Democrat Rodney D. Pierce is running to retain his seat as House District 27 and will face former Representative Michael Wray in the March 3 election. The winner in March will face Republican Kenneth W. Bentley Jr. in November.

The following are Pierce’s answers to questions submitted by rrspin.com:

Occupation: North Carolina State Representative, District 27 (Warren, Halifax, and Northampton counties); public educator; historian

Education: I am a proud graduate of Halifax County Schools (Aurelian Springs Elementary, William R. Davie Middle, Northwest Halifax High), Halifax Community College and North Carolina Wesleyan University (Summa Cum Laude).

Civic, church, and fraternal organizations: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Quankey Missionary Baptist Church, current member of the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission, former member of the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee, former member of the Carolina Public Humanities Advisory Board, former member of the Talent Delayed/Talent Denied Committee of the NC Association for Gifted & Talented

Why have you decided to run for this office or seek re-election? What are your qualifications to hold this position?

As a proud father, award-winning educator, historian, and dedicated advocate for our community, I am running for re-election because I want to continue advocating for the people of our district and ensuring that every community, especially our rural areas, have a voice in Raleigh. Like many people in our district, I come from a working class family and understand the challenges we face when our government leaves us behind. I am committed to improving local schools, fortifying public safety, supporting small businesses, strengthening healthcare access, and investing in infrastructure that creates jobs and improves quality of life. I believe we can build a North Carolina where every family has the opportunity to thrive, and I want to continue working to make that a reality.

I currently serve in the North Carolina House, where I have worked on legislation that strengthens rural communities, protects access to healthcare, and promotes economic growth. My experience in public service has taught me how to bring people together, listen to constituents, and get results. I have a proven track record of advocating for working families. My background, dedication, and experience make me well-qualified to continue serving our district in the state legislature.

Right now, our state, district, and communities are under attack by Republicans in Raleigh and Washington, D.C., who are undermining public education, healthcare access, and rural economies. At this moment, our district needs leadership that will stay accountable to the people we serve. I am proud that I have consistently stood up for Democratic values while working across the aisle to get things done.

What are the biggest problems facing the state and how do you plan to address them? Please elaborate.

The biggest challenges facing our state and region include ensuring access to high-quality public schools, healthcare, public safety, economic opportunity, and replacing aging infrastructure.

Public Education: As a teacher for nearly a decade, I watched money get directed away from our public schools while we were left with outdated instructional materials and buildings. I’ve seen my colleagues and fellow teachers leave the profession altogether, disillusioned by the lack of support and pay they’ve received. I’m proud to be working in the legislature to increase teacher pay, bring resources to our schools, and oppose efforts that defund our public schools.

Healthcare: We currently only have one hospital here in our district. In a medical emergency when time is critical people don’t have the luxury of driving 45 minutes to an hour for emergency care. We need to invest in more rural hospitals and rural healthcare in general and we need medical insurers that aren’t solely concerned with profits. I’m proud of the legislation I’ve supported to modernize our medical system, expand Medicaid, and lower costs, while expanding support for mental health resources, including legislation that would create a state program to provide free or low-cost prostate cancer screenings, because our district has some of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the state.

Public Safety: Per the SBI’s data, rural counties, like those in House District 27, have the highest rates of violent crime per 100,000 residents. Northampton is currently ranked ninth. That compelled me to pen a bipartisan letter signed by nearly 50 of my colleagues in the state House and Senate to Governor Stein, Speaker Hall and Senator Berger to form a bipartisan Rural Violent Crime Task Force. I also convened a meeting in December of NC Department of Public Safety staff, local law enforcement (sheriffs and police chiefs), local re-entry council leaders, magistrates, judges, county commissioners, municipal elected officials, school board members, and behavioral health specialists to determine strategies to tackle those issues in our communities as we don’t have the resources of our urban counterparts.

Economic Opportunities: The rising cost of living is detrimental to our communities here in Warren, Halifax, and Northampton Counties. Our district has some of the highest poverty rates in the state, and I’m proud to have co-sponsored legislation that would do everything from support our small businesses to invest in our rural communities.

Infrastructure: Aging infrastructure puts our communities at risk and weakens our economy. During the February 2026 winter storm, some communities in District 27 went without water for days, showing how outdated systems can turn natural disasters into extended emergencies. At the same time, unreliable infrastructure discourages new industries and job creators from investing in our district and region, making modernization essential for both public safety and economic growth.

