{"biography":"Val Applewhite is the incumbent Democratic State Senator for North Carolina\u2019s 19th Senate District and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election\u202f[1][8]. The district covers most of Fayetteville in Cumberland County. As a state senator she serves on several key committees, including Appropriations on Education/Higher Education, Appropriations/Base Budget, Senate Finance, Health Care, Pensions and Retirement and Aging, and the State and Local Government Committee for the 2025\u20112026 session\u202f[1].\n\nApplewhite earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in business administration and a master\u2019s degree in political science, attending Southern New\u202fHampshire University and Strayer University\u202f[7]. She is a retired United States Air Force veteran, having served before beginning her civilian career\u202f[7][14]. After military service she entered the real\u2011estate industry, working as a broker and eventually founding Val Applewhite Real Estate and Consulting\u202f[1][18].\n\nHer first elected office was on the Fayetteville City Council, where she served from 2007 to 2011 (some sources note 2007\u20112013)\u202f[1][14]. She later ran for mayor of Fayetteville in 2013 and 2015, finishing second both times\u202f[7]. In 2022 she won the Democratic primary and general election for the State Senate, succeeding Kirk deViere and taking office on January\u202f1,\u202f2023\u202f[1][7]. She was re\u2011elected in 2024 with 62.9% of the vote, defeating Republican Semone\u202fPemberton and Libertarian Steven\u202fSwinton\u202f[1][14].\n\nDuring her first term Applewhite sponsored legislation addressing PFAS\u2011contaminated drinking water in Cumberland County, securing $15\u202fmillion and helping obtain an additional $35\u202fmillion federal grant for clean\u2011water projects\u202f[14][18]. She has been a vocal opponent of North Carolina\u2019s 12\u2011week abortion ban, voting against Senate Bill\u202f20 and sponsoring bills to protect reproductive rights, including a constitutional amendment to codify pre\u2011Roe abortion access\u202f[13][14]. Applewhite also opposes the state\u2019s Opportunity Scholarship program, arguing that taxpayer dollars should remain in public schools\u202f[13][14].\n\nIn the 2025\u20112026 session she continued work on health\u2011care access, veteran services, and economic development, including advocacy for the Interstate\u202f685 extension to boost Cumberland County\u2019s economy\u202f[10]. Her committee assignments place her at the center of budgetary decisions for education, health, and state\u2011local relations, allowing her to influence policy areas central to her district\u2019s needs\u202f[1].\n\nApplewhite\u2019s campaign emphasizes clean water, reproductive freedom, public\u2011school funding, and veteran support. She maintains a campaign website (www.valapplewhitencsenate.com) and a campaign email address (applewhiteforsenate@gmail.com)\u202f[8][18].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Val Applewhite - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Val_Applewhite)\n- [4] [Senator Val Applewhite - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/s/440)\n- [7] [Val Applewhite - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Applewhite)\n- [8] [Vote-USA | Val Applewhite | Candidate for State Senator District 19, North Carolina | March 3, 2026 North Carolina Democratic Party State Primary](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NC&Id=NCApplewhiteVal)\n- [9] [Val Applewhite - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/val-applewhite)\n- [10] [Val Applewhite | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/val-applewhite)\n- [11] [Sen. Val Applewhite | North Carolina 2025-2026 | TrackBill](https://trackbill.com/legislator/north-carolina-senator-val-applewhite/1063-26187/)\n- [13] [Val Applewhite is Pro-Choice - North Carolina Choice Tracker](https://choicetracker.org/nc/people/val-applewhite/212271104)\n- [14] [Val Applewhite maintains N.C. Senate District 19 seat](https://www.cityviewnc.com/stories/val-applewhite-maintains-n-c-senate-district-19-seat/)\n- [18] [Val Applewhite running for NC State Senate District 19 - CityView NC](https://www.cityviewnc.com/stories/nc-state-senate-district-19-val-applewhite/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_019","county":"cumberland","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 19"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Valencia","fullname":"Valencia Applewhite","lastname":"Applewhite","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_019","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 19","county":"cumberland","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_senate_019","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 19","county":"cumberland","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Val Applewhite, Democrat, is the incumbent NC State Senator for District\u202f19 seeking re\u2011election in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"4d0989e181757152"}