{"biography":"Maria Louisa Saulog Cervania is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 41 and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election\u202f[1][9]. The North Carolina House is the lower chamber of the state legislature; members draft, debate, and vote on state laws, approve the state budget, and serve on committees that oversee specific policy areas, representing the interests of their constituents while adhering to the state constitution and legislative rules\u202f[2].\n\nCervania was born in Oakland, California, and grew up in Sunnyvale, California, after her family moved there during her father\u2019s military service\u202f[17]. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Biology and Physical Education from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago\u202f[17][9]. Her professional background is rooted in public health and data analysis; she has worked as a biostatistician, epidemiologist, and consultant for agencies such as the Maternal & Child Health Bureau, Adult and Child Protective Services, and the University of Illinois at Chicago\u2019s School of Public Health\u202f[1][4].\n\nBefore entering state politics, Cervania served on the Wake County Board of Commissioners from December\u202f2020 to December\u202f2022, becoming the first Asian American/Pacific Islander elected to that board\u202f[9][17]. In 2022 she won election to the North Carolina House, defeating Republican Bruce K.\u202fForster with 63.9% of the vote\u202f[9][1]. During the 2023\u20112024 legislative session she was appointed to the Appropriations Committee, the Appropriations \u2013 Health and Human Services Committee, the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, the Health Committee, and the Oversight and Reform Committee\u202f[1][9].\n\nIn the House, Cervania has focused on legislation that expands access to affordable health care, strengthens public education, and protects the environment\u2014issues highlighted on her campaign website\u202f[10][13]. She has sponsored bills related to health\u2011care delivery, early\u2011intervention services, and data\u2011driven policy reforms, reflecting her expertise as an epidemiologist and biostatistician\u202f[1][18]. Her committee work on Appropriations and Health positions her to influence budgetary decisions affecting health\u2011service funding and public\u2011utility regulation.\n\nCervania\u2019s 2026 campaign is unopposed in the Democratic primary, which was canceled, and she will face Republican challenger Bruce Forster again in the general election\u202f[1]. Her stated priorities for the upcoming term include expanding behavioral\u2011health and substance\u2011use treatment, fully funding public schools, advancing clean\u2011water and clean\u2011air initiatives, and promoting balanced growth and affordable housing for North Carolinians\u202f[10][13].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Maria Cervania - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Cervania)\n- [4] [Representative Maria Cervania - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/798)\n- [9] [Maria Cervania - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Cervania)\n- [10] [Maria Cervania - NC House District 41](https://mariafornc.com/)\n- [13] [Maria Cervania | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/maria-cervania)\n- [14] [North Carolina State Rep. Maria Cervania - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/442609/Maria_Louisa_Saulog_Cervania.html)\n- [15] [Maria Cervania - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/maria-cervania/)\n- [17] [Maria Cervania- House District 41](https://nchousedems.com/our-members/maria-cervania-house-district-41/)\n- [18] [State Representative Maria Cervania | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/28119)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_041","county":"wake","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 041"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Maria Louisa","fullname":"Maria Louisa Saulog Cervania","lastname":"Cervania","middlename":"Saulog","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_041","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 041","county":"wake","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_house_041","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 041","county":"wake","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Maria Cervania, a Democratic NC House member for District\u202f41, is running for re\u2011election in 2026, emphasizing health\u2011care, education, and environmental policies.","terms":[],"token":"e8f185b5cce1dff9"}