Democratic organizer challenges Wake lawmaker in primary. See their priorities.
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Primary pits Democrat Collin Fearns against incumbent Abe Jones in Wake County.
- Both prioritize affordability, with housing, health care and tax concerns.
- Fearns backs grocery tax repeal and progressive taxes; Jones opposes more rate cuts.
To help voters learn which candidates are on their ballot and where they stand on important policy issues, The News & Observer is publishing candidate questionnaires in all state and federal races in North Carolina on the March 3, 2026, ballot.
Below are the candidates running for NC House District 38 who responded to our questionnaire in order by the date their responses were received. Some candidates did not provide a photo.
The district in Wake County has a Democratic primary between Collin Fearns and the incumbent, Rep. Abe Jones.
Jones, 73, an attorney and former Superior Court judge and county commissioner, is seeking his fourth term.
Collin Fearns
Age as of March 3, 2026: 28
Political party: Democratic
Campaign website: Collin4nc.com
Current occupation: Operations consultant
Professional experience: Restaurant management and community organizer with years in leadership roles
Education: Sanderson High School
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Wake Young Democrats
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? The most important issue in my district is affordability. As I talk to voters, many things come up, but they almost always find their way back to the cost of living. Property taxes continue to rise, grocery budgets are losing purchasing power, and electric bills are skyrocketing. I want to focus on reforming our tax code, eliminating the sales tax on groceries, and reining in Duke Energy’s rate hikes.
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? Base salary for N.C. teachers should start at $52,000 and reach $70,000 for veteran teachers with decades of experience. This is slightly higher starting pay than the House budget proposals and would make our school systems more competitive with neighboring states. Increasing the veteran teachers’ cap to $70,000 would move us toward the top of the Southeast in educator pay and significantly improve teacher retention.
As of January, North Carolina was the last state not to have passed a new, comprehensive budget. What would you do to help make sure a budget passes? We are the last state in the country to pass a budget because the Republican Senate leader is in a competitive primary. We are not going to properly fund and plan our state government until he defeats his challenger. If elected, I will continually call out bad actors who are more concerned about reelection than governing.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? I support tax code reform. North Carolina’s current flat income tax shifts the highest burden to the lowest-income earners. As a state, we should return to a progressive taxation system, where the percentage of your income tax depends on your income level.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? Like any large organization, it is a mixed bag. For example, the state recently made smart investments in the DMV. However, we are also wasting hundreds of millions on the universal Opportunity Scholarship.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? I support recreational marijuana. Once legal, we should tax it at the same level as liquor. This generates needed revenue for the state’s treasury and would also remove a revenue stream from organized crime in our communities. By regulating the market, we can ensure the product is safe from deadly additives and make it easier to keep it out of the hands of children through strict age verification and packaging requirements.
What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? The high cost of health insurance. When elected, I will work to preserve our Medicaid expansion to ensure we don’t lose the progress we’ve already made. I will also work for the state to streamline the enrollment process and increase outreach while pushing back against new federal administrative hurdles that threaten to disenroll or limit enrollment for eligible North Carolinians.
Abe Jones
Age as of March 3, 2026: 73
Political party: Democratic
Campaign website: https://abejonesfornchouse.com/
Current occupation: Attorney
Professional experience: Attorney, Wake County Superior Court Judge (1995-2012), former Assistant Attorney General
Education: Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from Harvard University; Enloe High School
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Former Wake County Superior Court Judge, former Wake County commissioner, North Carolina State House (2021-present)
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? Affordability is the most important issue. I want to work with my fellow legislators to lower barriers to health care, increase affordable housing, and increase job opportunities for those in my district. This means working on vocational programs, recruiting employers and collaborating with stakeholders at all levels to lower housing costs here in Raleigh.
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? North Carolina should pay its teachers at least the national average. I support a starting salary of at least $50,000 and a salary of $75,000-$85,000 or more for highly experienced teachers, along with structured raises that reward retention and experience.
As of January, North Carolina was the last state not to have passed a new, comprehensive budget. What would you do to help make sure a budget passes? Republican leadership in Raleigh is failing our state. I will continue to push my Republican colleagues to pass a comprehensive budget that supports our teachers and state employees, protects Medicaid expansion and makes our state a better place to live.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? North Carolina is staring down a self-imposed fiscal cliff due to overly aggressive tax cuts by Republican leadership. We are a rapidly growing state with many needs; additionally, local governments are facing new funding crises due to impacts from last year’s federal budget. It would be a disservice to taxpayers to cut rates now, given the current level of uncertainty. However, I will continue to push to lower the costs of housing, medical care and other everyday needs.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? I fear that leadership here in Raleigh has prioritized the wrong items for state spending. I have watched far too much spending on pork barrel projects, personal favors, and more. While I trust our state agencies, I want to see a budget that supports our teachers, first responders, state employees, and local communities. Our duty as a state is to provide fair, efficient and equitable service regardless of income and ZIP code. With the right prioritization, we can meet that charge.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? Medical marijuana should be legal and regulated. Patients with medical conditions should have access to all treatment options.
What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? Cost and the need for additional low-cost providers remain barriers to care in my district. I will continue to work with my colleagues to keep current programs running and support the efforts of local community health organizations.
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 9:59 AM with the headline "Democratic organizer challenges Wake lawmaker in primary. See their priorities.."
