Who's running in North Carolina's 2nd congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Deborah Ross currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Abortion rights; she is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
LGBTQ equality; she is endorsed by Equality North Carolina.
Environmental protection; she is endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters.
Civil liberties, drawing on her years running the ACLU of North Carolina.
Israel's security while opposing what she called a partisan aid package that conditioned assistance and left out humanitarian aid for Gaza.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 2nd District since January 2021; re-elected in 2024 with 66.3%.
North Carolina state representative for twelve years; former state director of the American Civil Liberties Union; Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2016.
Received more than $100,000 from AIPAC and allied donors in past cycles, and pledged during the August 2025 recess not to accept AIPAC money in 2026.
Both party primaries in this district were cancelled in 2026 because only one candidate filed in each.
Arguments in favor
Abortion rights, LGBTQ, environmental and women's organisations have endorsed her re-election.
— Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Equality North Carolina, the League of Conservation Voters, the National Organization for Women PAC and the National Women's Political Caucus
Jewish community and Black business organisations have also endorsed her, a breadth her campaign presents as reflecting a district she has carried with more than 60% three times.
— Jewish Democratic Council of America and the Black Economic Alliance PAC
Arguments against
Pro-Palestinian constituents pressed her at town halls over her support for unconditional military aid to Israel and over the AIPAC money she had taken, and an anti-AIPAC group said she had received more than $223,000 from pro-Israel donors. She responded in August 2025 by pledging to take no AIPAC money in 2026.
— Track AIPAC and pro-Palestinian constituents at her town halls, reported by The Intercept and INDY Week
What we couldn’t verify
The dollar figures cited by her critics are their own tallies and were not independently verified here; her office's account is that she opposed the Republican aid package that conditioned assistance to Israel.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Ross for the 2026 cycle could be found, and no criticism of her from Eugene Douglass's campaign was located.
Her 2026 fundraising was not established from sources read.
Advanced from the Republican primary for the 2nd District without appearing on a ballot; the primary was cancelled because he was the only candidate who filed.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
Douglass's biography and policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile covering him was located. The standsFor list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Douglass by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Deborah Ross's campaign, and against News & Observer, CBS 17 and WRAL coverage.
His fundraising was not established from sources read; the district has been safely Democratic.
Libertarian candidate for North Carolina's 2nd District in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
Laszacs's biography and policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile covering him was located. The standsFor list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Laszacs by name could be found, and no published case for him beyond the ballot listing.
His fundraising was not established from sources read.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
North Carolina held its primary on March 3, 2026, but both party primaries here were cancelled because only one candidate filed in each. Democratic incumbent Deborah Ross, Republican Eugene Douglass and Libertarian Matthew Laszacs are on the November ballot; a write-in candidate, Brian McGinnis, has also registered but will not be printed on the ballot. The district covers central Wake County, including Raleigh, and Ross has carried it with more than 60% in each of her three elections. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and CBS 17 reporting. Criticism of Douglass and Laszacs by name could not be found, so their entries carry no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A North Carolina ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at North Carolina State Board of Elections.