Erin Pauling Pare

Erin Pauling Paré is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 37, seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election. The North Carolina House is a 120‑member lower chamber whose members serve two‑year terms, must be at least 21 years old, be qualified voters, and have resided in their district for one year prior to election; legislators earn a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per‑day per diem ².

Paré was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Herndon, Virginia ¹⁴. She earned a B.A. in government and international politics (2000) and an M.A. in international commerce and policy (2002) from George Mason University ¹⁴. After college she worked as a senior account executive and later as director of the Regulatory Improvement Council, a public‑policy consultancy focused on regulatory reform ¹⁵. She also owned and operated Play‑It‑Again Sports, a sporting‑goods store in Holly Springs, and founded the Holly Strings Youth Orchestra, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides violin instruction to children in southern Wake County ¹⁵⁶. Paré has been active in her community as president of the Holly Ridge Elementary School PTA, a family‑readiness group leader for the U.S. Army, vice‑chair of the Town of Holly Springs Board of Adjustment, and a member of Triangle Community Church ¹⁶.

In 2020 Paré defeated incumbent Democrat Sydney Batch, winning 50 % of the vote to Batch’s 47 % (34,782‑32,533 votes) and began her first term on January 1, 2021 ¹¹⁶. She was re‑elected in 2022 and again in 2024, and will run for a fourth term in 2026 ¹⁵. During her tenure she has served on several key committees. In the 2023‑2024 session she was appointed to the Alcoholic Beverage Control, Appropriations, House Appropriations on Health and Human Services (Vice Chair), Energy and Public Utilities (Vice Chair), Health (Chair), Regulatory Reform, Rules, Calendar and Operations, and Military and Veterans Affairs committees ¹. Her NC GA biography lists her as Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Vice‑Chair of the Subcommittee on General Government, as well as Vice‑Chair of Energy and Public Utilities, Rules, Calendar and Operations, Health, Transportation, and Homeland Security, Military and Veterans Affairs ⁶³.

Paré’s legislative record includes sponsoring bills on health, veterans’ benefits, and regulatory reform, and she voted to exempt long‑service military retirees from state income tax ⁴. She has been recognized by a range of organizations: the NC Chamber of Commerce named her a “Jobs Champion,” the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association called her a “Defender of Public Safety,” the State Firefighter’s Association a “Firefighter’s Friend,” and the Police Benevolent Association awarded her a “Leadership Excellence Award” ⁶.

Paré lives in Holly Springs with her husband Wayne, a 24‑year Army veteran, and their two children. She continues to operate her small business, lead the youth orchestra, and serve as a military spouse advocate, drawing on her personal experience as the family‑readiness group leader for the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan ⁶. Her campaign website provides contact information and a donation portal for the 2026 race ⁶.

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