Who did you support in the last governor’s race? Please elaborate. 

I was proud to support Governor Josh Stein because of his record of delivering for rural communities, keeping our state safe, and working across the aisle to bring results home. This race is important in determining the future of our public schools, support for our rural communities and our state’s progress, and I’m grateful to have Governor Stein’s full endorsement and support.

What are the biggest problems facing House District 27 and how do you plan to address them? Please elaborate. 

Much like our state as a whole, House District 27 is in critical need of stronger investments in public schools, public safety, workforce development, accessible healthcare, including mental health resources and Medicaid expansion, infrastructure, and real economic opportunities that allow families to thrive and for young people to build their futures here at home. The challenges we face in the “neglected Northeast” are longstanding and interconnected, and they demand a regional approach that looks beyond county lines and treats rural North Carolina as an essential part of our state’s future, not an afterthought.

Over the course of the 2025 legislative session, my work in the General Assembly has been grounded in specific policy action to advance these priorities:

I sponsored a workforce development policy (e.g., the Workforce Education Act), aimed at better preparing students and workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow — a key piece of economic development in areas struggling with high unemployment and workforce out-migration.

I also supported measures like increased study and planning resources for educators and comprehensive workforce education policy to better align schools and colleges with today’s labor market — recognizing that strong schools are the foundation of long-term economic health.

I co-sponsored House Bill 653 — Adjust FMAP Trigger for Medicaid Expansion, a bill that would adjust the federal matching formula trigger to make Medicaid expansion more achievable by directly addressing the gaps in healthcare access and unaffordable coverage that are especially acute in rural Northeast communities. It would also protect rural hospitals and health providers.

I also introduced HB 128 to establish a Prostate Cancer Control Program that would expand preventive care and screening access to reduce health disparities for low-income and uninsured residents, and I co-sponsored HB 60 to modernize Medicaid dental reimbursement rates.

Additionally, I supported expanded school-based health resources, including a bill to put a nurse in every school (HB 464), which helps ensure that children’s physical and mental health needs (HB 710, HB 798) get attention early and consistently. I’ve backed bills aimed at public safety infrastructure — including support for firefighter benefits and local emergency services — which are essential to keeping our neighborhoods secure and responsive.

I advocated for investments in emergency services, firefighters, and first responders, and for funding to modernize aging infrastructure like water and wastewater systems, roads, and community facilities. These are necessities for public health, safety, and attracting new business and industry.

Those areas I mentioned are the building blocks of economic development, and we desperately need them as our region continues to face some of the highest rates of poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, and youth disconnection. As North Carolina continues to attract new investment and business growth, my focus is on making sure rural communities like ours in northeast North Carolina are no longer overlooked, but are prioritized and fully included in the state’s long-term economic plan.

Additionally, I believe our state budget must reflect a real commitment to the people who keep North Carolina running every day. That means making meaningful investments in state employees, retirees, teachers, and law enforcement officers. For too long, many of these public servants — especially those working in rural areas — have been asked to do more with less. Competitive pay, strong retirement benefits, and adequate staffing are not only matters of fairness, they are critical to recruitment, retention, and the effective delivery of public services. A responsible state budget should honor our commitments to those who serve our communities and ensure they can afford to live and retire with dignity.

Please elaborate only on the accomplishments you made in your very first term in office. 

In just my first year in office, I got to work delivering real results for our district. I co-sponsored more than 230 pieces of legislation, including serving as the primary sponsor on 19 bills focused on strengthening public education, supporting working families, and bringing much-needed resources back home to our communities. My legislative work has emphasized fully funding our public schools, expanding access to healthcare, and investing in infrastructure that supports economic growth, especially in rural areas that are too often overlooked.

I co-sponsored House Bill 50, which creates a special separation allowance for our law enforcement officers so that if they retire, and want to come back to work, it will not impact their retirement benefits. That bill became law in July 2025.

I also sponsored an amendment that added colon cancer to the list of illnesses covered under firefighter death benefits in HB 97. The amendment was adopted unanimously and the bill passed the House unanimously.

