system [1][14][15][16]. She also advocates for affordable, accessible healthcare for families and small businesses, describing healthcare as a right rather than a privilege [1][14][15][16]. As a CPA and small\u2011business owner, she says she will bring fiscal responsibility to state budgeting and ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely [14][15][16]. Endorsements for her campaign include Bull City Anna, the Center for Freethought Equality, and Work For Democracy [1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Shelly Headen - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shelly_Headen)\n- [14] [Candidate Spotlight: Meet Shelly Headen for NC House ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUD9gT8kWck/)\n- [15] [Candidate Spotlight: Meet Shelly Headen for NC House. ...](https://www.facebook.com/nchousedems/posts/candidate-spotlight-meet-shelly-headen-for-nc-house-she-is-running-in-house-dist/1313355664170953/)\n- [16] [NC Democratic Party House Caucus on X: \"Candidate Spotlight: Meet @shelly_headen for NC House District 62 in Guilford County. Shelly will fight to fully fund our public schools because our teachers and children deserve better. She will work to make healthcare affordable and accessible for families and small businesses.\" / X](https://x.com/NCHouseDems/status/2016554101308305586)\n- [18] [Shelly Headen - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/shelly-headen)\n- [19] [Donate to Shelly Headen](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/shellyheaden)","firstname":"Shelly","lastname":"Headen","middlename":"Kates","suffix":null,"token":"a9db860dd39e6b58"},"token":"kJVJjYYKp5"},{"candidatename":"John M. Blust","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"John M. Blust is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f62 and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election.  Members of the North Carolina House serve two\u2011year terms, must be qualified voters who have lived in the district for at least one year, and must be at least 21 years old\u202f[3].  The office carries a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per\u2011day per\u2011diem\u202f[3].\n\nBlust earned both his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Accounting (1979) and his Juris Doctor (1982) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill\u202f[1][7].  He later passed the CPA exam and has practiced law in taxation, estate planning, commercial and business matters\u202f[5][8].\n\nHis public service began with the United States Army, where he served as an officer in the Field Artillery from 1972\u20111974 and again from 1982\u20111985, including time with the 82nd Airborne Division and a posting in the Republic of Korea\u202f[1][11].\n\nProfessionally, Blust worked as a certified public accountant and attorney before entering elected office\u202f[1][5].  He also held the position of Guilford County Republican Party Chairman from 1993\u20111995\u202f[8][19].\n\nBlust\u2019s political career spans more than three decades.  He was first appointed to the North Carolina Senate, serving from May\u202f1996 until January\u202f1999\u202f[7][19].  He was then elected to the House in 2000 and served continuously through 2018, opting not to run for re\u2011election that year\u202f[7][19].  After a brief retirement, the Guilford County Republican Party appointed him to fill the vacancy created by Rep.\u202fJohn Faircloth\u2019s resignation, and he was sworn in on September\u202f9\u202f2024\u202f[1][15].  He will complete that term (ending January\u202f1\u202f2027) and is now on the ballot for a full term in 2026\u202f[1].\n\nDuring his tenure, Blust held numerous committee assignments, often in leadership roles.  He chaired the Judiciary II Committee, served as Vice\u2011Chair of Finance, and was Vice\u2011Chair of the Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee across multiple legislative sessions\u202f[1].  He also sat on Banking, Elections, Pensions and Retirement, Rules, and several other committees, giving him broad influence over fiscal, legal, and security policy.\n\nBlust\u2019s legislative record emphasizes fiscal restraint, tax reduction, and regulatory reform.  He helped turn a $3\u202fbillion budget shortfall into a surplus, lowered individual and corporate tax burdens, eliminated the estate (death) tax, and reformed North Carolina\u2019s unemployment insurance system\u202f[12].  He championed election\u2011integrity measures such as photo\u2011ID voting, expanded school\u2011choice options, increased teacher pay, and protected Second\u2011Amendment rights through expanded concealed\u2011carry and castle\u2011doctrine statutes\u202f[12][8].  His platform for the upcoming campaign continues these themes: controlling spending, further tax cuts, additional regulatory reform, K\u201112 education reforms that promote school choice and eliminate DEI/CRT mandates, university academic\u2011freedom protections, and strong pro\u2011life and immigration\u2011enforcement policies\u202f[12][10].\n\nIn the 2026 race, Blust faces Democrat Shelly Headen.  The Republican primary was cancelled, leaving him unopposed for the party\u2019s nomination\u202f[1].  His campaign website provides additional details on his record and policy priorities\u202f[10].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [John Blust - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Blust)\n- [3] [North Carolina House of Representatives District 62 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_District_62)\n- [5] [Representative John M. Blust - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/234)\n- [7] [John Blust - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Blust)\n- [8] [John Blust's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/10229/john-blust)\n- [10] [GOP Candidate \u2013 Greensboro, NC \u2013 John Blust for NC House](https://www.blustfornchouse.com/)\n- [11] [Republican Party \u2013 Greensboro, NC \u2013 John Blust for NC House](https://www.blustfornchouse.com/republican-candidate-north-carolina)\n- [12] [Political Issues \u2013 Greensboro, NC \u2013 John Blust for NC House](https://www.blustfornchouse.com/north-carolina-conservative-politics)\n- [13] [North Carolina state Rep. John Blust, a Greensboro ...](https://www.facebook.com/APNews/posts/north-carolina-state-rep-john-blust-a-greensboro-republican-who-served-as-an-enl/1010247850963124/)\n- [15] [State Representative John Blust | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/1845)\n- [16] [North Carolina State Rep. John Blust - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/192806/John_Marshall_Blust.html)\n- [18] [Republican John Blust announces return to politics, run for NC House](https://greensboro.com/news/local/government-politics/john-blust-republican-guilford-county-greensboro-run-for-nc-house-district-62-michelle-bardsley-john-faircloth-2024/article_4680c776-8891-11ee-86b5-27d2ef1d7fb9.html)\n- [19] [Former State Rep. John Blust Announces His Candidacy For District 62 House Seat - The Rhino Times of Greensboro](https://www.rhinotimes.com/news/former-state-rep-john-blust-announces-his-candidacy-for-district-62-house-seat/)","firstname":"John","lastname":"Blust","middlename":"Marshall","suffix":null,"token":"8b1a07214accb0c4"},"token":"3cQKNBeJjQ"}],"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 062"}