Editorial Board
The race to flip North Carolina House District 59 is one to watch, as the district, which covers part of Guilford County, has become more competitive in recent years. The race for the HD 59 seat pits Democratic candidate Dr. Elma Hairston against Republican incumbent Alan Branson.
Branson, who has been in office since 2024, is seeking reelection, while Dr. Hairston, a business owner and nonprofit executive, is the newcomer in the race.
During his time in office, Branson has voted against raising the minimum wage and measures that would have supported crucial public school investments like universal free lunch and fixing HVAC systems.
Branson’s votes also cost Guildford County schools millions of dollars in funding. During the 2024 legislative session, Branson supported House Bill 10, which focused on immigration enforcement and included a measure to expand Republicans’ private school voucher program.
State Republican lawmakers initially introduced private school voucher expansion in a different bill, but eventually folded the measures into House Bill 10.
Branson and his Republican colleagues’ support for expanding private school vouchers diverted crucial money meant to fund public schools into the voucher program. According to an analysis from the Governor’s Office, Guilford County public schools will lose more than $11 million in funding as a result of House Bill 10’s passage.
Branson’s votes have not only hurt families and students, but also working North Carolinians across the state.
Branson voted in favor of Senate Bill 266, which shifted over $87 million in annual payments from the state’s commercial and industrial customers to Duke Energy residential customers and allowed the big corporation to raise electricity rates even higher.
Branson also sponsored House Bill 402, which makes it easier for corporations to pollute the state’s water supplies and weakens environmental protections against air and water pollution.
“Lawmakers who passed this bill did not have the best interests of North Carolinians at heart,” stated Mary Maclean Asbill, the director of the Southern Environmental Law Center, following the bill’s passage. “This new law marks an awful turning point for families and communities across North Carolina when elected officials in the state legislature ignore serious illnesses and deaths in favor of polluters’ profits.”
In the latest legislative session, Branson voted with the Republican majority in failing to fully fund Medicaid. Late last year, state Republicans passed a mini budget that fell $319 million short of the $819 million the NC Department of Health and Human Services had requested to protect the crucial health care program.
While Branson continues to vote in the interests of the NCGOP and corporations, Dr. Hairston is hoping to flip the seat and bring change.
Dr. Hairston, who has a long history of public service, is running to deliver impactful solutions and ensure the voices of hard-working North Carolinians in House District 59 and across our state are prioritized, according to her campaign website.
Her campaign calls for investments in public schools, fair wages, affordable and accessible healthcare, among others.
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.
