Christine C Kushner

Current office and 2026 campaign

Christine Kushner is a Democratic candidate for one of two at-large seats on the Wake County Board of Commissioners. She advanced from a seven-candidate March 3, 2026 Democratic primary, winning one of the two Democratic nominations alongside Mona Singh, and faces Republicans Kyle Stogoski and Gary Hartong in the November 3, 2026 general election ¹⁴.

Background and education

Kushner is 62 years old ². In an Indy Week candidate questionnaire, she describes her education as a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science, as a Morehead Scholar, from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University; she also says she is a William C. Friday Fellow for Human Relations through the Wildacres Leadership Initiative ².

Career

Kushner was first elected to the Wake County Board of Education in 2011 and served 11 years, through three re-elections, including terms as board Chair and Vice Chair ¹²³. She has since served four years on the Wake County Health and Human Services Board ¹². She says she was appointed by then-Governor Roy Cooper in 2023 to represent North Carolina on the Southern Regional Education Board ²³. Indy Week describes her earlier career as a health care policy analyst and nonprofit administrator ¹; her campaign lists her current occupation as a self-employed policy analyst and writer ².

Office history

Wake County Board of Education, 2011-2022 (three re-elections; served terms as Chair and Vice Chair) ¹²³.

Legislative record and accomplishments

On her campaign site and in her Indy Week questionnaire, Kushner says she will draw on her school-board experience to advocate for public education -- particularly students' behavioral and mental health needs -- pursue expanded property-tax relief for residents on fixed incomes, and work with municipal and nonprofit leaders on affordable housing and homelessness ²³.

Sources