Justin Bunting
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Justin Bunting (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina's 8th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Bunting completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Justin Bunting was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He earned a high school diploma from Smokey Valley High School. His career experience includes working as an author.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Mark Harris (R) | |
Justin Bunting (D)  | ||
| Kevin Clark (D) | ||
 | Justin Dues (D) | |
 | Jesse Oppenheim (D) | |
| Colby Watson (D) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Justin Bunting completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bunting's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- 1. Gun Reform & Public Safety "Fighting for common-sense gun reform to protect our communities and schools. I will work tirelessly to ban machine guns, strengthen background checks, and ensure our children grow up in a safer America."
- 2. Affordable Housing for All "Lowering housing costs and tackling the affordable housing crisis head-on. Every family deserves access to safe, secure, and affordable homes without breaking their wallets."
- 3. Protecting Democracy & Equal Rights "Championing democracy and standing up for everyone’s rights. From supporting disability rights to fighting for gender equity and protecting women’s health decisions, I will always prioritize fairness and justice for all."
Advocating for common-sense gun reform.
Supporting legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Addressing gun violence prevention in schools and communities.
- Affordable Housing:
Fighting to lower housing costs.
Promoting fair housing policies.
Supporting initiatives to combat homelessness.
- Veterans’ Affairs:
Ensuring comprehensive healthcare for veterans.
2. Accountability: Being responsible for decisions, actions, and policies, and ensuring the public is informed about government activities.
3. Empathy: Understanding and addressing the diverse needs and concerns of constituents while showing genuine care for their well-being.
4. Leadership: Demonstrating the ability to inspire, guide, and unite people toward achieving common goals.
5. Commitment to Equity: Advocating for fairness and equality across all communities, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.
6. Work Ethic: Consistently showing dedication, effort, and persistence in serving the community and tackling challenges.
7. Problem-Solving Skills: Approaching complex issues with a practical and solutions-oriented mindset, focusing on what works best for constituents.
8. Collaboration: Working across party lines and with diverse groups to create policies that benefit everyone.
9. Vision: Having a clear and forward-thinking plan for improving the lives of the community and the nation.
Integrity is fundamental to ensuring trust and transparency in office. I believe in making decisions based on principles and what’s best for the people, not on personal gain or party politics.
A strong work ethic drives my dedication to hard work, research, and thoughtful decision-making. I understand that representing people means long hours, thorough analysis, and constantly staying engaged with both the challenges and opportunities that come with public service.
Empathy allows me to understand the concerns and needs of diverse communities. I listen to people, respect their views, and work toward solutions that reflect the values and priorities of those I serve, regardless of political affiliation.
Lastly, my commitment to public service means that I am focused on delivering positive change. I am passionate about advocating for policies that will improve the lives of my constituents, from healthcare to economic justice, and I am driven by a desire to make a real difference in the world.
Serve as the voice of constituents by listening to their concerns and advocating for their needs in Congress.
Maintain open communication through town halls, surveys, and regular updates.
2. Legislating Thoughtfully:
Propose and vote on legislation that reflects the district’s values and priorities.
Work across party lines to pass meaningful reforms that benefit everyone.
3. Ensuring Accountability:
Oversee government agencies to ensure ethical and efficient operations.
Fight corruption and misuse of power to protect democracy.
4. Securing Resources:
Advocate for federal funding to improve infrastructure, education, and job creation.
Collaborate with local and state officials to address pressing issues.
5. Protecting Rights and Freedoms:
Defend the rights of all citizens and promote justice and equality.
Champion policies that strengthen democracy and voting rights.
6. Promoting Economic Growth:
Support policies that create jobs, lower taxes for working families, and reduce the cost of living.
Back small businesses and entrepreneurs to help them thrive.
7. Leading with Integrity:
Always prioritize the needs of the people over personal or political gain.
I aim to leave a legacy of political transparency and accountability, where government works for the people and operates with integrity. I want to ensure that future generations can trust their leaders to uphold democratic principles, protect voting rights, and fight against any attempts to undermine the democratic process.
Another key aspect of my legacy would be empowering citizens—encouraging active participation in the democratic process, promoting civic education, and ensuring that all Americans have the resources they need to engage in meaningful ways with their government.
New representatives without political experience may be more willing to challenge outdated systems, stand up to special interests, and prioritize the needs of their constituents over party loyalty. They can offer a clearer, more direct connection to the concerns of everyday people, untainted by the complexities of political careerism.
1. Economic Inequality: The gap between the wealthy and others continues to widen. Tackling poverty, ensuring fair wages, and expanding economic opportunities are vital for creating a more equitable society.
2. Healthcare: Affordable healthcare is a pressing concern, with rising costs and disparities in access. Expanding coverage, improving care efficiency, and addressing mental health needs are top priorities.
3. Climate Change: Extreme weather, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation threaten public health and infrastructure. Investing in renewable energy, climate resilience, and sustainable practices is crucial.
4. Political Polarization: Deepening divisions make it harder to find common ground. Restoring trust in democratic institutions, fostering bipartisanship, and combating misinformation are necessary to move forward as a unified nation.
5. Technological Disruption: The rise of AI, automation, and other technologies will displace jobs and raise ethical issues. We must prepare the workforce, ensure responsible tech development, and protect civil liberties.
6. Immigration Reform: Comprehensive reform is needed to address border security, provide pathways to citizenship, and support immigrant communities with humane policies that reflect our values.
7. Global Relations: As global dynamics shift, we must navigate competition with China and Russia while advancing peace, democracy, and human rights.
A longer term length would allow representatives to focus more on their responsibilities and create more continuity in policy-making. It would reduce the influence of short-term political pressures and provide time for thoughtful legislation and long-term planning.
Term limits promote accountability by preventing individuals from becoming entrenched in power and help reduce the influence of special interests over long-serving politicians. They encourage new leaders to step forward, bringing fresh ideas and energy to address the evolving needs of our communities.
First, investigations should be conducted with a focus on uncovering the truth, rather than serving partisan interests. They should prioritize issues that have significant implications for the public, such as corruption, abuse of power, threats to national security, and violations of civil rights. Transparent hearings, with clear and accessible communication, will ensure the public stays informed and engaged.
Second, investigations should lead to actionable reforms and solutions. It’s not enough to merely expose wrongdoing or inefficiencies; the investigative process must result in legislative or regulatory changes that prevent future issues and improve systems.
Lastly, oversight should be a continual process. The U.S. House should use its investigative powers not just in times of crisis, but as a regular tool to ensure that government operates effectively, ethically, and with the best interests of the people in mind.
To promote financial transparency, I support:
1. Open Budgets: Clear and accessible reporting on government spending at all levels to ensure transparency.
2. Audits and Oversight: Independent reviews of federal programs and agencies to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
3. Accessible Information: Simplifying government reports and making them easily available to the public.
- For government accountability, I advocate for:
1. Ethics Reforms: Stricter measures to prevent conflicts of interest among elected officials and government employees.
2. Whistleblower Protections: Safeguards for those who expose corruption or unethical practices.
3. Performance Metrics: Holding government programs accountable for achieving measurable results.
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 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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 2, 2025
