Source: Editorial Board
Beth Helfrich spent almost twenty years as a teacher and school administrator. Now the mother of five is running to represent House District 98 in the General Assembly.
HD 98, which sits just north of Charlotte, includes parts of Davidson and Cornelius. Helfrich has deep roots in the area, as a third-generation Davidson resident and a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School and Davidson College.
Helfrich left teaching in 2020 to work at a local bookstore and start her own writing company. Her husband Tim co-founded the local coffee shop Summit Coffee, which now has multiple locations in Mecklenburg County.
Helfrich, who won the Democratic primary in HD 98 with over 60 percent of the vote, is currently outraising her Republican opponent by more than a 2:1 margin.
In her campaign, Helfrich has been advocating for abortion rights, public education, gun safety, and the environment, among other issues. She has been endorsed by a litany of progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, N.C. League of Conservation Voters, Equality North Carolina, and Everytown for Gun Safety.
Helfrich has also been a strong voice against the damage gerrymandering and voter suppression have done to North Carolina. If elected, she pledges to serve with accountability, transparency, and honesty.
Early voting begins on Oct. 17 and ends at 3 p.m. on Nov. 2; the deadline to register online to vote was Oct. 11, however, during the early voting period, you can register in person when you go to vote. ID is now required to vote in North Carolina, and you can view a list of approved IDs here.
