{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Greg Murphy","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nGregory Francis Murphy, a Republican, has represented North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019 and is serving his fourth term [1][2]. He was elected on November 5, 2024 and sworn in for the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025 [3]. In the 2024 general election he received 248,276 votes to Libertarian Gheorghe Cormos's 72,565; no Democrat filed for the seat that year [4].\n\nMurphy filed for re-election on December 5, 2025 and appears on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot [5]. He was the only Republican to file in the district, and no Republican primary was conducted there on March 3, 2026 [5][6]. His opponents are Democrat Raymond Smith Jr., who won a contested March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 23,552 votes to Allison Jaslow's 18,020, and Libertarian Daniel Cavender [5][6].\n\nThrough June 30, 2026, Murphy's federal campaign account reported $2,357,956 in receipts for the 2026 cycle: $1,013,138 from individual contributions and $1,036,299 from other political committees, with $2,697,820 in cash on hand [7].\n\n## Background and education\n\nMurphy was born in 1963 [2]. He grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College in 1985 [8][1]. He then attended the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, graduating with honors and as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, and completed a surgical residency in urology and renal transplantation at the University of Kentucky in Lexington [8].\n\n## Career\n\nAfter his residency Murphy settled in Greenville, North Carolina, where he still lives, to begin his practice [8][3]. He was formerly president of Eastern Urological Associates in Greenville and Affiliate Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Urology at the East Carolina University School of Medicine [8]. He served three years as chief of staff of Vidant Medical Center, which his office describes as a Level 1 trauma center serving 29 counties in eastern North Carolina, and is a member of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine [8]. His congressional biography describes him as the only actively practicing physician in Congress, \"seeing patients a few days a month still\" [8], and his office elsewhere calls him \"the only practicing surgeon in Congress today\" [1].\n\nHis congressional biography states that he \"has traveled extensively for the last 35 years to Third World Countries including India, several parts of Africa, Nicaragua and Haiti as a Medical Missionary\" [8]. It also records that he served as Davidson College's alumni president and sat on its board of trustees [8].\n\nMurphy received the Distinguished Medical Alumni Award from the UNC School of Medicine [8]. The American Association of Clinical Urologists lists him as its 2017 Distinguished Leadership Award recipient, an award the organization says \"recognizes elected officials and executive-level appointees who support the organization's priorities and the interests of the urologic community before state government\" [9].\n\n## Office history\n\nMurphy served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019 [8]. He was elected to state House District 9 in 2016, receiving 22,869 votes to Democrat Brian Farkas's 17,007 [10], and re-elected in 2018 with 17,234 votes to Democrat Kris Rixon's 11,510 [11].\n\nHe ran in the 2019 special election for North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District to succeed the late Congressman Walter B. Jones Jr. [8], winning the September 10, 2019 special general election with 70,407 votes to Democrat Allen Thomas's 42,738 [12]. His office announced that he was sworn in by the Speaker of the House on September 17, 2019 [13]; his office's biography page gives the date as September 15, 2019 [8]. He was returned to the 117th, 118th and 119th Congresses [2].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nIn the North Carolina General Assembly, Murphy served as Senior Chair of Health Policy and Chair of Health and Human Services Appropriations during his second term [8]. General Assembly records list him first among the primary sponsors of House Bill 243, the Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act, ratified as Session Law 2017-74 on June 29, 2017 [14]. His congressional biography states he was \"the primary author of both the STOP Act and the HOPE Act\" [8]; the Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Enforcement (HOPE) Act of 2018 was enacted as Session Law 2018-44 from Senate Bill 616, whose sole listed primary sponsor is Senator J. Davis [15].\n\nIn Congress, Murphy sits on the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Committee on House Administration and the Joint Committee on Printing [3]. He serves on the Ways and Means Health and Trade subcommittees and the Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee, and co-chairs the House Republican Doctors Caucus and the Academic Medicine Caucus [16][8].