{"biography":"Dane Regis\u202fScalise is a Republican candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District\u202f20, in the 2026 general election on November\u202f3,\u202f2026.  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\u2019s residents in Raleigh\u202f[1].\n\nScalise currently serves as a New\u202fHanover County Commissioner and was elected Vice\u2011Chair of the Board in December\u202f2025 after first being appointed to fill a vacancy in April\u202f2023 and then winning a full four\u2011year term in the 2024 election\u202f[14][20].  He also sits on the UNCW Board of Trustees (2025\u20112029) and holds seats on several local advisory bodies, including the Cape\u202fFear Community College Board of Trustees and the Cape\u202fFear Public Utility Authority\u202f[14][9].\n\nBorn and raised in Morganton, North\u202fCarolina, Scalise graduated from Freedom\u202fHigh\u202fSchool, earned a bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law\u202f[14].  He is a husband and father of two young sons, a small\u2011business owner, licensed attorney, and insurance broker\u202f[14].\n\nBefore entering elected office, Scalise worked as Deputy Commissioner of the North\u202fCarolina Industrial Commission from 2016 to 2020\u202f[16][14].  He has been active in the local business community, serving on the boards of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Downtown\u202fInc., and the New\u202fHanover County Bar Association (where he was past president)\u202f[16][14].  His civic involvement includes volunteer legal work with the Community Legal Project, Habitat for Humanity, Legal Aid of North\u202fCarolina, and other nonprofits\u202f[14].\n\nIn 2023 the New\u202fHanover County Republican Party\u2019s Executive Committee unanimously recommended Scalise to fill the vacant commissioner seat left by the late Deb\u202fHays; the Board of Commissioners appointed him on April\u202f17,\u202f2023\u202f[16][19].  He was subsequently elected to a full term in November\u202f2024, running alongside fellow Republican Bill\u202fRivenbark and defeating Democratic challengers\u202f[2][15].\n\nScalise\u2019s stated priorities as a commissioner focus on affordable housing, homelessness, responsible development, and economic growth.  He cites a $15\u202fmillion five\u2011year county investment and a $19.5\u202fmillion Endowment allocation for affordable housing, emphasizes streamlining services for the homeless, and supports balanced development that protects the county\u2019s character while addressing workforce needs\u202f[18].  He also advocates for infrastructure improvements, clean water expansion, and reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses\u202f[18].\n\nIn November\u202f2025 Scalise filed paperwork with the State Board of Elections indicating his intent to run for the open District\u202f20 seat in the North\u202fCarolina House, a seat being vacated by long\u2011time Rep.\u202fTed\u202fDavis, who announced retirement.  Davis publicly recruited Scalise to run in his place, and Scalise confirmed his candidacy via email, describing himself as a \u201cfighter in Raleigh\u201d ready to address cost\u2011of\u2011living challenges for district residents\u202f[20].\n\nIf 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\u202fFear region and beyond.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Dane Scalise - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Dane_Scalise)\n- [2] [Dane Scalise (New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2024) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Dane_Scalise_(New_Hanover_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2024))\n- [8] [Dane Scalise for NC House (@electdane)](https://www.facebook.com/electdane/)\n- [9] [New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise and ...](https://www.facebook.com/wwaytv3/posts/new-hanover-county-commissioner-dane-scalise-and-city-of-wilmington-councilman-l/1258391496289930/)\n- [14] [Dane Scalise | New Hanover County, NC](https://www.nhcgov.com/2500/Dane-Scalise)\n- [15] [A look at campaign finance reports for New Hanover County commissioner and school board candidates | WHQR](https://www.whqr.org/local/2024-08-02/a-look-at-campaign-finance-reports-for-new-hanover-county-commissioner-and-school-board-candidates)\n- [16] [NHC Republican Party recommends Dane Scalise to fill vacant county commissioner seat](https://www.wect.com/2023/04/14/nhc-republican-party-recommends-dane-scalise-fill-vacant-county-commissioner-seat/)\n- [17] [Sen. Lee, Commissioner Scalise lead fundraising efforts in NHC races ahead of November election | Port City Daily](https://portcitydaily.com/local-news/government/2024/08/01/sen-lee-commissioner-scalise-lead-fundraising-efforts-in-nhc-races-ahead-of-november-election/)\n- [18] [2024 Election candidates questionnaires: NHC Board of Commissioners candidate Dane Scalise | WHQR](https://www.whqr.org/local/2024-10-01/2024-election-candidates-questionnaires-nhc-board-of-commissioners-candidate-dane-scalise)\n- [19] [New Hanover County GOP recommends Dane Scalise to fill Deb Hays' county commission seat | WHQR](https://www.whqr.org/local/2023-04-14/new-hanover-county-gop-recommends-dane-scalise-to-fill-deb-hays-county-commission-seat)\n- [20] [Rep. Ted Davis to retire at end of current term, NHC Commissioner Scalise plans run for the seat](https://www.wect.com/2025/11/17/rep-ted-davis-retire-end-current-term-nhc-commissioner-scalise-plans-run-seat/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_020","county":"brunswick","county_count":3,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 020"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Dane","fullname":"Dane Regis Scalise","lastname":"Scalise","middlename":"Regis","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_020","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 020","county":"brunswick","county_count":3,"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_020","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 020","county":"brunswick","county_count":3,"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":"Dane Scalise, a New\u202fHanover County Commissioner, is the Republican candidate for North\u202fCarolina House District\u202f20 in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"88195a06675e7416"}