Graig R. Meyer, candidate for NC Senate District 23
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Candidates for NC Senate District 23
Democrats Jamie DeMent Holcomb and Graig R. Meyer and Republicans Bill Cooke and Landon Woods are running for NC Senate in District 23 in Caswell, Orange and Person counties. The primary winners will compete Nov. 8 to replace Democratic state Sen. Valerie Foushee, who is running for Congress. Get to know the candidates in our 2022 Voter Guide.
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Name: Graig Meyer
Political party: Democrat
Age on election night: 48
Website: www.graigmeyer.com
Occupation: Social worker, educational consultant
Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) 8 years in N.C. House of Representatives
Civic involvement: 16 years working in North Carolina’s public schools. Gov. Cooper’s appointee to the Southern Regional Education Board. Advisory board member of the NC Public School Forum. Advisory board member to Playmakers Repertory Company. Advisory board member to Kidzu Children’s Museum.
School test scores dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. What should North Carolina do to improve student performance?
Schools need to emphasize healing before testing mandates. Kids have to feel loved and secure before they can learn. We need counselors and psychologists who can help them heal. And, we should support extended school days and longer school years for those students who need extra time to catch up.
What do you want to happen in North Carolina if Roe v. Wade is overturned?
We need to ensure that women do not lose further protections in North Carolina, both in our courts and legislature. I have voted against every bill that would restrict access to abortion. I will continue to work to elect pro-choice champions including in our courts.
What should North Carolina do to reduce violent crime?
If we pay people a living wage, keep the costs of living down, and address people’s mental health needs, those three things will keep down crime more than anything else we might do.
Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?
I support full legalization and decriminalization of marijuana in North Carolina. This is key to both criminal justice reform and to increase state tax revenue. I introduced legislation last session that would legalize, decriminalize, regulate and tax marijuana.
What should the state’s minimum wage be? What policies would you support to help struggling North Carolinians?
The state’s minimum wage should be $15 per hour and should automatically increase with the consumer price index.
Should North Carolina expand Medicaid, and how?
Yes, we should expand Medicaid. It would provide more than 600,000 working North Carolinians with health insurance. It would create more than 43,000 jobs. It would bring down the cost of health insurance for everyone who already has insurance by an estimate of 7%.
Is there an area where you disagree with your party? Why?
I argued we should have prioritized opening our schools before the reopening of bars, restaurants and other adult-focused activities. It is because I am such an advocate for everything that school brings kids that I was so anxious for the kids to return to the safety and promise of that environment.
What are your top issues? Pick up to three.
Education, climate change, equity.