North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in North Carolina, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

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Candidates and election results

General election

General election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 78

Neal Jackson defeated Erik Davis in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Neal Jackson (R)	76.6	27,787
		Erik Davis (D)	23.4	8,510

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 36,297
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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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.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Erik Davis (D)

Education is deeply important to me, and currently NC is doing a poor job with funding and retention. I want to work to bring back incentive pay, pay for aides, funding, and compensation for educators across the state. We need highly qualified educators, and incentives and funding will help reduce the brain drain in all fields, including education.

The US has world-renowned medical services, but few people can actually afford it. I will work to expand Medicaid and make medical services more affordable. We already pay for the vast majority of the expansion each year, but we simply send that money out of the state by not accepting expansion. We already pay for the service whether or not we actually accept it. Multiple studies have shown that states recoup the small cost borne by the State by saving money on other services and by increasing the rate of preventative care, which is less costly than treating conditions after the fact.

I am a scientist at heart, and I want to bring that understanding and drive to the House. Being able to admit fault, listen to multiple sides, or research and understand a topic is something rarely seen in today's politics, and I would work to bring my background to bear in every decision I would make in office.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Erik Davis (D)

Education, especially the STEM fields, are the gateway to a better tomorrow. Engaging students in these fields and retaining highly qualified and educated teaching professionals is needed in today's economy, especially at the global scale, and NC currently could do a better job with regard to those topics. I am also quite passionate about environmental science and climate, subjects I studied both during and after college. I want to work to reduce our negative impact on the climate in an affordable and practical manner.

Medical care and Medicaid expansion are some of my top priorities, and I am thus heavily invested in making our current system better. What use is having the best care in the world if most people can't afford it, and why should we keep sending our tax dollars out of the state when we could retain it allow more people to afford care?

I was raised to treat people with respect and not discriminate; therefore, I feel we should treat the LGBTQ+ population the same as we do those not on that spectrum. We should not discriminate and remove the possibility of marriage or employment or adoption simply because a person is or is not attracted to the same sex or gender.

I want to work to expand affordable (key), high-speed internet access throughout the state, and I support the current effort to solve this issue. Today's age is one of internet access and technology, but many places are left without proper access due to companies not finding it "cost-effective."

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Erik Davis (D)

I look up to many people, but educators have to be at or near the top. My dream job, outside being a Representative, is a science communicator, and the likes of Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson are people I would love to follow in the footsteps of. I also look up to teachers and education communicators in general because they give of themselves to make the future a better place via teaching both the youth and society as a whole. I grew up watching Bill Nye, and his show and desire to educate are large reasons why I fell in love with the scientific field.

I also have to give a personal shout-out to Matthew Patrick from the Youtube Channel Game/Film/Food Theory. His work in science communication and theory-crafting that is targeted at topics the youth would find interesting while also creating it in a form that was easily digestible by all levels of understanding is something I look up to. Breaking things down so science and math don't seem so daunting or out of reach while also exploring critical thinking and theorizing is something I try to follow on a daily basis, and engaging the younger population in these fields is something I feel will benefit everyone in both the short and long-term.

His charity work is also part of the reason I am running for this office due to it getting me thinking about how a few people can do great work if they apply themselves to it. I realize many people do the things I have mentioned (Veritasium, Vsauce, et al.), but Mr. Patrick was the one I most identified with throughout my college years.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Erik Davis (D)

Honesty, as much of a trope it is, would be a top value, but also the ability to admit fault. Rarely does a politician admit fault, and that causes deep divisions. In science you have to be able to admit when you are wrong, and I feel that is something that is required when it comes to being a politician fit for office. I also feel politicians should be willing to listen to all constituents. You represent everybody, not just those in your echo chamber. You don't have to agree with the person, but listening to them and hearing their ideas and concerns are intrinsic to the Office.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Erik Davis (D)

I can admit when I am wrong and learn from the experience. I can change my mind when shown evidence. I work to help others over myself, and I feel we should treat all people with respect. I do my best to not discriminate on any topic. I try to do my research before speaking on a topic instead of rehashing talking points. I want to be held accountable for what I say and do instead of trying to push blame off on other people or steal credit.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Erik Davis (D)

Representing the people you serve and working to make tomorrow better than today while following the law and Constitution should be core responsibilities.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Erik Davis (D)

Leaving my office a better place than it was when I started would be legacy enough for me, but knowing I was able to increase the availability of medical services and reduce discrimination based on race or sexual orientation would be good legacies as well.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Erik Davis (D)

I can't pin it down, but I would say the Shannara books would be my, currently, favorite series.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Erik Davis (D)

Slightly embarrassing, but the intro music to a Youtube streamer.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Erik Davis (D)

Aside from student debt and growing up poor and seeing the strain it put on my family to make sure I grew up cared for above all else, being able to admit I am wrong and reducing certain prejudices from my childhood would be my greatest struggles. Being able to stand up and say, for example, "yeah, I was somewhat of a bigot against the LGBTQ+ community when I was a child and young teen" was difficult to do, but it was something I had to come to terms with, make amends for, and move on to stand against as I grew up. There were certain aspects of science I stood against as a teen that I struggled to admit were wrong as I grew up, but that is part of the reason I learned humility, something I feel is required of a politician. I feel it is also part of the reason I feel we can all grow, all learn, and all move to a better tomorrow.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Erik Davis (D)

I believe that previous experience is a plus, but I also feel that a background in science and demographics should be valued just as much. Far too many politicians don't understand the topics they speak on, namely in the realm of science. This leads to miscommunications between actual science and what people hear from their Representatives, causing people to distrust both sides and setting us back in economic, social, and scientific progress.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Erik Davis (D)

I favor a non-partisan community. Redistricting should not be done to favor one side or the other just because that side is doing the redistricting. We are supposed to be a Representative Democracy where every vote counts. Redistricting to suit a specific political party at the expense of the rest of the population should simply not be done if for no other reason than it goes directly against the entire point of Representative Democracy.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Erik Davis (D)

I would be open to running for other State and/or Federal offices in the future whether or not I am elected to the current seat.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Erik Davis (D)

I hear stories all the time from people I know concerning medical care and education. Teachers shouldn't be forced to work hours after school due to lack of aides and funding. Students shouldn't suffer due to lack materials or access to technology and internet access. teachers shouldn't be punished for going out of their way to get advanced degrees in NC by not getting advanced pay. People shouldn't have to worry about going homeless because of simple medical procedures and medication. We have a system of technical access without true accessibility. Yes, people can theoretically get good medical care, but the cost is too high for most people. People shouldn't have to go without eating so they can afford their medication, especially when systems such as Medicaid expansion could help them.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Erik Davis (D)

I believe that compromise is something we should all seek. We are a nation of multiple peoples and multiple ideas, and cooperation and compromise are bedrocks of a functioning society. I try to hear people out even if I disagree with them, and I would work to bring our nation together instead of foster this "us versus them" narrative that is seen so often in modern politics.

See also

More about these elections:

• North Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2022

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