\n\nHe has sponsored 125 measures across the 116th through 119th Congresses, two of which have been enacted [17]. H.R. 1491, the Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act, became Public Law 119-64; it requires the Internal Revenue Service to treat a disaster-related postponement of the federal return deadline as an extension of that deadline when calculating the limit on a tax refund [17][18]. H.R. 5037 designated a U.S. Postal Service facility in Farmville, North Carolina as the \"Walter B. Jones, Jr. Post Office\" and became Public Law 116-203 [17].\n\nMeasures he introduced in 2026 include H.R. 8344, the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2026, introduced April 16, 2026 \"to amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the retirement earnings test\" [17][19], and H.R. 8270, the Every Dollar Counts Act of 2026, introduced April 14, 2026, which would require \"out-of-pocket expenditures for drugs to count towards an individual's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum\" [17][20]. Both remained in committee as of July 2026 [17].\n\nWith Representative Rouzer, Murphy hosts the annual Water Adaptations to Ensure Regional Success (WATERS) Summit on flooding and waterway challenges in North Carolina, which his office describes as \"a nonpartisan effort ... designed to foster legislative solutions and develop strategies to tackle these issues for years to come\"; the fifth annual summit is scheduled for Greenville on October 21, 2026 [21].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [About Greg - Congressman Greg Murphy](https://murphy.house.gov/about/about-greg) - U.S. House of Representatives, accessed 2026-07-30\n[2] [Member M001210, Gregory F. Murphy (Congress.gov API v3)](https://api.congress.gov/v3/member/M001210?format=json) - Library of Congress, accessed 2026-07-30\n[3] [Member Data, 119th Congress (MemberData.xml)](https://clerk.house.gov/xml/lists/MemberData.xml) - Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, accessed 2026-07-30\n[4] [Official precinct results, November 5, 2024 general election](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2024_11_05/results_pct_20241105.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[5] [2026 candidate filing list (Candidate_Listing_2026.csv)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/Candidate_Listing_2026.csv) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[6] [Official precinct results, March 3, 2026 primary election](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[7] [Candidate financial totals, MURPHY, GREGORY FRANCIS DR. (H0NC03172)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/candidate/H0NC03172/totals/) - Federal Election Commission, accessed 2026-07-30\n[8] [Biography - Dr. Murphy](https://murphy.house.gov/bio) - U.S. House of Representatives, accessed 2026-07-30\n[9] [Awards & Lectures - AACU Distinguished Leadership Award](https://aacuweb.org/awards-lectures/) - American Association of Clinical Urologists, accessed 2026-07-30\n[10] [Official precinct results, November 8, 2016 general election](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2016_11_08/results_pct_20161108.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[11] [Official precinct results, November 6, 2018 general election](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2018_11_06/results_pct_20181106.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[12] [Official precinct results, September 10, 2019 special election](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2019_09_10/results_pct_20190910.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[13] [Congressman Murphy Sworn into Office](https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/honorific-murphy-sworn-office) - U.S. House of Representatives, accessed 2026-07-30\n[14] [House Bill 243 / SL 2017-74, Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2017/H243) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[15] [Senate Bill 616 / SL 2018-44, Heroin & Opioid Prevention & Enforcement Act](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2017/S616) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[16] [Committees and Caucuses - Congressman Greg Murphy](https://murphy.