Here at home, I made it a priority to stay directly connected to the people I represent. I organized and hosted blood drives and town halls (at least one in each county) to provide services, hear concerns, and ensure constituents had a direct line to their representative. I believe effective representation starts with listening, and I have worked to be visible, accessible, and accountable to our district.

With Republicans nearly holding a supermajority in the House, it is more important than ever to have a representative who will stand up for our district and not be an accomplice to the Republicans’ agenda. Throughout my first term, I have consistently pushed back against policies and rhetoric that harms public schools, working families, and rural communities. I am proud to be the only Democrat in this race who is not funded and controlled by Raleigh Republicans, and I have proven in my first term that I will always put our district first.

And on a side note, despite the absence of a new state budget with earmarked “pork” funding this cycle, House District 27 has secured $6 million in infrastructure investments through competitive, statewide programs such as the Rural Infrastructure Authority and the Southeast

Crescent Regional Commission along with Halifax County successfully applying to be one of the state’s 15 SelectSite for advanced manufacturing projects. These funds reflect the caliber of the economic development personnel in our district’s three county governments in addressing our local needs and the commitment to principled, bipartisan engagement by the voting members of the RIA and the SCRC.

Each year, the Halifax County Intergovernmental Association, with input from the municipalities, develops a list of legislative goals. Have you reviewed those goals? Which goals seem most important to you, and which seem most achievable?

It is my understanding that the HCIA is currently working on those goals at this time.

Please elaborate on what you would bring to the table should you be elected to this office. 

I grew up right here in House District 27 and have lived here my entire life. As a father, an educator, and a historian, I understand firsthand both the challenges and the opportunities our communities face every day.

I’m proud of the work I’ve done in the legislature to introduce and co-sponsor bills that fund our public schools, bring good-paying jobs to our region, and lower costs for working families. Too often, those efforts are stalled by Republicans who are more focused on politics and special interests in Raleigh than delivering for their constituents.

I’ve always been a fighter, and I will keep fighting every day to stand up for our communities and deliver real, tangible results for the people of District 27.

I have demonstrated that the role of a state legislator goes beyond securing funding for the district. I have used my position to bring state leadership directly to our communities through the Bringing the Capital to the Constituents series, where department heads and agency leaders explain their roles and highlight the services and resources available to our residents.

I have also worked closely with local partners, including our county health departments, to organize lifesaving blood drives. Our most recent drive collected 37 units of blood — exceeding our goal of 30 and helping save lives in our region.

To strengthen civic engagement among young people, I created the Eastern North Carolina Civics Bowl for area high school students. These students will soon be eligible to vote and run for office, and they represent the next generation of leaders. I’m encouraged that some local charter schools are now planning to observe and engage voters at polling places so students can learn firsthand about the democratic process.

I am currently collaborating with the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce to encourage middle school participation in the National Civics Bee, further expanding civic education opportunities at an earlier age.

In response to rising gun violence and limited resources in our rural communities, I convened local magistrates, judges, reentry leaders, county commissioners, sheriffs, mayors, police chiefs, and staff from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to discuss solutions. This conversation was especially important given the absence of a state budget and the lack of resources available to rural areas compared to our urban counterparts. According to SBI data, rural counties experience some of the highest violent crime rates per 100,000 residents (Northampton ranks ninth). Since that discussion, the Northampton County Board of Commissioners has taken steps to address the lack of municipal police coverage in parts of the county. I commend those efforts and I believe that earlier collaboration helped move those efforts forward.

What are your plans for addressing the state’s mental health problems? 

I was proud to co-sponsor legislation to establish a mental health crisis unit pilot program for our local schools, as well as the Student Mental Health Line Awareness Act. I will continue supporting legislation that increases funding for public schools so they can hire and retain trained guidance counselors and mental health professionals. I also strongly support Medicaid expansion to ensure healthcare, including mental health services, reaches rural communities across our state, including Warren, Halifax, and Northampton Counties.

The issue of casinos — specifically for the Carolina Crossroads Music and Entertainment District — came to a halt after much fanfare. Is this an issue you would be willing to reopen? What is the current status of this matter in the General Assembly, and what is your opinion on it?

