North Carolina is one of several states this year that could flip to full Democratic control – paving the way for bolder clean energy legislation under a liberal trifecta in 2027 that could move the state’s transit, housing, and energy off fossil fuels. In order to ensure that, Democrats need to be 100% in agreement on prioritizing climate as part of their legislative agenda for the next caucus – and that’s where this year’s primaries come in. Last year, several Democratic legislators joined Republicans to pass a bill weakening the state’s climate plan by eliminating its 2030 clean energy targets. Two of those Democrats even count  Duke Energy, the state’s utility, as a top donor to their reelection campaigns. We’re backing clean energy leaders in several races to ensure this kind of vote never happens again: 

• Patricia Smith for House District 23: Smith is a lifelong Martin County resident whose built a career giving back to her community as a small business accountant and a local minister. She’s a strong advocate for environmental justice and believes in environmental safety for all. 
• Veleria Levy for House District 99: Levy is the former Executive Director of the North Carolina AIDS Action Network and currently the President & CEO of HerHealth Consulting. She led advocacy efforts that helped expand healthcare access across the region through the 340B drug pricing program which helped generate millions in revenue for community health providers. She’s running on a platform that centers climate justice and understands that clean energy and environmental accountability mean lower utility bills and healthier communities over corporate profit.
• Rev. Rodney Sadler for House District 106: Sadler is a minister who has helped lead peaceful protest against regressive policies from the state’s former Republican legislature. He understand that the state must force Duke Energy and other polluting monopolies from raising rates to pay for energy-draining projects like data centers and crypto mining – and will be a fighter for climate and utility justice in office. 
• Rodney Pierce for House District 27: An incumbent legislator, Pierce has been a steadfast advocate for environmental justice and protecting communities from disproportionate pollution impacts. He’s the primary sponsor of environmental justice legislation designed to ensure that low-income communities and communities of color are not unfairly targeted by polluting industries and has consistently championed clean energy legislation.