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George Papastrat

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George Papastrat
Image of George Papastrat

Democratic Party

Candidate, U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Elections and appointments
Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

American Military University, 2012

Graduate

American Military University, 2016

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Years of service

2005 - 2017

Personal
Birthplace
Sidney, N.Y.
Religion
Christian
Profession
Business owner
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign X

Personal LinkedIn

George Papastrat (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]

Biography

George Papastrat was born in Sidney, New York. Papastrat served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2005 to 2017.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in business administration from American Military University in 2012 and 2016, respectively. Papastrat's career experience includes owning Tideline Marine & Family. Papastrat has been affiliated with VFW, Rotary International, and NMEA.[1][2]

Elections

2026

See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Gregory Murphy, George Papastrat, Christopher Schulte, and Austin Ayers are running in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy (R)
Image of George Papastrat
George Papastrat (D)
Image of Christopher Schulte
Christopher Schulte (D)
Image of Austin Ayers
Austin Ayers (L)

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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2022

See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022

North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022 (May 17 Democratic primary)

North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022 (May 17 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Gregory Murphy defeated Barbara Gaskins in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy (R)
 
66.9
 
166,520
Image of Barbara Gaskins
Barbara Gaskins (D) Candidate Connection
 
33.1
 
82,378

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 248,898
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Barbara Gaskins defeated Joe Swartz in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Barbara Gaskins
Barbara Gaskins Candidate Connection
 
80.8
 
23,051
Image of Joe Swartz
Joe Swartz Candidate Connection
 
19.2
 
5,495

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 28,546
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Gregory Murphy defeated Tony Cowden, Eric Earhart, George Papastrat, and Brian Friend in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy
 
75.7
 
50,123
Image of Tony Cowden
Tony Cowden
 
14.1
 
9,332
Image of Eric Earhart
Eric Earhart Candidate Connection
 
4.9
 
3,274
Image of George Papastrat
George Papastrat Candidate Connection
 
2.7
 
1,789
Image of Brian Friend
Brian Friend Candidate Connection
 
2.6
 
1,698

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 66,216
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

George Papastrat has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to George Papastrat asking him to fill out the survey. If you are George Papastrat, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

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You can ask George Papastrat to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing george@george4congress.com.

Twitter
Email

2022

Candidate Connection

George Papastrat completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Papastrat's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

My name is George J. Papastrat. I come form a family of immigrants, veterans, and public servants. I am a patriot, a disabled veteran, a family business owner, a father, a husband, a friend, and a neighbor. After I was medically retired from more than a decade of honorable, and decorated service I called upon my legislators for assistance. They did not listen to my calling. So, as a veteran, a citizen, a community member I asked around. I decided I could provide a better option than the typical career politician that does not deliver.
  • Inflation impacts me as a small business owner, employer, father, and citizen. Not only do I worry and care about my cost of gas, but for my business, and most importantly how this impacts my employees. I fought in wars to unify and provide solutions through negotiations and dialog. That is what I bring to the table.
  • I want to deliver results. We regardless of political affiliation must table our personal issues and fight united as a team. If we have learned anything from Ukraine, its unity and the power of the people will always prevail.
  • I am levelheaded, wanting to be a public servant to fill a much-needed void in our current political system. I offer real world solutions to issues such as the opioid crisis, inflation, border security, immigration, and public private partnerships with the largest amphibious fighting force in the world, the US Marines.
Forged in the aftermath of the 2021 loss of 13 American servicemembers, after our old team evacuated our linguist from Afghanistan, George Papastrat decided to see what happens. Together we the people of the United States of America will stand tall. I am a father, patriot, disabled veteran, husband, small business owner, and community activist. I believe in my constitutional rights, small business, and community development. I want to bring discussion not argument to the table, just as our founding fathers.

