{"biography":"Latisha Monique Grady is the Republican candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District 18 in the 2026 general election, scheduled for November 3, 2026. The race pits her against incumbent Democrat Deb Butler, with the Republican primary having been cancelled and Grady automatically advancing to the general ballot [1].\n\nGrady earned a summa cum laude degree from East Carolina University\u2019s University Studies Program, concentrating in Business Systems, graduating in 2022. She describes herself as \u201ceclectic and light\u2011hearted,\u201d noting that personal caregiving experiences in 2021 shaped her commitment to public service and humility [19].\n\nProfessionally, Grady has built a diverse portfolio in operations, fintech, and compliance. She worked at Ripple, where she built and maintained a centralized document hub for the user\u2011research team, and at Moen, where she authored a standard operating\u2011procedure handbook to streamline HR coordinator processes. She also served as a fraud analyst for Bank of America, educating customers on fraud prevention. After a layoff in 2024, she drove for Lyft while pursuing continuing education in fintech compliance, SQL, and data analytics, and she actively invests in digital assets, staying current on regulatory developments such as the Genius and Clarity Acts [20].\n\nGrady\u2019s campaign finances, as reported by Transparency USA, show modest fundraising: a total of $1,636 in contributions, with the largest donors being Brian Eckel ($1,041.98), the North Carolina Republican Party ($339.51), John Hinnant ($150.00), and Davis Kiyonaga ($104.48) [18].\n\nWhile her official campaign platform details are not yet published, her professional focus on fintech, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency suggests a policy interest in modernizing financial services, enhancing consumer protection, and supporting technology\u2011driven economic growth in her district. Grady\u2019s public speaking experience, including a 2024 commencement address at her alma mater, indicates a willingness to engage constituents directly.\n\nGrady\u2019s candidacy reflects a blend of technical expertise, private\u2011sector experience, and personal resilience, positioning her as a candidate who aims to bring a \u201cSwiss Army knife\u201d approach to legislative work\u2014addressing a wide range of issues with a multifaceted skill set.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Latisha Grady - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Latisha_Grady)\n- [7] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [9] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [12] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [18] [Latisha Grady - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/latisha-grady)\n- [19] [About | Latisha Grady](https://latishagrady.com/about/)\n- [20] [Latisha Grady | Helping Businesses Create and Convey Product Value](https://latishagrady.com/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_018","county":"brunswick","county_count":2,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 018"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Latisha","fullname":"Latisha Monique Grady","lastname":"Grady","middlename":"Monique","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_018","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 018","county":"brunswick","county_count":2,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_house_018","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 018","county":"brunswick","county_count":2,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Latisha Grady is the Republican candidate for North Carolina House District 18 in 2026, with a background in fintech, operations, and a summa cum laude business degree.","terms":[],"token":"7578942fd5f8527f"}