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses) - U.S. House of Representatives, accessed 2026-07-30\n[17] [Legislation sponsored by Gregory F. Murphy (Congress.gov API v3)](https://api.congress.gov/v3/member/M001210/sponsored-legislation?format=json) - Library of Congress, accessed 2026-07-30\n[18] [H.R. 1491 (119th Congress) summaries (Congress.gov API v3)](https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/119/hr/1491/summaries?format=json) - Library of Congress, accessed 2026-07-30\n[19] [H.R. 8344 (119th Congress) titles (Congress.gov API v3)](https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/119/hr/8344/titles?format=json) - Library of Congress, accessed 2026-07-30\n[20] [H.R. 8270 (119th Congress) titles (Congress.gov API v3)](https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/119/hr/8270/titles?format=json) - Library of Congress, accessed 2026-07-30\n[21] [WATERS Summit - Congressman Greg Murphy](https://murphy.house.gov/waters-summit) - U.S. House of Representatives, accessed 2026-07-30","firstname":"Gregory","lastname":"Murphy","middlename":"Francis","suffix":null,"token":"cb603b75b77bec95"},"token":"ZV7oDgm1s6"},{"candidatename":"Daniel Cavender","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"LIB","person":{"biography":"Daniel Thomas Cavender is the Libertarian Party nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 3rd Congressional District in the 2026 general election. The Libertarian primary for that race was cancelled, allowing Cavender to advance to the November 3, 2026 ballot alongside Republican incumbent Gregory Murphy and Democrat Raymond Smith\u202fJr.\u202f[1]\n\nCavender was born and raised in Lexington, North Carolina, and graduated from Central Davidson High School. He earned an associate\u2019s degree from Davidson\u2011Davie Community College in 2019 and a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science and government from the University of North\u202fCarolina at Greensboro in 2021. His education and local roots are highlighted in his campaign materials.\u202f[1][19]\n\nHis professional background includes work as a fire\u2011protection equipment technician and, as of 2024, part\u2011time service as a Fire Protection Specialist. Cavender also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 2015 until 2022, though a later profile notes he \u201ccurrently serves in the U.S. Marine Corps\u201d in a part\u2011time capacity, suggesting a possible continuation of service beyond 2022.\u202f[1][19]\n\nCavender first entered electoral politics in 2024, running as the Libertarian candidate for North Carolina State Senate District\u202f30. He received 2.7\u202f% of the vote (3,161 votes) in that race, which was won by Republican incumbent Steven\u202fJarvis.\u202f[1]\n\nIn addition to his candidacies, Cavender is active in local Libertarian organizations, including the Davidson County Libertarian Party and the Libertarian Party of North\u202fCarolina, and is a member of the American Legion.\u202f[1]\n\nWhile his campaign platform details are not posted on a dedicated website, his public statements emphasize limited\u2011government principles consistent with Libertarian ideology. No official campaign website or contact email/phone number is listed in the available sources.\u202f[19]\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Daniel Cavender - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Daniel_Cavender)\n- [18] [Daniel Cavender | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/daniel-cavender)\n- [19] [Daniel Cavender platform & website | North Carolina State Senator, District 30](https://www.branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-state-senator-nc-state-senate-30/candidates/daniel-cavender)","firstname":"Daniel","lastname":"Cavender","middlename":"Thomas","suffix":null,"token":"47ff49fd17b4c437"},"token":"dor5XE0v4u"},{"candidatename":"Raymond Smith","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Raymond Edward Smith\u202fJr. is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 3rd Congressional District in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 election. After winning the Democratic primary with 56.6% of the vote (23,438 votes) against Allison\u202fJaslow, he will face incumbent Republican Rep. Greg\u202fMurphy and Libertarian Daniel\u202fCavender in the general election [1][12][14].\n\nBorn in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Smith earned a high\u2011school diploma from Goldsboro High School and went on to obtain a bachelor\u2019s degree in supply\u2011chain management from North Carolina A&T State University (1992), a master\u2019s in public administration from North Carolina Central University (1998), and a doctorate in education leadership from Fayetteville State University (2020) [1][4][11]. He served in the United States Army during the Persian Gulf War, later working as a military policeman and earning the status of a decorated veteran [1][4][11].\n\nSmith\u2019s professional career spans transportation and education. He has held positions as executive director of the Goldsboro/Wayne Transportation Authority, a statewide planner for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and director of Wayne Interagency Transportation Inc. He also worked as a consultant, transportation professional, and teacher, and served on the Wayne County Board of Education, becoming the first African\u2011American at\u2011large member and later vice\u2011chairman of that board [1][11][10].