We must support the small business and communities. We must stop inflation, we must protect our borders, maintain a capitalist economy, and have the rights forged in the Constitution of the United States. We do this in 5 Steps

   Stopping the Opioid Crisis -with the use of medical cannabis


   Reduce inflation- Focus on small, family owned business in communities NOT corporations


   Ensure our borders are secure - from Drug & Human Trafficking 


   Support proper Immigration - To bring new bright minds from around the world
Supporting our local Marine Corps Bases - With a community relations and Public Private Partnership program better than anywhere else in the country
My grandfather. He grew up during the great depression. He then served in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns of WWII. He then owned a small business and raised my father. He was my mentor growing up, as a Marine, and as a parent. I miss him very much.
The Looming Tower. It changed my life.
Understanding Humanity.
Because no one is happy with the current situation.
To listen, table UN-needed discussions, and make educated decisions.
That anyone can do anything the want if they work hard and are dedicated. You just have to wait.
I watched the planes crash in NY 9/11/2001. I turned to my mother, I was a senior in High School. I said we are under terrorist attack and I am joining the Marines. She told me no, your going to college. Two years later I enlsited and the rest is history. My chest tells my story.
I started working as a paper boy while in grade school through middle school. I did that job through the summer and winters of upstate NY. I stayed working there until I was old enough to get another part time job at a local business in my hometown, Sidney NY.
The Human Factor - it addresses both good and bad from our government, and how the human mind works.
Capt. America
The Star Spangled Banner
being disabled. Both mentally and physically it takes a toll.
the representative is from the population. As described in our constitution. It is the option for the common man to have influence at the federal level. So the voice can be heard, and our country can advance.
No. Each individual representative should bring new and creative ideas. bureaucracy and career politicians will drain our value system and do not represent the common citizen in congress
building back our image as America. We are a guiding light for the free world. We must set the example.
Homeland Security - to assist in border security and immigration

Small Business - I believe as a small business owner I bring to the table a unique perspective. and small business is the backbone of our country.
Veterans Affairs- I am a disabled Veteran
Intelligence - I am a former Counterintelligence Agent who brings real world relevant experience/understanding of the rules/authorities of intelligence.

Modernization of congress.
n/a
yes. in two years you should be able to show the citizens you are in it for the right reasons and represent the people.
I believe in term limits. The fresh ideas of creative minds is what created America.
No, but senator John Glenn is the example I want to be.
There is not one specific person that stands out. Collectively every person I interact with every day as a small business owner is a citizen who has a unique story. From disabled veterans to local hometown men and women. Each are humans and individually unique and amazing.
I am not good at jokes
Yes, but we must table personal ideas for the betterment of society.
The government is a non profit organization. We must pay off our debt, and move forward. Give back whats left to the people.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Papastrat's campaign website stated the following:

“

The Plan

We must support the small business and communities. We must stop inflation, we must protect our borders, maintain a capitalist economy, and have the rights forged in the Constitution of the United States.

  • Stopping the Opioid Crisis -with the use of medical cannabis. Increasing our free market, allowing another revenue for the agricultural industry, and a tool for medical doctors and their patients
  • Reduce inflation- Focus on small, family owned business in communities NOT corporations. Equally taxing all Americans, with the goal of having a flat tax rate as a option to continue to drive capitalism
  • Ensure our borders are secure - from Drug & Human Trafficking. We must ensure safety and integrity of the United States and Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
  • Support proper Immigration - To bring new bright minds from around the world. Creating a portal for small business to recruit and sponsor work visas across the globe in an effort to promote proper immigration
  • Supporting our local Marine Corps Bases - With a community relations and Public Private Partnership program better than anywhere else in the country. Every enlisted Marine East of the Mississippi comes to our area for Marine Combat Training/School of Infantry. Additionally, recognizing and supporting our other branches of service who work honorably in our district, the Coast Guard, which provides lifesaving actions along our beautiful coast, the Army, Navy, and Airforce, as well as all of the civilian employees of our Department of Defense in #NC03[3]
 ”
—George Papastrat's campaign website (2022)[4]


Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

George Papastrat campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026* U.S. House North Carolina District 3Candidacy Declared general$0 N/A**
Grand total$0 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also

2026 Elections

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External links

Candidate

U.S. House North Carolina District 3
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    		•

    Personal

  • LinkedIn
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 11, 2022
    2. ↑ LinkedIn, "George Papastrat," accessed April 23, 2022
    3. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    4. ↑ georgeforcongress, “Home,” accessed April 23, 2022


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