{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Monika Johnson-Hostler","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Monika Johnson\u2011Hostler is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f33, a seat she has held since she was sworn in on January\u202f1,\u202f2025 and will seek re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election [1][3][14]. The North Carolina House comprises 120 members who serve two\u2011year terms and is responsible for crafting state law, approving the budget, and overseeing the executive branch [15].\n\nA native of Thomasville, North Carolina, Johnson\u2011Hostler earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Fayetteville State University and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University [1][6]. She lives in Raleigh with her husband, Bobby, and their daughter, Gabrielle [1].\n\nBefore entering the legislature, she spent more than two decades as the executive director of the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCC\u202fASA), leading statewide advocacy on survivor rights, human trafficking, and domestic violence policy [1][19][20]. Simultaneously, she served on the Wake County Board of Education from 2013 until her election to the House in 2024, where she chaired initiatives that raised teacher pay, expanded pre\u2011K programs, and increased support staff for students [6][9][19]. Her public\u2011service record also includes participation on national advisory committees for former President Barack Obama and former Attorney General Eric\u202fHolder, contributing to the re\u2011authorization of the Violence Against Women Act [7][19].\n\nIn the General Assembly, Johnson\u2011Hostler has introduced a range of legislation reflecting her policy priorities. Notable bills include HB\u202f31, which would make Election Day a state holiday; HB\u202f168, the North Carolina CROWN Act prohibiting discrimination based on natural hair; and HB\u202f115, a child\u2011care facility tax exemption [4]. She has also sponsored measures supporting veterans, affordable housing, and tax relief for working families [4]. Her legislative work earned her the inaugural Attorney General\u2019s Dogwood Award for advancing comprehensive child\u2011sexual\u2011abuse legislation and establishing the state\u2019s first Human Trafficking Task Force [19][20].\n\nJohnson\u2011Hostler\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes fully funded public education, affordable housing, and protecting voting rights through measures such as a non\u2011partisan redistricting commission [19][20]. She advocates for living\u2011wage policies, expanded child\u2011care credits, and continued investment in early\u2011learning programs. These priorities align with her long\u2011standing community involvement, including service on the PTA at North Ridge Elementary, leadership in the Emerging Young Leaders Program for middle\u2011school girls, and troop leadership with the Pines of the Carolinas Girl Scouts [1].\n\nIn her 2024 race, Johnson\u2011Hostler won the general election with 80.2\u202f% of the vote, defeating Libertarian challenger Chris Costello, and she ran unopposed in the Democratic primary after it was canceled [1]. She now seeks a second term to continue advancing the issues she has championed throughout her career.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Monika Johnson-Hostler - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Monika_Johnson-Hostler)\n- [3] [Representative Monika Johnson-Hostler - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/834)\n- [4] [Representative Monika Johnson-Hostler's Introduced Bills - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/IntroducedBills/H/834)\n- [6] [Monika Johnson-Hostler - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monika_Johnson-Hostler)\n- [7] [Monika Johnson Hostler for House | Democrat for NC House | Wake County, NC, USA](https://www.monikafornc.com/)\n- [9] [Monika Johnson Hostler -Higher Heights for America PAC](https://higherheightsforamericapac.org/candidate/monika-johnson-hostler/)\n- [11] [Monika Johnson-Hostler for NC | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/monikafornc/)\n- [14] [State Representative Monika Johnson-Hostler | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/29777)\n- [15] [Candidate Info - Monika Johnson-Hostler - Wake County Democratic Party](https://www.wakedems.org/election-central-2024/candidate-info-monika-johnson-hostler/)\n- [19] [NC House District 33: Monika Johnson-Hostler](https://indyweek.com/news/elections-news/nc-house-district-33-monika-johnson-hostler/)\n- [20] [Candidate Questionnaire: Monika Johnson-Hostler, NC House District 33](https://indyweek.com/news/elections-news/candidate-questionnaire-monika-johnson-hostler-nc-house-district-33/)","firstname":"Monika","lastname":"Johnson-Hostler","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"cd7a272903e2a32b"},"token":"KQpfuxgTun"},{"candidatename":"Matthew Orr","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Matthew Shane Orr is the Republican nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 33 (Wake County), on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot against Democrat Monika Johnson-Hostler [1][2]. The March 3, 2026 Republican primary for the seat was canceled, so Orr advanced directly to the general election [1]. He has not previously held elected office [1].\n\n## Background and education\nPer his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey response, Orr built a career in marketing and finance following college before leaving the corporate world to launch two small businesses that he continues to own and operate [1].\n\n## Career\nOrr describes himself as Executive Director of the Scott Orr Foundation, a nonprofit he says is \"dedicated to improving mental health, preventing suicide, and providing housing and essential resources for U.S. veterans.\" He also says he coached wrestling at South Garner High School [1]. He lives in Garner, NC, consistent with the address on file for him with the NC State Board of Elections [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Matthew Orr (North Carolina) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Orr_(North_Carolina)) (Candidate Connection survey response) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-19\n[2] [NC State Board of Elections \u2014 2026 Candidate Listing](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/Candidate_Listing_2026.csv) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-19","firstname":"Matthew","lastname":"Orr","middlename":"Shane","suffix":null,"token":"7ac6bd7fb21abcf7"},"token":"njvmWcli0J"}],"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 033"}