Oliver Hale

In North Carolina, all eyes are on the gubernatorial race between Republican candidate Mark Robinson and Democratic candidate Josh Stein, but, while this race holds great political importance, it’s also important to highlight races not engulfed by mainstream media, such as the North Carolina Attorney General race between U.S representatives Jeff Jackson (D) and Dan Bishop (R).

This race is especially important as the governor of North Carolina has limited unilateral control over legislation, appointments and budget-related affairs compared to governors in other states. The attorney general (AG), however, holds a great deal of power. As the state’s chief legal advisor, decisions made by the AG play a crucial role in legal affairs involving state agencies, departments, commissions and in other state-associated legal matters. 

The Candidates 

Jeff Jackson (D) represents North Carolina’s 14th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. This district includes parts of Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. In 2014, he became the second youngest North Carolina senator to be elected into office. 

Honesty and decency are at the forefront of Jackson’s campaign as he emphasizes “Principle before Politics.” He’s also focused on issues such as criminal justice reform, public education, economic development and mental health care. Jackson gained popularity with young voters through TikTok videos but quickly faced backlash after voting in favor of a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban of the app.  

Jackson was born in Miami, Fla. but was raised in Chapel Hill, N.C. He attended Emory University where he obtained his B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy. After a one-year tour in Afghanistan for the U.S. Army, Jackson returned to North Carolina where he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Law. 

Jackson shared with the Raleigh News and Observer that, if elected, he would support a two-front approach that targets both the supply and demand of fentanyl.

“That means aggressively pursuing the elements of organized crime that traffic fentanyl into our state by identifying and breaking apart the distribution cells that exist within our state as well as advocating for effective addiction treatment for users,” Jackson said. 

Additionally, he shared that he believes the work of the attorney general is fundamentally nonpartisan. “The job is to be a shield for the public against those who mean them harm,” he said. 

As of mid-September, Jackson raised nearly $764,000 for his campaign. Retired individuals are his primary funding source, providing $118,000 total. Other top industry contributions include lawyers and law firms, health professionals, real estate and education. 

Dan Bishop (R) serves as a U.S. Representative of North Carolina’s 8th district. The district encompasses parts of Anson, Hoke, Mecklenburg, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland and Union counties. 

Bishop prides himself on his conservative views and honesty. In addition to his time in the U.S. House, he has also served in the Mecklenburg County Commission and the N.C. Senate, where he most notably authored House Bill 2 (HB2), a bill that required individuals to use public restrooms corresponding with their sex assigned at birth. While HB2 faced immense backlash, Bishop remains unapologetic about his traditional conservative social ideals. 

Bishop is originally from Charlotte, N.C. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for both his undergraduate and J.D. degrees. 

In an interview with the Raleigh News and Observer, Bishop said that his top priority, if elected, will be “restoring law and order in North Carolina.” 

The Republican nominee has raised $203,000 toward his campaign. His top donors come from Republican and conservative individuals and PACs. This is followed by retirees and individuals in real estate, law and Leadership PACs. 

North Carolina’s attorney general has the power to directly impact policy through legal interpretations, enforcement of state laws and decisions on whether to defend or challenge certain laws in court. The outcome of this election could have significant impacts on North Carolina’s political and legal landscape. 

The last time that North Carolina elected a Republican attorney general was in 1896 — back when the Republican platform would have been viewed as progressive — meaning that if Dan Bishop is elected, it will be the first time in more than 125 years that a Republican will hold the position.

Both candidates have extensive legal and political experience. In a swing state like North Carolina, influential races are often won by a razor-thin margin. According to a September SurveyUSA poll, Jackson is leading in the polls by seven percentage points while 21% of individuals remain undecided. While the race for attorney general may not be the most publicized, it is certain to be one of the most consequential to be decided on the ballot this November. Contact Nick Costantino at [email protected]