{"biography":"Sophia Chitlik is the incumbent Democratic State Senator for North Carolina\u2019s 22nd Senate district and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election.  North Carolina senators serve two\u2011year terms, must be at least 25 years old, a qualified voter, and have resided in the state for two years and in the district for one year before election\u202f[2].  Senators assume office on January\u202f1 following the election and earn a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per\u2011day per diem\u202f[2].\n\nChitlik earned a Bachelor of Arts from New York University in 2011, graduating magna cum laude with a self\u2011designed major in Political Community Building\u202f[5][7].  She began her political career as a field organizer for Barack Obama\u2019s 2008 presidential campaign, leading general\u2011election operations in Loudoun County, Virginia\u202f[5][13].  After the campaign she served as a young presidential appointee in the Obama administration, working in the U.S. Department of Labor and later in the White House\u202f[5][17].\n\nLeaving federal service, Chitlik moved to Durham, North Carolina in 2017.  She became chief operating officer of The Future Project, an education\u2011focused nonprofit, overseeing an $11\u202fmillion budget and driving rapid growth\u202f[5][17].  She later worked as a strategic\u2011planning consultant, investor, and fractional chief operating officer for a range of community\u2011based organizations, focusing on women\u2011owned businesses, maternal health, and social\u2011impact ventures\u202f[5][7][13].  She co\u2011founded Aya Birth & Community Wellness, a Black\u2011owned birth center, and helped launch Tend, a pregnancy\u2011support company\u202f[5][17].\n\nIn the 2024 election cycle Chitlik defeated three\u2011term incumbent Mike Woodard in the Democratic primary with 57.6\u202f% of the vote and won the general election with 86\u202f% against Libertarian Ray\u202fUbinger\u202f[5][1].  She took office on January\u202f1,\u202f2025\u202f[1][5].  During her first term she served on the Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committee, the Education/Higher Education Committee, and the Senate Judiciary Committee\u202f[1].  She sponsored over 100 bills, including an amendment on childcare that became law in 2025, and was the only freshman Democrat to have legislation signed that year\u202f[7][13].  Her legislative priorities, described as a \u201cPlatform of Care,\u201d focus on expanding public\u2011school access, affordable community\u2011college and apprenticeship programs, child\u2011care, women\u2019s reproductive rights, maternal\u2011health equity, affordable housing, and clean\u2011energy initiatives\u202f[8][14].\n\nChitlik\u2019s constituency work includes personally responding to more than 1,400 constituent emails in her first eleven months and assisting over 100 residents with issues ranging from immigration to TANF delays\u202f[13].  She has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Senate Democratic Caucus and local nonprofits, and has secured $6\u202fmillion in funding for survivors of sexual assault and additional resources for North Carolina Central University and Durham Tech\u202f[13].\n\nShe resides in Durham with her husband, Ben\u202fAbram, an energy\u2011sector executive, and their son\u202f[5][17].  Chitlik is a member of the Jewish\u202fFor\u202fGood network, a recipient of its 2021 Young Leadership Award, and an active participant in her local synagogue\u202f[5][17].  She continues to serve on the boards of several community organizations, including NC Funders for Maternal Health and Narrow Bridge Fund\u202f[1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Sophia Chitlik - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sophia_Chitlik)\n- [2] [North Carolina State Senate District 22 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_State_Senate_District_22)\n- [5] [Sophia Chitlik - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Chitlik)\n- [7] [About - Sophia Chitlik for North Carolina Senate](https://sophiafornc.com/about/)\n- [8] [Sophia Chitlik for North Carolina State Senate](https://sophiafornc.com/)\n- [10] [Sophia for NC State Senate (@SophiaForNC)](https://www.facebook.com/SophiaForNC/)\n- [11] [State Senator Sophia Chitlik | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/29661)\n- [12] [Sophia Chitlik | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/sophia-chitlik)\n- [13] [NC Senate District 22: Sophia Chitlik | 2026 Primary Candidates](https://indyweek.com/news/n-c-senate-district-22-sophia-chitlik-2026/)\n- [14] [Candidate Questionnaire: Sophia Chitlik, NC Senate District 22](https://indyweek.com/news/elections-news/candidate-questionnaire-sophia-chitlik-nc-senate-district-22/)\n- [17] [Sophia Chitlik | NC Senate Democratic Caucus](https://www.ncsenate.org/sophia-chitlik)\n- [19] [North Carolina State Sen. Sophia Chitlik - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/516820/Sophia_Chitlik.html)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_022","county":"durham","county_count":5,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 22"},{"contest":"state_senate_022","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 22"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Sophia","fullname":"Sophia Chitlik","lastname":"Chitlik","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_022","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 22","county":"durham","county_count":5,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"state_senate_022","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 22","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_senate_022","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 22","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Sophia Chitlik, Democratic State Senator for NC District\u202f22, seeks re\u2011election after a first term marked by extensive legislation and community outreach.","terms":[],"token":"cdf1c10209de9272"}