Democrats running to flip House seat in Guilford want taxpayer money redirected
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 59 who responded to our questionnaire in order by the date their responses were received. Some candidates did not provide a photo.
District 59 is located in Guilford County and is currently represented by Rep. Jerry “Alan” Branson, a Republican who is seeking reelection.
Branson does not face any Republican challengers, but there is a Democratic primary for the seat between C. Bradley Hunt II and Elma Hairston.
C. Bradley Hunt II
Age as of March 3, 2026: 39
Political party: Democratic
Campaign website: huntnchouse.com
Current occupation: Senior Pastor; behavior intervention support specialist working with students and families in public schools
Professional experience: Senior Pastor and community leader; former President of the Greensboro NAACP; Executive Director of Guilford County Community PAC; Regional Organizing Director for the NC Coordinated Campaign; organizer with Down Home NC; and behavior intervention support specialist in public schools.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in political science, N.C. A&T State University; Master of Divinity, Wake Forest University School of Divinity.
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Former member, Guilford County Jury Commission.
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? The most important issue in the district is the rising cost of living. Too many working families cannot afford housing, food, child care, and health care even while working full-time. I support policies that advance a living wage, protect workers, expand affordable housing, and ensure wages keep pace with real costs, so families can meet basic needs and build stability.
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? If we funded public education the way we should, teacher pay would not be a problem. I support a starting salary of at least $55,000–$60,000, with a transparent salary schedule that grows with experience and credentials and includes regular cost-of-living adjustments. Veteran educators with 30+ years should be earning $90,000 or more, excluding local supplements, so teachers can build a career without falling behind economically.
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? North Carolina’s budget delays are tied in part to a regressive tax structure that continues to give breaks to wealthy households and corporations while shifting the burden onto working families and limiting revenue for schools and services. I would push for fair tax policy, close loopholes, and prioritize a budget that invests in education, health care and workers so families are not left paying the price for political delays.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? Only if it doesn’t weaken our ability to fund core services. Any reduction should be tied to demonstrated revenue strength, protected funding for schools and health care, and a tax code that doesn’t shift the burden onto working families.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? Not consistently. While there are areas where state government operates efficiently, too much taxpayer money is lost to misplaced priorities, underfunded oversight, and tax policies that reduce revenue without delivering broad public benefit. When we fail to fully fund schools, infrastructure, and workforce needs while continuing costly tax breaks, taxpayers don’t get the return they deserve. Efficiency should be measured by outcomes for working families, not just reduced spending.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? Yes. I support legalizing medical marijuana with strong safeguards. Patients should have access to physician-guided treatment options for serious and chronic conditions, and the state should regulate production and distribution to ensure safety, prevent abuse, and reduce reliance on more dangerous substances. A carefully regulated medical program can improve patient care while maintaining public health and safety.
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 is the biggest barrier to health care access. Too many families are uninsured or underinsured, face high deductibles, or cannot afford prescriptions and preventive care. I would support expanding access through Medicaid, lowering out-of-pocket costs, investing in community health clinics, and strengthening the health care workforce, so people can get timely, affordable care close to home.
Elma Hairston
Political party: Democratic
Campaign website: elmahairstonfornc.com
Current occupation: Business owner, author, motivational speaker
Professional experience: Professional sales and marketing executive
Education: B.S., business management; M.A., integrated marketing communication; honorary doctorate, public service (primary and secondary education Guilford County Schools)
Please list any notable government or civic involvement.: NAACP, GuilfordWorks board, Deep River RiverKeeper board, Southwest Renewal Foundation board, Friends of John Coltrane board, League of Women Voters of the Piedmont, High Point Police Department Community Advisory Committee, Guilford County Citizens Academy; former board, High Point Schools Partnership and YWCA High Point, Guilford County Health and Human Services Citizens Committee, Biden’s Build Back Better Guilford County Steering Committee; Power 100 list, Black Ink Magazine
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? (1) Affordable, accessible health care. We expand and fund Medicaid, while advocating for Affordable Care Act subsidy policies to protect affordability. We continue supporting federally facilitated marketplace participation. (2) Strong public education using Leandro as a comprehensive means to fund public education. (3) Fiscal policy, supporting strategy-based budgeting that balances responsible revenue thresholds while fully meeting the needs of North Carolinians (without tax increases).
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? $65,000-$90,000/year
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? I would propose a comprehensive budget strategy that balances revenue thresholds while fully meeting the needs of North Carolinians (without tax increases).
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? We should freeze the individual tax rate at 3.99% and freeze the corporate tax to the current 2.25% as we address the state’s revenue picture, population growth, and inflation.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? According to the Office of State Budget and Management, North Carolina has been a good steward over taxpayer dollars. However, North Carolina does not compare favorably with other states in health care and education spending. North Carolina needs improvement in education and health care spending.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? Legalizing medical marijuana advances evidence-based medicine and reduces reliance on highly addictive painkillers and therefore offers an option for treating pain.
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 biggest barrier to health care is access to affordable health care. By expanding the ACA subsidies nationally it will have a net positive impact on health care costs statewide. Now we must move forward to fully fund Medicaid expansion. This issue does not stand alone. Income inequality, adequate housing, transportation, public health infrastructure and hospital closure are all connected to this issue.
This story was originally published February 19, 2026 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Democrats running to flip House seat in Guilford want taxpayer money redirected."