What Democrats in NC House primary say is the biggest issue for District 45

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 45 who responded to our questionnaire, in order by the date their responses were received. Some candidates did not provide a photo.

District 45 is located in Cumberland County and is currently represented by Rep. Frances Jackson, a Democrat who is seeking reelection.

She is challenged in the Democratic primary by Qu’Derrick Covington.

Qu’Derrick Covington

Age as of March 3, 2026: 34

Political party: Democratic

Campaign website: https://quderrickcovington.com/

Current occupation: Community and higher‑education leader; nonprofit executive; youth and civic engagement advocate. I work at the intersection of education, workforce opportunity, and community development —helping deliver resources, expand access, and build partnerships that improve outcomes for families in Cumberland County.

Professional experience: Higher‑education leadership, nonprofit executive roles, youth development programs, community partnerships, and voter engagement through organizing, canvassing, and public advocacy.

Education: Ph.D. (in progress), higher education administration. Howard University M.A., international relations. Florida A&M University B.A., undergraduate studies. Fayetteville State University A.A., Christian studies.

Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Statewide leadership roles securing community funding, youth mentoring initiatives, voter registration and engagement efforts, and collaborations with schools, veterans’ groups and local organizations.

What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? The rising cost of living is the top issue. I will work to raise wages, lower utility costs, strengthen schools, expand workforce training, and support community‑based safety and economic opportunity programs.

The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? Starting salaries should be $50,000-$55,000, rising to $70,000-$80,000 mid‑career and $95,000-$105,000 for veteran teachers, with restored advanced‑degree pay and inflation adjustments.

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? Push for clear deadlines, early bipartisan negotiations, removal of unrelated riders, public transparency, and continuing appropriations so schools and services aren’t harmed by delays.

North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? No. Further cuts would jeopardize schools, health care, and infrastructure and shift the burden to local taxes. We need fair taxation and closed loopholes, not cuts that harm working families.

Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? Not consistently. Delayed budgets, inefficient programs, and corporate subsidies without accountability waste funds. We need audits, accountability, better coordination, and outcome‑based budgeting.

Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? Yes. Patients with serious conditions deserve access to safe, regulated medical cannabis. Legalization should include strict oversight and record relief for low‑level past offenses.

What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? Access and affordability. I’ll expand provider availability, support community clinics and telehealth, improve transportation options, and address mental health and substance‑use gaps.

Frances Jackson

Age as of March 3, 2026: 63

Political party: Democratic

Campaign website: https://francesjackson.com/

Current occupation: Teacher/ adjunct/ legislator

Professional experience: I have experience in public policy and administration with extensive service in local and state government, higher education, community development, transportation and transit planning.

Education: I hold a Ph.D. in public policy and administration (law) from Walden University, an M.A. in political science from Fayetteville State University, and a B.S. in transportation and economics from N.C. A&T State University.

Please list any notable government or civic involvement: I served Cumberland County Government as a thoroughfare planner staffing the planning of Interstate 295 that was completed in November 2025. I served the City of Fayetteville as the Transit Analyst, managing federal and state grants.

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 the rising burden of property taxes on working families, seniors, veterans, and educators. As an educator, I see every day how economic stress shows up in our classrooms. I sponsored House Bill 728 out of concern for my community. I was appointed by House Speaker Destin Hall to serve on the Property Tax Reform Committee. We must ensure that tax relief does not come at the expense of public education.

The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? Starting $50,000 as proposed to $90,000.

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 think it’s important we educate constituents about the reason the budget has been stalled, once we know. We must meet with the conference members and find a solution to the reason the N.C. House and Senate leaders are unable to agree and work towards a resolve.

North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? North Carolina is operating without a finalized state budget. I believe it would be premature to commit to further reductions in the individual income tax rate. A budget is a statement of priorities. Our priorities should be focused on funding public education, public safety, and essential services. I support responsible tax relief for working families, but broad income tax cuts should only be considered once we have a budget in place that protects classrooms, communities, and taxpayers.

Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? Taxpayers expect their dollars to be used efficiently, transparently, and in alignment with clear priorities. Right now, the absence of a finalized state budget makes it difficult to say that North Carolina is operating as efficiently as it should. This situation has caused uncertainty for schools, local governments, state agencies, and missed opportunities for long-term planning.

Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? Yes, I have been contacted by several veterans living in my district who say medical marijuana saved their lives. I support the legalization of medical marijuana when it is tightly regulated, evidence-based, and focused on patients with serious medical conditions. For individuals dealing with chronic pain, cancer, epilepsy, and other debilitating illnesses, medical cannabis can be a legitimate treatment option when prescribed and monitored by a health care professional.

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 access in my district is affordability and availability — too many families are either uninsured, underinsured, or unable to access providers close to home and long waits to be seen by providers. High out-of-pocket costs and medication affordability. As an educator, I see how health care access directly affects student learning, attendance, and family stability. That will be the top of discussion for resolve in our state. I would support returning to Blue Cross Blue Shield.