\n\nIn 2018, Smith was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives from District\u202f21, representing parts of Wayne and Sampson counties. He served two terms (January\u202f1,\u202f2019\u202f\u2013\u202fJanuary\u202f1,\u202f2023) and held the role of Minority Whip. During the 2019\u20112020 session he served on the Appropriations, Military and Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Health\u2011and\u2011Human\u2011Services committees; in the 2021\u20112022 session he sat on Education\u2011Community Colleges, Local Government, Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs, Finance, and Homeland Security, Military and Veterans Affairs committees [1][4][10].\n\nAfter an unsuccessful bid for the North Carolina State Senate (District\u202f4) in 2022, where he received 45.5% of the primary vote against incumbent Toby\u202fFitch, Smith turned his attention to Congress. His congressional campaign emphasizes expanding rural health\u2011care access, increasing funding for public education, improving infrastructure (including broadband and transportation), and protecting working families through affordable health care and cost\u2011of\u2011living relief. He positions himself as a bipartisan voice, drawing on his legislative record and veteran background to appeal to a diverse electorate in the newly redrawn, more competitive 3rd district [6][14][20].\n\nSmith has secured endorsements from the Democratic National Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and numerous local organizations. His campaign finance committee, \u201cRAYMOND SMITH FOR NORTH CAROLINA,\u201d reports total receipts of $115,666.76 and expenditures of $68,460.87 as of the latest FEC filing [2].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Raymond Smith Jr. - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Raymond_Smith_Jr.)\n- [2] [RAYMOND SMITH FOR NORTH CAROLINA - committee overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00930784/)\n- [4] [Raymond Smith Jr. - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Smith_Jr.)\n- [5] [2026 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_North_Carolina)\n- [6] [Dr. Raymond E. Smith for Congress](https://raymondsmithfornc.com/)\n- [8] [Raymond E Smith Jr. (@DrRaymondESmithJr)](https://www.facebook.com/DrRaymondESmithJr/)\n- [9] [Meet Raymond Smith: Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, District 1](https://wcti12.com/elections/national/meet-raymond-smith-candidate-for-us-house-of-representatives-district-1)\n- [10] [State Representative Raymond Smith | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/23977)\n- [11] [Raymond Smith, Jr. platform & website | North Carolina State Senator, District 4](https://www.branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-state-senator-nc-state-senate-4/candidates/raymond-smith,-jr)\n- [12] [Dr. Raymond Smith secures District 3 primary victory, will face Greg Murphy in November - ABC11 Raleigh-Durham](https://abc11.com/post/dr-raymond-smith-secures-district-3-primary-victory-will-face-greg-murphy-november/18674271/)\n- [13] [DNC Congratulates Democratic Nominee Raymond Smith on His Victory in NC-03 Democratic Primary - Democrats](https://democrats.org/news/dnc-congratulates-democratic-nominee-raymond-smith-on-his-victory-in-nc-03-democratic-primary/)\n- [14] [Smith, Jaslow vie for U.S. House seat | Local News | kinston.com](https://www.kinston.com/news/local/smith-jaslow-vie-for-house-seat/article_ec8e0b53-0c18-57ca-9769-615c14094e4f.html)\n- [15] [Former State Rep. Raymond Smith - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/309786/Raymond_Edward_Smith_Jr_.html)\n- [20] [Raymond Smith Gets Congressional Black Caucus Endorsement in NC-3](https://www.theassemblync.com/news/cbc-north-carolina-third-district-smith/)","firstname":"Raymond","lastname":"Smith","middlename":"Edward","suffix":"JR","token":"0c2ecc5464560916"},"token":"GIUk6KmtnD"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"us_representative","o.office":"us_house","office":"us_house","officedescription":"A United States Representative represents a single congressional district in the lower chamber of Congress, serving a two-year term. Representatives write and pass federal law, originate revenue bills, fund and oversee the executive branch, and serve constituents in dealings with federal agencies.","officequalities":"- Legislative craft at the federal level: reading, drafting, and amending federal statute, and knowing the law being changed.\n- Understanding of the district's economic and everyday concerns, and constituent-service capacity for casework with federal agencies.\n- Persuasion and coalition-building across party and factional lines to form working majorities.\n- Integrity: acting for constituents and the public good rather than personal gain, independent of undue influence.\n- Oversight judgment: the House funds and oversees the executive branch and the military.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"U.S. Representative","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Us House Of Representatives District 03"}