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Gardenia Mae Henley
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Gardenia Mae Henley (Democrat) has run repeatedly in the NC State Senate District 32 Democratic primary (Forsyth County/Winston-Salem area) since 2010, challenging incumbent Sen. Paul Lowe. She lost the 2026 primary.
Henley has advocated for reproductive rights; redirecting education lottery funding to increase teacher salaries; repealing North Carolina's "Right to Work" law; affordable housing; an increased minimum wage; lower property tax rates; and tax exemptions for military veterans.
Background and education
Born and raised in northeast Winston-Salem, Henley graduated from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, NC. She holds a B.S. in Accounting and an M.S. in Taxation, and taught taxation at Strayer University in Arlington, VA.
Career
A decorated Air Force veteran, Henley was subsequently appointed to the U.S. Diplomatic Corps by President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She spent 22 years as an Inspector General Auditor-in-Charge at USAID (U.S. Department of State's Agency for International Development), 1987–2005. She is also an author and publishes "The Henley Reports" blog.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
North Carolina — campaign finance
- State, county, and municipal candidates — all in one system — NC State Board of Elections — Committee Search. Search by last name “Henley”.
North Carolina — statement of economic interest
- Required for state-elected and many local officials — NC State Ethics Commission — Statement of Economic Interest Search. Search by last name “Henley”.