Democratic Incumbent Budd (left), is running against Republican Niday, a three-time unsuccessful candidate for the N.C. General Assembly. Credit: Social Media Composite
Residents in the southern tip of Mecklenburg County are deciding on an important race, which could determine whether Republicans will continue to have a supermajority in the General Assembly. House District 103 is up for election this year, and Democratic incumbent Laura Budd hopes to keep her seat as she faces opponent Joshua Niday, who has run for office three times previously, and unsuccessfully.
These two candidates share different visions for North Carolina’s future. Budd’s policy plans revolve around reinvesting into the public school system and bringing state funds back to her district for infrastructure projects. Niday’s idea for North Carolina is a battle over identity politics and culture wars at the forefront and erasing mentions of LGBTQ+ history from classrooms across the state.
Mecklenburg voters know what’s at stake this election and it’s important to know exactly what each candidate brings to the table so we can decide who will best serve their interests.
Who is Laura Budd?
Laura Budd is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina House District 103, which covers parts of South Charlotte, Ballantyne and Pineville. She’s a practicing attorney who attended Wake Forest University and has a Juris Doctor law degree (that allows her to practice law in the US and most countries around the globe). Budd has established herself as an advocate for local priorities, emphasizing the need for better education funding, improved infrastructure and enhanced public safety measures. As a representative, she has focused on policies to return state tax dollars to her district, ensuring that local needs are met through effective legislation.
She is a staunch supporter of reproductive rights, speaking out against restrictive policies that threaten to limit access to reproductive healthcare in the state. This position aligns with her broader commitment to protecting the rights of her constituents, especially women and marginalized communities. She also stands firmly against predatory towing practices, working to protect residents from exploitative fees and practices in the Charlotte area.
In fact, she’s currently proposing a bill in the N.C. House with bipartisan support that would require towing businesses to acquire a permit to operate. In addition, a system for consumers to lodge complaints against companies through a new Towing and Recovery Commission would be established and would allow the new commission to set maximum fees for towing and booting.
“This bill provides a regulatory framework where none existed before,” Budd told WBTV. “It is supported by the towing and trucking industries and will go a significant way in protecting North Carolinians from predatory towing practices as well as companies conducting business in our state.”
Throughout her career, Budd has earned a reputation as a consensus-builder, working across the aisle on issues that affect both her district and the state of North Carolina as a whole. She has prioritized investments in public schools, understanding that strong educational systems are vital to economic growth and community well-being.
As Budd campaigns for re-election, she is leveraging her track record of successful advocacy and her ability to listen to her constituents. Her grassroots efforts focus on increasing voter turnout and ensuring that the voices of South Charlotte residents are heard in Raleigh.
Who is Joshua Niday?
Niday has had three previously failed attempts to run for office and has created a pronounced reputation for himself with the comments he has made about the current vice president and women in general.
Entering the race for the fourth time in his political career, despite previous losses – including a significant 64-point defeat in 2018 and a narrower 16-point defeat in 2022 – Niday remains committed to his conservative platform.
Niday is a staunch supporter of school choice, a position popular among conservatives, which proposes that parents be able to use state funding to send their children to private or charter schools. Critics, however, argue this policy would divert resources away from already underfunded public schools, potentially exacerbating inequality in education.
On social issues, Niday’s platform is far from right of center. Niday is aligned with the growing movement to ban books in schools, particularly those that address themes of gender identity and race. He opposes discussions of LGBTQ+ history, as well as gender and racial identity, in classrooms, claiming that such topics lead to the “indoctrination” of students. His resistance to Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a core part of his education agenda, as well as supporting the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.”
Niday’s campaign has garnered attention for its alignment with former President Donald Trump’s far-right rhetoric. His social media presence reflects this, often praising Trump and attacking Democratic leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris. His Facebook page has been flagged multiple times for sharing claims proven false. Despite this, he maintains a loyal following built on his support for Trump’s policies and his opposition to progressive Democratic leadership.
On the issue of reproductive rights, Niday supports banning abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat and advocates for increasing funding to crisis pregnancy centers, which often provide anti-abortion counseling. His position contrasts sharply with that of Budd, who has been endorsed by organizations like Planned Parenthood and Pro-Choice North Carolina.
While his campaign website offers few specifics on policy, Niday has made it clear that his vision for North Carolina centers on a return to “conservative, traditional values.”
From all indications, Niday faces an uphill battle against Budd.
