N&O endorsements: Our choices for NC Senate races in Wake County

There are six Senate seats on Wake County ballots. In District 16, Sen. Gale Adcock, 68, a Democrat and an outstanding legislator, is uncontested. Here are our choices in the contested districts:

District 13

Democratic Sen. Lisa Grafstein, 58, of Raleigh, is seeking a second term. New maps have moved her district from the northwest portion of the county to the southern end, where Republicans have stronger numbers.

Despite the new political landscape, Grafstein, a civil rights lawyer, is sticking with her top issues: Protecting reproductive rights, supporting public schools and creating more affordable housing. She’s opposed to school vouchers and restrictions tied to the state’s new 12-week limit on abortion. “It’s not about the number of weeks,” she said. “It’s that the state is getting between women and their doctors.”

Grafstein is being challenged by Republican Scott Lassiter, 37, of Cary. Lassiter is an assistant school principal and former town council member in Apex. He is a strong supporter of public schools.

Also running is Libertarian Susan Hogarth.

We recommend Lisa Grafstein

District 14

Republican Angela McCarty, 61, of Wake Forest, isn’t daunted by a challenge. From January to June she teaches aviation and art to high school students in the Arctic Circle. She’s also a former officer with the Danville, Va., Police Department who supports stronger security measures for schools.

But in her first run for public office McCarty is unlikely to prevail. She’s challenging Democratic Sen. Dan Blue, 75, of Raleigh. Blue, an attorney, is the Senate minority leader and a longtime veteran of both the House and Senate. This year his priorities are funding public schools, setting a tax rate that reflects the state’s needs and protecting reproductive rights. Libertarian Sammie Brooks, a supporter of school choice, is also running.

We recommend reelecting Dan Blue.

District 15

Democratic state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, 55, of Raleigh, has served in the state Senate since 2016. Chaudhuri, an attorney and North Carolina’s first Indian-American state legislator, wants to restore reproductive rights, increase funding for public schools and ensure that all citizens have access to the ballot.

Chaudhuri is being challenged by Republican David Bankert, 68, of Raleigh, a retired electrical engineer. His priorities are gaining more funding for mental health care and creating more jobs for young people. Also running is Libertarian Kat McDonald.

We recommend reelecting Jay Chaudhuri

District 17

Democratic state Sen. Sydney Batch, 45, of Holly Springs, is an attorney specializing in family law and child welfare. Her legislative priorities include protecting reproductive rights, fully funding public schools and supporting paid family leave for every working person. Also running is Libertarian Patrick J. Bowersox, 43, of Holly Springs. He is a custodian for Wake County Public Schools.

We recommend reelecting Sydney Batch.

District 18

Democratic state Rep. Terence Everitt, 50, of Wake Forest, is seeking to move up to the state Senate. He supports reproductive rights, more money for public schools and investing more in the state’s infrastructure. He also wants the state budget process to be more transparent.

Everitt is being challenged by Republican Ashlee Adams, 48, of Wake Forest. She is an event producer and venue owner. She supports school choice, but also supports more pay for public school teachers based on positive results. She wants the state to provide more mental health resources, but also wants lower taxes.

Also running is Libertarian Brad Hessel, 71, of Raleigh, a business consultant who brings a refreshing platform to this race. He supports giving independent voters more of a role in government by making it easier for them to run for office and be appointed to boards that are now based on party affiliation. Hessel also wants the legislature to give local governments the ability to conduct elections using the ranked-choice system, which eliminates runoff elections.

We recommend Terence Everitt.