2022 Candidate Endorsements

NASW Code of Ethics Standard 6.04 Social and Political Action

(a) Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully. Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice.

The NASW-NC PACE Committee was thrilled to endorse the list of candidates below for North Carolina statewide races. NASW-NC does not endorse Congressional races. Members of NASW can find NASW endorsements of U.S. Congressional races here. While there are many great candidates running for office in North Carolina this year, NASW-NC did not have the capacity to endorse for all races.

Several key factors that went into the final endorsement list: how competitive the races were in particular districts, ethnic and gender diversity of the candidates and votes taken on issues of importance to the social work profession of the candidates that are incumbents in the years they have served. Candidates do not have to agree on all NASW-NC legislative priority items. 

NASW-NC PACE is a nonpartisan committee and party affiliations do not play a factor into endorsements.

A website for each candidate is provided so members can learn more about a particular candidate. * Notes an incumbent. 

If you have questions about endorsements, please contact naswncintern@gmail.com to get connected to the PACE Committee.

*Unofficial results as of November 21, 2022

NC-PACE saw 13 endorsed candidates out of 22 endorsed candidates total won their races.

NC House Members Endorsed

• Brian Farkas, House District 9 - https://brianfarkas.com/*incumbent
  

  LOST: Brian Farkas held 49.41% (14,858) of the vote, while opponent Tim Reeder held 50.59% (15,212). A difference of 354 votes.

• Chris Schulte, House District 15 - https://www.chrisschulte.org/
  

  LOST: Chris Schulte held 31.81% (6,729) of the vote, while opponent Phillip Shepard held 68.19% (14,426). A difference of 7,697.

• Eric Terashima, House District 17 - https://terashimafornc.com/
  LOST: Eric Terashima held 37.60% (16,752) of the vote, while opponent Frank Iler held 62.40% (27,797). A difference of 11,045.

• Julie von Haefen, House District 36 - www.juliefornc.com *incumbent
  WON: Julie von Haefen held 55.75% (21,406) of the vote, while opponents John Harris held 14.78% (16,043), and Kyle Ward held 2.47% (948). A difference of 4,415.

• James Roberson, House District 39 - https://robersonforhouse.com/ *incumbent
  WON: James Roberson held 59.96% (18,200) of the vote, while opponent Greg Jones held 40.04% (12,155). A difference of 6,045.

• Joe John, House District 40 - https://www.joejohnnchouse.com/ *incumbent
  WON: Joe John held 54.55% (24,071) of the vote, while opponents Marilyn Avila held 43.01% (18,977), and Michael Nelson held 2.44% (1,077). A difference of 4,017.

• Cynthia Ball, House District 49 - https://www.cynthiafornc.com/ *incumbent
  

  WON: Cynthia Ball held 67.54% (21,946) of the vote, while opponents David Robertson held 29.64% (9,630), and Michael Oakes held 2.82% (915). A difference of 11,401.

• Kanika Brown, House District 71 - https://www.kanikabrown.com/
  WON: Kanika Brown ran unopposed, and held 100% (17,860) of the vote.

• Ben Massey, House District 93 - https://www.benmasseyjr.com/
  LOST: Ben Massey held 41.07% (14,910) of the vote, while opponent Ray Pickett held 58.93% (21,396). A difference of 6,486.

• Christy Clark, House District 98 - www.christyclarknc.com
  LOST: Christy Clark held 48.77% (17,064) of the vote, while opponent John Bradford III held 51.23% (17,925). A difference of 861.

• Lindsey Prather, House District 115 - https://www.pratherfornc.com/
  WON: Lindsey Prather held 57.36% (20,719) of the vote, while opponent Pratik Bhakta held 42.64% (15,400). A difference of  5,319.

• Caleb Rudow, House District 116 - https://www.rudowfornchouse.com/ 
  *Former incumbent HD-114.
  

  WON: Caleb Rudow held 62.22% (24,884) of the vote, while opponent Mollie Rose held 37.78% (15,108). A difference of 9,776.

  
  

NC Senate Members Endorsed

• Lisa Grafstein, Senate District 13 - https://lisagrafstein.com/
  WON: Lisa Grafstein held 62.12% (49,883) of the vote, while opponents David Bankert held 34.53% (27,729), and Michael Munger held 3.35% (2,692). A difference of 19,462.

• Social Worker, Sydney Batch, Senate District 17-https://sydneybatch.com *incumbent
  WON: Sydney Batch held 51.55% (44,305) of the vote, while opponents Mark Cavaliero held 46.27% (39,772), and Patrick Bowersox held 2.18% (1,876). A difference of 2,657.

• Natalie Murdock, Senate District 20 - https://natalie-murdock.com/ *incumbent
  WON: Natalie Murdock held 72.65% (63,520) of the vote, while opponent Alvin Reed held 27.35% (23,910). A difference of 39,610.

• Social Worker, Graig Meyer, Senate District 23  -https://www.graigmeyer.com/
  WON: Current NC House Representative Graig Meyer held 67.09% (59,162) of the vote, while opponent Landon Woods held 32.91% (29,022). A difference of 30,140.

• Social Worker, Keshia Sandidge, Senate District 34 - https://www.keshia4senate34.com/
  LOST: Keshia Sandidge held 42.73% (30,278) of the vote, while opponent Paul Newton held 57.27% (40,579). A difference of 10,301.

• Natasha Marcus, Senate District 41- https://natashamarcus.com/ *incumbent
  

  WON: Natasha Marcus held 66.38% (45,696) of the vote, while opponent Bonni Leone held 33.62% (23,145). A difference of 22,551.

• Julie Mayfield, Senate District 49 - https://mayfieldforncsenate.com/

  *incumbent 
  WON: Julie Mayfield held 65.53% (55,630) of the vote, while opponent John Anderson held 34.47% (29,260). A difference of 26,370.

  
  

NC Judges

• Judge Lucy Inman, NC Supreme Court, Seat 3 - https://www.lucyinmanforjustice.com/
  LOST: Judge Lucy Inman held 47.41% (1,758,273) of the vote, while opponent Judge Richard Dietz held 52.59% (1,950,323). A difference of 192,050.

• Justice Sam J. Ervin, IV, NC Supreme Court, Seat 5 - https://www.ervinforjustice.org/
  LOST: Justice Sam Ervin, IV held 47.61% (1,764,509) of the vote, while opponent Trey Allen held 52.39% (1,941,991). A difference of 177,482.

• Judge Gale Adams, NC Court of Appeals Seat 10 - https://judgegaleadams.com/
  LOST: Judge Gale Adams held 47.05% (1,734,513) of the vote, while opponent Judge John Tyson held 52.95% (1,951,890). A difference of 217,377.