Editorial Board
The rematch between the two candidates for the North Carolina House District 43 will be one of the races to watch in Cumberland County.
Republican Rep. Diane Wheatley will once again face Democratic challenger Janene Ackles for the district seat covering east of the Cape Fear River, the Linden area, and parts of southern, central and eastern Fayetteville.
Wheatley, the incumbent, was first elected in 2020. During her time in office, Wheatley has voted with the Republican majority on controversial measures, including Senate Bill 266. Senate Bill 266 allows Duke Energy to raise electricity rates even higher and shift over $87 million in annual payments from the state’s commercial and industrial customers to residential customers.
Wheatley also sponsored and voted in favor of House Bill 402, which halts environmental regulation and makes it easier for corporations to pollute the state’s water supplies.
Wheatley sided with the wealthy few and corporations once again through her vote for Senate Bill 257, the 2026 state budget. SB 257 includes a measure that schedules cuts to the personal income tax rate, giving the richest North Carolinians a tax cut equal to 1.3 percent of their income, while low-income North Carolinians get a cut equal to just 0.2 percent of their income.
The budget also preserved three tax incentives for data centers and their operations. According to an analysis from NC Budget & Tax Center, the state budget left intact several subsidies for data centers, including one that is expected to cost the state billions of dollars in the coming years.
In HD 43, Cumberland County residents are aware of the harmful impacts of data centers, pushing local leaders to adopt strict regulations on top of a six-month moratorium on data center construction.
Wheatley, who previously expressed support for a moratorium, appears to be at odds with the interests of residents, as she voted along with Republicans to protect tax incentives for data centers.
In addition to data centers, Wheatley has also voted against the interests of her constituents when it comes to education.
Wheatley voted in favor of overriding Governor Josh Stein’s veto of House Bill 10. State Republicans’ HB 10 initially focused on immigration enforcement, but different measures were added, including a bill to expand Republicans’ private school voucher program.
According to an analysis from the Governor’s Office, Cumberland County’s public schools will lose over $17 million in funding due to the bill’s passage, as the money will be diverted to pay for private school tuition and fees.
Wheatley also voted against an amendment that would have established a universal free lunch system for North Carolina schoolchildren and one that would have created a dedicated grant program to fix HVAC systems in public schools.
Unlike Wheatley, Janene Ackles has spent time serving her community over corporate interests. Ackles, who was raised in a family rooted in service, has strong ties to communities across Cumberland County.
Currently, Ackles is the President and Founder of the Cumberland County Community Watch Coalition, where she works to build safer communities. Ackles also serves as a board member of both the Vision Resource Center, supporting visually impaired residents, and the Jai 6 Youth Foundation, advocating for youth empowerment.
According to her campaign website, Ackles is running to expand comprehensive healthcare, invest in transformative education reforms, particularly in rural communities, and build strong rural economic initiatives that create job opportunities.
Early voting has begun and runs until 3 pm on Saturday, October 31st. You can still register or update your voter registration during the early voting period.
Election Day is November 3rd.
