{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Maad Abu-Ghazalah","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"LIB","person":{"biography":"Maad Abu\u2011Ghazalah is the Libertarian Party nominee for the United States House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 7th Congressional District in the 2026 general election. The Libertarian primary for the race was cancelled, and he advanced to the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 ballot alongside Republican incumbent David\u202fRouzer, Democrat Kimberly\u202fHardy, and Independent Michael\u202fHenry [1].\n\nBorn in Nablus, Palestine, Abu\u2011Ghazalah grew up in the Middle East before moving to England for secondary school and later to the United States for higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Notre\u202fDame in 1983, a Master of Science in computer science from the University of Virginia in 1985, and a Juris Doctor from Santa\u202fClara University in 1993 [12][14].\n\nAfter law school, Abu\u2011Ghazalah practiced law and later founded a Silicon Valley startup that created software for patent attorneys. The company was sold to Bloomberg Law in 2012, providing the capital that enabled him to pursue philanthropic work in his homeland. In 2014 he purchased an olive grove in the West Bank village of Asira and established Daily\u202fHugz, an animal sanctuary that rescues and cares for abandoned donkeys, dogs, and other animals while offering educational programs and a safe play space for local children [12][19][17].\n\nAbu\u2011Ghazalah\u2019s political experience dates back to the early 2000s. He ran as the Libertarian candidate for California\u2019s 12th Congressional District in the 2002 general election, receiving 11,006 votes, and later entered the Democratic primary for the same district in 2004, where he lost with 19.9\u202f% of the vote [7]. He has remained active in third\u2011party politics, most recently seeking the Libertarian nomination for North Carolina\u2019s 7th District. The Libertarian primary was cancelled, and he automatically advanced to the general election ballot [1][3].\n\nWhile he has not completed Ballotpedia\u2019s Candidate Connection survey, Abu\u2011Ghazalah\u2019s campaign emphasizes typical Libertarian principles such as limited government, individual liberty, and fiscal responsibility. His personal background as a Palestinian\u2011American entrepreneur, attorney, and animal\u2011rights advocate informs his public messaging, which highlights both his professional experience and his commitment to humanitarian and environmental causes. The campaign website listed on multiple sources is\u202fhttp://www.maad4congress.org, and a later interview directs voters to\u202fhttps://getmaad.org for additional information [13][14].\n\nIf elected, Abu\u2011Ghazalah would join the 120th\u202fCongress, where the House currently holds a narrow Republican majority. His candidacy adds a third\u2011party perspective to a district that has historically leaned Republican, offering voters an alternative to the two major parties.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Maad Abu-Ghazalah - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maad_Abu-Ghazalah)\n- [2] [United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_North_Carolina,_2026)\n- [3] [North Carolina's 7th Congressional District election, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_7th_Congressional_District_election,_2026)\n- [4] [Maad Abu-Ghazalah # 224961 - Attorney Licensee Search](https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/224961)\n- [7] [JoinCalifornia - Maad Abu-Ghazalah](https://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5030)\n- [9] [Maad Abu-Ghazalah](https://www.facebook.com/maad.abughazalah/)\n- [11] [Jamal interviews Maad Abu-Ghazalah, Founder ...](https://www.facebook.com/ArabTalkRadio/videos/daily-hugzdo-we-all-need-one/1586726481490084/)\n- [12] [CoastLine: Palestinian-American on his culture and why he started rescuing animals in the West Bank | WHQR](https://www.whqr.org/show/coastline/2023-12-19/coastline-palestinian-american-on-his-culture-and-why-he-started-rescuing-animals-in-the-west-bank)\n- [13] [Interview with the North Carolina Libertarian Party's 7th Congressional District Candidate Maad Abu-Ghazalah - Long Live Alternative Parties | Podcast on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6t7XS52hJWtFM0PVK0b3Lc)\n- [14] [Maad Abu-Ghazalah (Libertarian) | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/story/maad-abu-ghazalah-libertarian)\n- [17] [History \u2014 Daily Hugz](http://www.dailyhugz.org/new-page)\n- [18] [Maad Abu-Ghazalah - Middle East Research and Information Project](https://www.merip.org/author/maad-abu-ghazalah/)\n- [19] [Abu-Ghazalah, Maad - Animal Law Conference](https://www.animallawconference.org/speaker/abu-ghazalah-maad/)","firstname":"Maad","lastname":"Abu-Ghazalah","middlename":"Hatiz","suffix":null,"token":"99e468f26acea1b1"},"token":"dNtF8zy2Mo"},{"candidatename":"Kimberly Hardy","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Kimberly Hardy is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 7th Congressional District, appearing on the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general\u2011election ballot. In addition to her campaign, she serves as an associate professor of social work at Fayetteville State University and holds the position of Second Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party.