Don't waste hours Googling candidates.
Branch has information on all of your candidates, in one place.
Kandie D. Smith
DEMOCRAT
Kandie D. Smith is running for North Carolina State Senator, District 5, Democratic Primary.
Personal background
Kandie D. Smith attended Charleston Southern University, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Communications.
Professional background
In addition to her political experience, Kandie D. Smith is a small business owner of a training firm specializing in staff development and crisis management. She has professional experience as a consultant.
Political background
Kandie D. Smith is the current State Senator for North Carolina District 5. She was elected to this position in 2022, and has served one term. She was previously elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives for 2 terms starting in 2018. Smith has also served as the first Black Female Mayor of the City of Greenville and was a Councilwoman for Greenville City Council for nearly a decade. She currently holds the position of Second Vice-Chair in the Bipartisan Joint Women's Caucus.
Economy
Said, "We need to drastically increase the supply of available housing locally and across the state, and we must work to provide greater assistance to those most at risk of losing their homes."
Said, "We must continue to work with local leaders to develop a flexible and dependable economic development policy that attracts new business to the area while retaining and growing existing businesses."
The candidate's website says, "It makes no sense to maintain a rainy day fund at historically high levels while our roads and bridges crumble and our students sit in schools that are outdated and underfunded."
Read more...
Suggest an edit
Energy & the Environment
Plans to continue North Carolina's leadership in solar energy and investment in green infrastructure, alongside holding polluters accountable and reinvesting in affected communities.
Endorsed by the Sierra Club and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters.
Believes that climate change has negative effects on North Carolina, including causing extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods, and putting harmful chemicals in the drinking water.
Suggest an edit
Healthcare
The candidate's website says, "Medicaid Expansion means thousands of new jobs... and tens of thousands of newly insured individuals... in historically underserved rural areas, who would suddenly be able to receive treatment for their health concerns."
Said, "I fully support passing Medicaid Expansion, and doing it as soon as possible."
Said, "I do not believe the government has any right or say in what a woman can do with her own body... I will always fight abortion restrictions and any effort to control women’s bodies."
Read more...
Suggest an edit
Voting & Elections
Said, "Elected officials must commit to working together, and being accountable to the people who elected them first and foremost... too many issues in our state government today are being decided by partisanship rather than out of genuine concern for the people."
Suggest an edit
Public Safety
Believes in reforming the criminal justice system, addressing racial and economic disparities, altering mandatory sentencing laws, ending mass incarceration, increasing police transparency, and aiding reentry into society post-incarceration.
Suggest an edit
Education
Promises to advocate for students, parents, and teachers, and increased resources for schools.
Plans to, "strengthen our Community College system to adapt to new industry trends to ensure a dependable and prepared workforce to fill the in-demand jobs of the future."
Believes education, including teacher salaries, advocating for sufficient resources, updating facilities, and ensuring student success, is the state's primary responsibility.
Suggest an edit
Foreign Policy and Immigration
As of January 31, 2024, Kandie D. Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.
Suggest an edit
