Women have fought too hard and come too far to have their rights stripped away. Women, not politicians, should make decisions about their own healthc… - Val Applewhite

These scholarships are distributed based on household income, ensuring that low- and middle-income families benefit the most. As the program stands today, higher-income households are unlikely to qualify for a voucher, making it a targeted solution for those who need financial support. This gives families who couldn’t otherwise afford private school tuition the ability to make the best choice for their children based on academic needs, safety concerns or other factors.

It’s impossible to pick just one challenge as North Carolina’s biggest issue. Our state faces complex, interconnected problems — public education, healthcare, housing, economic growth, environment, clean water, voting rights, and more. Each issue is critical and our citizens deserve thoughtful solutions to address them all.

However, an underlying issue that is most concerning is the extreme partisanship that’s preventing us from doing the real work North Carolinians deserve. As an Air Force veteran, I’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when people work together toward a common goal. But in the legislature, too often, bills and budgets are crafted behind closed doors, with little input from across the aisle. This undermines democracy by silencing the voices of those we represent. No one party has all of the best ideas; our citizens deserve our best collective efforts.