What Sheriff Sam Page, GOP challenger to Senate leader Phil Berger, says on issues

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 N.C. Senate District 26 who responded to our questionnaire, in order by the date their responses were received. This district, which includes Rockingham and Guilford counties, is arguably the most important of all 49 General Assembly primaries, because the most powerful senator in North Carolina is being challenged.

The incumbent is Sen. Phil Berger, who is the Senate president pro tempore, a position that is the leader of the Republican caucus. Republicans hold a supermajority in the Senate. Berger’s campaign declined to respond to the questionnaire.

Berger’s Republican primary challenger is Sam Page, who is the sheriff of Rockingham County. Below are Page’s answers.

Sam Page

Age as of March 3, 2026: 69

Political party: Republican

Campaign website: sampage4nc

Current occupation: Sheriff of Rockingham County

Professional experience: U.S. Air Force Security Police; certified officer, State of Florida; certified deputy sheriff, Rockingham County, N.C., certified police officer, Eden Police Department, N.C.; elected sheriff of Rockingham County, N.C., 1998 to present.

Education: 12th grade graduate, Reidsville High School, 1975, N.C. Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate, Police Law Institute, certified state law enforcement instructor, certified school resource officer, numerous hours of law enforcement annual in-service law enforcement training courses. N.C. Sheriff’s Association Sheriff’s Leadership School graduate.

Please list any notable government or civic involvement: National Sheriff’s Association Border Security Committee, United Way of Rockingham County, Help Inc. Family Justice Center, Local Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Rockingham County Teen Court, North Carolina Sheriff’s Association Past-President and executive committee member since 2011.

The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? As a state senator I would support $50,000 a year starting pay for first year teachers, with competitive pay step increases over 30 years service. The master’s (degree) pay needs to be reinstated to help with hiring and retention and for professional development. It is important to maintain qualified teachers in the classroom, but also teachers need to be given support in the state and at the local level as valued employees in the teaching profession.

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? As a senator I would encourage my fellow senators after proper negotiations with the House to push for a balanced budget to be submitted for approval by July 1 of the budget year.

What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? Economic growth in the rural areas of the district is a huge concern by many. It seems that many times once our children grow up they tend to go to other locations around the state or out of state for better paying job opportunities. I’m also concerned about our children receiving a quality education, accessible health care and safe communities for our citizens. I support properly funding these areas of concern listed, and I will also foster policies that support job growth.

North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? If projected revenue targets are met, then I could support a tax reduction, however with no budget being set currently we don’t know our expenses or if the revenue is meeting those expenses.

Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? Since no budget has currently been approved, I would hope that last year’s budget is covering current year expenses, however I have concerns for the 80,000 state employees that depend on this budget funding and also the State Health Plan and this year’s rate increases for state employees that support operations for all state government.

Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? President Trump has recently signed an executive order to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. If approved then this could allow for extensive research and testing, but at this time I do not support medical marijuana until proven scientific research can show where this drug can be beneficial as a prescribed drug.

What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? First, the Senate leadership needs to pass a budget on time. If Medicaid reimbursements are reduced due to projected shortfalls then this could affect local private medical providers and services and staff for those in need. We also need to look at the Medicaid reimbursement rates that are paid out to large medical facilities and how much is that rate above actual cost? That’s a question I would ask as a senator.

This story was originally published February 19, 2026 at 5:10 PM.