David Paul Bankert

David Paul Bankert is the Republican candidate for the North Carolina State Senate, District 15, on the November 3, 2026 general‑election ballot. The Republican primary for the seat was cancelled, placing him directly on the November ballot opposite incumbent Democrat Jay Chaudhuri ¹.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bankert earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1978 and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982 ¹¹⁵. He resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, and lists a son among his family details ¹⁵.

Bankert’s professional background spans engineering, manufacturing, construction, computer programming, and data work. He has described his career as involving “jobs in the engineering, manufacturing, and construction industries” ¹⁵¹. No elected office has been held; his political experience consists of multiple runs for the state Senate. He was the Republican nominee for District 13 in 2022, losing to Democrat Lisa Grafstein, and again ran for District 15 in 2024, where he was defeated by incumbent Jay Chaudhuri ¹.

In his 2026 campaign, Bankert emphasizes reviving manufacturing in North Carolina and adopting “sensible crisis policies.” He opposes legalizing sports betting, rejects state tax incentives aimed at attracting businesses, and stands against abortion access and state funding for abortion providers. His platform also supports mental‑health initiatives, “solid, academic fundamentals” in education, and policies that keep transgender women from competing on female sports teams. He advocates for election integrity, transparency, and protecting constitutional rights, and he opposes allowing schools to teach sexual orientation or gender identity to young children ¹⁵.

Bankert’s campaign contact information includes a mailing address (PO Box 58443, Raleigh, NC 27658) and a phone number listed as 919‑215‑5670 on VoteSmart’s biography page ⁸. A campaign website is provided at bank4ncsen.com ⁶.

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