[7][19]\n\nHardy was raised in a middle\u2011class family in eastern North Carolina. Her father, a Marine Corps veteran, and her mother, a former Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of the Interior and State Department, instilled a strong sense of public service. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Morgan State University in 1997, a Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from Morgan State University.[7][8]\n\nAfter working as a school social worker, Hardy entered academia, holding assistant professor positions at the University of Connecticut (2010\u20112013) and the University of Saint\u202fJoseph (2013\u20112016) before joining Fayetteville State University in 2016, where she mentors students from the district and focuses on student economic mobility.[1][7]\n\nHardy\u2019s political experience began with her 2020 campaign for North Carolina House District\u202f43, where she won the Democratic primary but was narrowly defeated by Republican incumbent Diane Wheatley in the general election. She ran again in the 2022 Democratic primary for the same seat, losing to former incumbent Elmer Floyd.[15]\n\nBeyond electoral runs, Hardy has held leadership roles within the state Democratic Party, serving as President of the Democratic Women of Cumberland County, Second Vice President of the Democratic Women of North Carolina, and, since 2023, Second Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. She also served on the board of Lillian\u2019s List and chaired the Sweet Tea Shakespeare Theatre Company, reflecting deep community involvement.[7][19]\n\nHardy\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes affordable health care and prescription drugs, protection of Social Security and Medicare, support for small businesses and workers, and investment in public education and job\u2011training programs. She positions herself as a \u201cpeople\u2011first\u201d candidate who will bring accountability and independent judgment to Congress, contrasting herself with incumbent Rep. David\u202fRouzer, who has held the seat since 2015.[6][5][19]\n\nIf elected, Hardy says she will work to lower the cost of groceries, housing, utilities, and health care for families in southeastern North Carolina, while advocating for policies that strengthen rural economies and expand opportunities for working\u2011class residents.[6][5]\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Kimberly Hardy - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Kimberly_Hardy)\n- [4] [KIMBERLY HARDY FOR CONGRESS - committee overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00909804/)\n- [5] [Kimberly Hardy for US Congress](https://www.kimberlyhardyforcongress.com/)\n- [6] [Democrats Work For America - Kimberly Hardy](https://democratsworkforamerica.org/candidates/2026/NC/Hardy.html)\n- [7] [About Kimberly \u2014 Dr. Kimberly Hardy for Congress](https://www.kimberlyhardyforcongress.com/meetkimberly)\n- [8] [Dr. Kimberly Hardy -Higher Heights for America PAC](https://higherheightsforamericapac.org/candidate/kimberly-hardy/)\n- [15] [Kimberly Hardy announces run against Rouzer for district 7 U.S. House seat | Port City Daily](https://portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2025/07/10/kimberly-hardy-announces-run-against-rouzer-for-district-7-u-s-house-seat/)\n- [17] [Kimberly Hardy - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/kimberly-hardy)\n- [18] [I just gave to Kimberly Hardy for Congress!](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/nc07web)\n- [19] [Brunswickdem](https://www.brunswickdem.org/post/democrat-dr-kimberly-hardy-launches-congressional-campaign)","firstname":"Kimberly","lastname":"Hardy","middlename":"Michelle","suffix":null,"token":"541f388fd6d7f1a4"},"token":"KSvZ6pvEh1"},{"candidatename":"David Rouzer","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"David Cheston Rouzer is the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative for North Carolina\u2019s 7th Congressional District and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election [1][17].  