{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Christopher Schulte","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Christopher James Schulte is the Democratic candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 15, in the November 3, 2026 general election [1]. The district\u2019s incumbent, Republican Phillip Shepard, will also appear on the ballot. Schulte\u2019s campaign website is chrisschulte.org, and his listed address is 704 Opus Ct, Richlands, NC 28574, with a phone number of (910) 526\u20110903 [9].\n\nBorn in Dayton, Ohio, Schulte earned an associate degree from Sinclair Community College in 2002, a bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology from Wright State University in 2004, and a master\u2019s degree in psychology from the University of North Texas in 2008 [1][11]. He lives in Richlands, North Carolina, with his wife, Shelley Freeman, and their two children, Evander and Amelia [11].\n\nProfessionally, Schulte has worked as a psychology instructor at Coastal Carolina Community College since 2008, a role described as a community\u2011college professor in psychology [11][20]. His experience in higher education informs his policy positions on education and mental\u2011health services.\n\nSchulte\u2019s platform emphasizes a \u201cbottom\u2011up, middle\u2011out\u201d economy that creates good\u2011paying jobs, lowers the cost of basic needs, and ensures fair wages. He supports stronger environmental protections and clean\u2011energy job investments, and he advocates for universal access to preventive care, prescription drugs, mental\u2011health services, and maternal health, including abortion access [20]. In voting and elections, he calls for measures that make voting easier so all voices are heard. For education, he proposes \u201cworld\u2011class\u201d schooling from pre\u2011kindergarten through public higher education [20].\n\nHe has received endorsements from organizations that signed the Mental Health Now Statement of Support, as noted by the Blue Voter Guide [6]. Schulte previously ran for the North Carolina State House in 2022 and 2024 and for the U.S. House in the 3rd Congressional District, though he did not appear on the primary ballot in 2026 for that race [1]. This 2026 campaign marks his first run for public office in District 15.\n\nSchulte\u2019s public profile includes a portrait used on Ballotpedia and other sites, and his campaign materials list his contact information and policy priorities, providing voters with a clear view of his background and objectives.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Christopher Schulte - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Christopher_Schulte)\n- [6] [Endorsements for Christopher Schulte - North Carolina Democratic Party Candidate](https://bluevoterguide.org/NC/candidate_Christopher_Schulte/321632)\n- [9] [Vote-USA | Christopher Schulte | Candidate for State Representative District 15, North Carolina | March 3, 2026 North Carolina Democratic Party State Primary](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NC&Id=NCSchulteChristopher)\n- [11] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/189026/christopher-schulte)\n- [16] [Christopher Schulte | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/christopher-schulte)\n- [18] [Christopher Schulte - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/christopher-schulte)\n- [20] [Christopher Schulte platform & website | North Carolina State Representative, District 15](https://www.branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-state-representative-nc-state-house-15/candidates/christopher-schulte)","firstname":"Christopher","lastname":"Schulte","middlename":"James","suffix":null,"token":"8b1059e6cbc4c6d7"},"token":"24Xny34ikP"},{"candidatename":"Phillip Shepard","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Phillip Ray Shepard is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 15 and is seeking re\u2011election in the November 3, 2026 general election [1][11][16].  He represents Onslow County and has served continuously since first taking office in 2011, having been elected to eight terms in the state House [1][16][20].\n\nBorn on November 10, 1954 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Shepard attended Jacksonville Senior High and later earned coursework at Coastal Carolina Community College [11][16][20].  He spent 36 years working for the Traffic Management Office at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, retiring from civil service before entering full\u2011time politics.  For more than a decade he also served as pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church, a role he continues in a retired capacity [1][16][20].\n\nShepard\u2019s legislative career began with his 2010 election to the House, and he has since held a variety of leadership positions.  He is Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Transportation Committee, as well as Chair of the Appropriations\u2011on\u2011Transportation subcommittee and a member of the Commerce, Education\u2011K\u201112, Health, and Homeland Security, Military and Veterans Affairs committees in the 2023\u20112024 session [1][9][16].  Over the past decade he has consistently chaired the Transportation Committee and served as Vice Chair of Appropriations, reflecting a focus on infrastructure and fiscal policy.\n\nDuring his tenure Shepard has highlighted several policy achievements.  He cites delivering lower taxes, promoting economic growth, and expanding transportation infrastructure for his district.  In the 2023 session he helped pass a $95\u202fmillion increase in K\u201112 funding to support enrollment growth and to eliminate the waitlist for roughly 55,000 families seeking opportunity scholarships, underscoring his emphasis on school choice and education funding [20].  He also notes a record of constituent transparency through newsletters and open communication channels.\n\nShepard\u2019s community involvement includes service on the Onslow County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Little League Baseball coaching staff, and leadership roles with the NRA and the Onslow County Republican Party.  He continues to reside in Jacksonville, NC, at 111 Vernon Shepard Lane, and maintains both a campaign email (shepardponslow@aol.com) and a legislative email (phil.shepard@ncleg.gov) for constituent outreach [20].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Phillip Shepard - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Phillip_Shepard)\n- [8] [Representative Phil Shepard - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/628)\n- [11] [Phil Shepard - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Shepard)\n- [15] [Voter Guide Profile for NC State Rep., Dist. 15 candidate - Phillip Shepard](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/1991/race/8442/election/1206)\n- [16] [Phil Shepard's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/117801/phil-shepard)\n- [20] [Shepard, Schulte seek District 15 in House race | News | jdnews.com](https://www.jdnews.com/news/shepard-schulte-seek-district-15-in-house-race/article_9333fd9b-2e7a-5b4d-be2a-1bcc9d885ea3.html)","firstname":"Phillip","lastname":"Shepard","middlename":"Ray","suffix":null,"token":"08b4dd09feae6656"},"token":"qT4OYO0NmZ"}],"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 015"}