The discussion around casinos, including the past proposal of Carolina Crossroads Music and Entertainment District, deserves a serious and transparent conversation — not political fanfare followed by silence. I am willing to revisit this issue, but only in a way that ensures any economic development truly benefits District 27 and North Carolina as a whole. I believe in equitable economic development, and that means projects that strengthen our public schools, healthcare system, and public safety agencies, not undermine them. While I support keeping revenue in North Carolina instead of watching it flow to Virginia, I am clear that any casino proposal must come with good-paying jobs, strong benefits, worker protections, and meaningful reinvestment into local communities.

Unlike some who focus primarily on gambling as a revenue fix, I believe we must be cautious about relying too heavily on gaming to solve long-standing funding challenges. Our state’s needs are real and growing, particularly in education and mental health, but expanded gambling should not become a substitute for responsible budgeting or legislative accountability. If a casino moves forward in District 27, it must be accompanied by clear oversight, transparency, and guarantees that revenues actually reach classrooms, behavioral health services, and rural communities — not just corporate interests. Economic growth should lift everyone, not just balance spreadsheets, and that principle guides my position on this issue.

Do you support the deployment of federal troops to metropolitan areas of North Carolina? Why or why not? Do you feel local law enforcement is capable of handling these issues? 

I trust our local law enforcement to keep our communities safe and to determine when, and if, additional resources are needed. I do not support deploying federal troops to North Carolina’s metropolitan areas except in truly extraordinary circumstances when requested by local law enforcement, because public safety decisions should be led locally, not dictated by the federal government.

Would you support the legalization of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state? Please elaborate. 

Marijuana has long been used as a pretext for over-incarcerating young men, and we need to shift our focus toward protecting children and holding accountable the manufacturers and dealers who prey on our communities. I support reducing penalties for simple possession, allowing medical marijuana, and strengthening efforts to keep tobacco, Delta-8, Delta-9, and hemp-derived products out of our public schools.

Please provide a summation or address any issues you feel were not covered in these questions.

I am proud to be endorsed by Governor Josh Stein, former Congresswoman Eva Clayton, former Congressman G.K. Butterfield, former state legislators Angela Bryant, Terry Garrison, and Nathan Baskerville, as well as local leaders like Rev. Dr. C.E. McCullom, Bishop Shelton Daniel, former Roanoke Rapids Mayor Pro Tem Carl Ferebee, Halifax County Commissioner Gary Redding, Warren County Commissioners Tare “T” Davis, Bertadean Baker, and Al Cooper (Chairman); and Haliwa-Saponi Tribal Councilman Tyler Richardson. I have been designated a Mental Health Now Candidate by Inseparable Action, and also have endorsements from

organizations such as Advance Carolina, Work for Democracy, Carolina Forward, Carolina Federation, Planned Parenthood, Pro-Choice NC, NC National Organization for Women, Sierra Club of NC, NC League of Conservation Voters, Climate Cabinet Action, the Communications Workers of America, the NC State AFL-CIO, the Northampton First PAC and the Warren County PAC (Political Action Council).

This election is not about slogans or soundbites – it is about accountability, truth, and standing up when it matters most. I have delivered results for District 27 while also being honest with voters about the challenges we face, including the fact that the continued absence of a comprehensive state budget leaves little to no room for funding critical local projects. My opponent avoids that reality and instead seeks to mislead the public about his perceived bipartisanship. The truth is, he voted for policies that increased the cost of living for working families, including higher auto and homeowners insurance rates, and rising energy bills. He also supported measures that have put more guns on our streets, polluted our air and water, made it harder to acquire broadband access in rural areas, and underfunded our public schools – all while claiming to put our district first.

Equally troubling is his silence when our communities were harmed by partisan gerrymandering. He offered no rhetoric and no resistance when Republicans carved up State Senate District 2 and Congressional District 1 – both of which include either two or all of the counties in District 27 – despite our region’s deep history of voting rights struggles. You cannot claim to want to represent an area while staying silent as its political power is stripped away, but perhaps he stayed quiet because Republicans did not redraw House District 27, which he represented at the time.

Add to that his refusal to attend candidate forums or participate in debates, and voters are left with a pattern: avoiding tough conversations, avoiding accountability, and avoiding the people. I’m talking about in public forums and standing before the people, not private, sidebar conversations. I believe representation means showing up, speaking out, and telling the truth – even when it is uncomfortable – and that is what I will continue to do for Halifax, Northampton, and Warren counties.