To serve in the House, a candidate must be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state they represent at the time of election\u202f\u2014\u202frequirements Rouzer satisfies, having been born in 1972 and serving continuously since 2015 [1][11].\n\nRouzer was born on February\u202f16,\u202f1972, at the U.S. Army\u2019s Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany and raised in Durham, North Carolina, where he attended Northern High School [11].  He earned a Bachelor of Arts in agricultural business management, agricultural economics, and chemistry from North Carolina State University in 1994, and later completed programs with the Fund for American Studies [11][1].  After college he worked as a legislative aide and senior policy adviser to U.S. Senators Jesse\u202fHelms and Elizabeth\u202fDole from 1996 to 2001, and served as an assistant to the dean of NC\u202fState\u2019s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (2001\u20112002) and as an associate\u2011rural administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2005\u20112006) [11].  He also owned The Rouzer Company and Warehouse Distribution, giving him experience as a small\u2011business entrepreneur.\n\nRouzer entered elected office in 2009, winning a seat in the North Carolina Senate representing the 12th district and serving until 2013 [1][11][18].  In 2014 he ran for the U.S. House and was first sworn in on January\u202f3,\u202f2015; he has been re\u2011elected every two years, most recently for a term ending January\u202f3,\u202f2027 [1][17][18].  During his congressional tenure he has served on the Agriculture Committee (including as Vice Chair of the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets and Rural Development Subcommittee) and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (Chair of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee), as well as the Science, Space, and Technology Committee [1].  He has also chaired the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and held ranking positions on several agriculture subcommittees.\n\nIn the House, Rouzer has sponsored legislation that became law, including 17 bills as of 2022, and has taken positions on key issues such as repealing the Affordable Care Act, requiring English proficiency for citizenship, and supporting pro\u2011life policies [11][13].  He voted to object to the counting of electoral votes from several states after the 2020 presidential election, aligning with other Republicans contesting the results [17].  His recent voting record shows consistent support for Republican\u2011led measures, with numerous bills passing the House in 2026 bearing his affirmative votes [13].\n\nRouzer\u2019s campaign finances for the 2026 cycle show total receipts of about $1.54\u202fmillion and expenditures of $968,000, with the principal campaign committee listed as \u201cDAVID ROUZER FOR CONGRESS\u201d [10].  He maintains a district office in Wilmington, NC, and a Washington, D.C., office in the Rayburn House Office Building, reachable at (202)\u202f225\u20112731 [9][18].  His official congressional website is rouzer.house.gov, while his campaign site is davidrouzer.com [7][20].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [David Rouzer - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/David_Rouzer)\n- [7] [U.S. Representative David Rouzer](https://rouzer.house.gov/)\n- [9] [David Rouzer (North Carolina (NC)), 119th Congress Profile](https://clerk.house.gov/members/R000603)\n- [10] [ROUZER, DAVID - Candidate overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H2NC07096/)\n- [11] [David Rouzer - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rouzer)\n- [12] [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- [13] [See David Rouzer's Key Votes](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/102964/david-rouzer)\n- [14] [Rep. David Rouzer (@RepRouzer)](https://www.facebook.com/RepRouzer/)\n- [15] [David Rouzer (@electdavidrouzer)](https://www.facebook.com/electdavidrouzer/)\n- [16] [Rep. David Rouzer (@RepDavidRouzer) \u00b7 X](https://twitter.com/RepDavidRouzer)\n- [17] [Rep. David Rouzer [R-NC7, 2015-2026], Representative for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District - GovTrack.us](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/david_rouzer/412641)\n- [18] [US Representative David Rouzer | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/52)\n- [19] [David Rouzer - Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5239255)\n- [20] [David Rouzer U.S. Congress](https://davidrouzer.com/)","firstname":"David","lastname":"Rouzer","middlename":"Cheston","suffix":null,"token":"9ef6a77b92b3a03f"},"token":"E0sGZWNEiL"}],"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 07"}