The Political Beat Candidate Guide: North Carolina House District 83

North Carolina House District 83 covers parts of Cabarrus and Rowan counties, including areas around Kannapolis.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Grant Campbell is running against Democrat Johnnie Jones.

Campbell has not responded to our candidate guide questionnaire.

If we receive his response, we will publish it here.

Johnnie Jones (D)

Why are you running?

I’m running because I believe I’m the candidate that folks in District 83 have needed for years. I know I can be the voice that will defend Rowan and Cabarrus County while I’m in Raleigh because I haven’t been in politics for years - just like everyone else, I’ve kept up with things and listened to the folks around me when it comes to what actually needs to get done. I’m a blue-collar worker who knows what it’s like to run out of money before you run out of month, and I know that rising prices - at the grocery store, at the fuel pump, and in our utility bills - are a struggle for folks with fixed incomes. I’ll work hard every day to find pathways to alleviate some of these economic struggles that folks are facing and keep the door open - your representative should be accessible, and easily.

Are you in favor of the three constitutional amendments on North Carolina’s ballot? Why or why not?

I’m not in favor of them. These amendments are worded to make you believe they’ll help - but they’re going to support the folks that don’t need it. On the income tax amendment, the way I understand it, the average household’s only going to be saving $34 there and they’ll still be eventually paying more than corporations in this state. The property tax amendment’s liable to defund our local services - that’s what those tax dollars go to, in part. Raleigh shouldn’t be telling your community what it needs and what it doesn’t; you’re living there, you can see that for yourself! As far as expanded Voter ID goes - I’m not in favor of anything that’s going to make it harder to vote. The rate of fraudulent voting is so low that it’s a percentage point of a percentage point, and it’s caught.

What should the state do about data centers?

To address the ongoing battle that ordinary people are having over hyperscale AI data centers is an issue that requires thought, not breakneck speed for the sake of it. To ensure that proper regulations are set in place to protect our environment, protect our water supplies, and to make sure that the costs for building and maintaining them aren’t passed along to voters in our state there needs to be regulation passed, and now. We’ve got to keep pace with the speed of the technology - or else folks may end up with data centers close enough to wreck their peace and quiet. Start with mandatory environmental review periods, look realistically at how few or many jobs each will bring after construction’s completed, and transparency for some good first steps.

CMS has faced numerous controversies over the past month, what, if anything, should state lawmakers do?

I believe that there is to little oversight with school boards. I think the CMS is far to big For just a handful of full of people to be in charge of it. Public oversight, like parents should have a say In all matters

What legislation will you pursue to bring down costs?

My job as legislator is to look at how we can do things like permanently reduce the gas tax without neglecting the roads those funds go on to maintain. Are there ways to reduce those costs so Raleigh doesn’t only give you a break because there’s an election? Absolutely. We can work to bring back and in industries that will increase wages, and keep Duke Energy in check to keep rates down. Beyond that, there are a lot of great ideas out there, and I’d be happy to sit down with anyone that wants to work to make things easier for our families. Our job is to try to insulate the state from blowback in Washington as well as we can.

What sets you apart from your opponent?

I’ve been a blue-collar worker my whole life - or no collar, really; I’ve always worked in a t-shirt. From motorsports to set construction, I’ve never been a millionaire. I’ve always been a regular guy, with the same struggles and successes that you’d see in any other family. I’ve got a kid currently in school, and I hear the concerns of the community because I AM in the community. That makes it easy for me to say that I’m loyal to my community - not a mouthpiece for a national agenda. In office, I’m not going to vote for anything unless it helps the district, and there’s no national leader or soundbite that can change that.