Seven LGBTQ+ North Carolinians endorsed by the Victory Fund have won their primary elections. Here’s information about the candidates and what they plan to do for their communities.
John Arrowood – NC Court of Appeals, Statewide
Arrowood has served as a judge for 11 years. In 2018, he became the first openly gay person to be elected to a statewide office in the South. Currently, he serves as a judge of the NC Court of Appeals (2017-present). Arrowood has drafted a total of 650 opinions and sat in 2000 cases. Outside of his professional work, Arrowood is a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte and is committed to his community. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the Mint Museum of Art and the Board of the Charlotte Urban Ministry Center, an organization dedicated to assisting the homeless. To learn additional details visit Arrowood’s home page.
Winn Decker – NC House of Representatives District 37
A son of two public school teachers and raised in rural northwest Tennessee, Decker learned the value of hard work, service and community. Now he calls North Carolina home and plans to focus on education and workforce policy. He works with all parties, like former Governor Jim Hunt, to strengthen public schools and expand college access. Issues he hopes to address are affordability for seniors on fixed incomes, managing debt and borrowing cost and increasing the ratio of social workers and counselors. More details are available here.
Stormie Forte – Raleigh City Council-at-large
Forte is a Raleigh native and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. She’s also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and host of the podcast “The Art of Listening with Stormie Forte.”
Forte’s priorities are affordable housing (specifically in disenfranchised communities). She looks forward to ensuring the stability of city infrastructures and improving mobility. Says the councilwoman: “Being able to effectively balance what’s in the best interest of the district and its residents, as well as economic opportunities are what’s important to me.” Visit Forte’s website here.
Lisa Grafstein – NC state senate, District 13
Grafstein is the president of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys and the Women’s Forum of North Carolina. She was also a lawyer defending cases of sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Grafstein’s plans to create a just economy through living wages, fair tax policies, safe working conditions and funding public schools. She wants to create a renewable North Carolina by reinstating the Renewable Clean Energy Credit and incentivizing a shift to solar power. To learn more about Lisa Grafstein, go here.
Amanda Maris – District Court Judge, District 16
Maris was first appointed to the bench by Governor Roy Cooper in July 2017 and retained by voters in 2018 and 2022. Now she’s running for the position again in 2026. Maris has served in both criminal and civil courts focusing on traffic and domestic violence. She was the Co-founder of the Durham Expulsion and Restoration Program, the first court referral program to help Durham residents and others obtain new opportunities in employment, housing and education. As before, she plans to continue working on issues that impact youth & families and to promote a court system that provides fair administration of justice for everyone. Judge Marris’s campaign page is located here.
Jessica Rivera – NC State Senate, District 4
Rivera is an openly gay woman and a Marine Veteran. She has a small business named Garrison Barber and Parlor. From Rivera’s website: “Jess believes leadership means showing up, doing the work and putting people before power.”
Rivera plans to focus on rural education, healthcare and jobs. By creating strong transitional services, housing stability, fair pay and dependable public services she hopes that all families and veterans can thrive. More information on Jessica Rivera is available on her website.
Karen Stegman – NC Orange County Commissioner-at-large
A native of Orange County, Stegman is currently raising her two children there with her wife Alyson Grine. Stegman served on the Chapel Hill Town Council for eight years. As a councilwoman, she made changes in affordable housing, environmental protection and economic development. She plans to protect farmlands and rural areas. She’s created a 30-year plan for transit-supported housing, parks, greenways, amenities and she has also adopted Chapel Hill’s first climate action and response plan to create a sustainable future. Go here for more details.