Claire Renee Kempner

Claire Renee Kempner is the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives District 9 in the November 3, 2026 general election. She advanced from a decisive primary victory, earning 67.2% of the vote (4,781 votes) against Lenton Brown in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary and will face incumbent Republican Timothy Reeder on the ballot ¹.

Kempner, 46, lives at 1575 Black Jack‑Simpson Road in Pitt County with her husband Greg and their three children. A stay‑at‑home mother, she describes herself as a community advocate and organizer, having served as the secretary of the Pitt County Democratic Party and volunteered on numerous local campaigns and causes, including Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, the Humane Society, United Way, and a maternity home for unhoused women and children ¹⁵¹⁸.

Before entering electoral politics, Kempner’s professional background centered on raising her family, gardening, and supporting her children’s activities. Her public‑service experience is rooted in grassroots organizing: she has acted as a data chair for state and regional gun‑safety initiatives and has been active in Democratic Party operations at the county level ¹⁵¹⁸.

Kempner first ran for the same House seat in 2024, winning the Democratic primary with 70.9% of the vote but losing the general election to Reeder, who captured 55.9% of the vote (26,888 votes) to her 44.1% (21,173 votes) ¹. Undeterred, she returned to the race in 2026, securing the party’s nomination again and adding endorsements from organizations such as Gun Sense Voter, Lillian’s List of North Carolina, Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, and Red Wine and Blue ⁵.

Her campaign platform emphasizes a “people‑first” agenda. Kempner advocates for fair redistricting through an independent bipartisan commission, fully funding public schools and raising teacher salaries to the national average, and protecting reproductive freedom. She calls for policies that lower the cost of living—addressing housing, childcare, and inflation—while supporting workforce training, a higher minimum wage, and paid family leave. Public safety proposals include common‑sense gun safety laws paired with expanded mental‑health and addiction services. Kempner also pledges to safeguard voting rights, maintain transparent elections, and increase legislative pay to broaden representation ¹⁵¹⁷¹⁸.

Kempner’s community‑focused experience and repeated primary successes position her as a challenger seeking to shift District 9 toward Democratic representation in the 2026 cycle.

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