Dane Regis Scalise

Dane Regis Scalise is a Republican candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 20, in the 2026 general election on November 3, 2026. The state House is the lower chamber of the General Assembly; members draft, debate, and vote on state legislation, approve the budget, and represent the interests of their district’s residents in Raleigh ¹.

Scalise currently serves as a New Hanover County Commissioner and was elected Vice‑Chair of the Board in December 2025 after first being appointed to fill a vacancy in April 2023 and then winning a full four‑year term in the 2024 election ¹⁴²⁰. He also sits on the UNCW Board of Trustees (2025‑2029) and holds seats on several local advisory bodies, including the Cape Fear Community College Board of Trustees and the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority ¹⁴⁹.

Born and raised in Morganton, North Carolina, Scalise graduated from Freedom High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law ¹⁴. He is a husband and father of two young sons, a small‑business owner, licensed attorney, and insurance broker ¹⁴.

Before entering elected office, Scalise worked as Deputy Commissioner of the North Carolina Industrial Commission from 2016 to 2020 ¹⁶¹⁴. He has been active in the local business community, serving on the boards of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Downtown Inc., and the New Hanover County Bar Association (where he was past president) ¹⁶¹⁴. His civic involvement includes volunteer legal work with the Community Legal Project, Habitat for Humanity, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and other nonprofits ¹⁴.

In 2023 the New Hanover County Republican Party’s Executive Committee unanimously recommended Scalise to fill the vacant commissioner seat left by the late Deb Hays; the Board of Commissioners appointed him on April 17, 2023 ¹⁶¹⁹. He was subsequently elected to a full term in November 2024, running alongside fellow Republican Bill Rivenbark and defeating Democratic challengers ²¹⁵.

Scalise’s stated priorities as a commissioner focus on affordable housing, homelessness, responsible development, and economic growth. He cites a $15 million five‑year county investment and a $19.5 million Endowment allocation for affordable housing, emphasizes streamlining services for the homeless, and supports balanced development that protects the county’s character while addressing workforce needs ¹⁸. He also advocates for infrastructure improvements, clean water expansion, and reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses ¹⁸.

In November 2025 Scalise filed paperwork with the State Board of Elections indicating his intent to run for the open District 20 seat in the North Carolina House, a seat being vacated by long‑time Rep. Ted Davis, who announced retirement. Davis publicly recruited Scalise to run in his place, and Scalise confirmed his candidacy via email, describing himself as a “fighter in Raleigh” ready to address cost‑of‑living challenges for district residents ²⁰.

If elected, Scalise would bring his experience in county governance, business, and law to the state legislature, aiming to influence policy on housing, infrastructure, and economic development for the Cape Fear region and beyond.

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