FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2026
Contact: Alejandra Pan
National Women's PAC The First Ask Celebrates Victories in North Carolina Legislative Races
Washington, DC – All races have been called and the national women’s PAC The First Ask is celebrating all six of their endorsed candidates winning seats in the North Carolina legislature. These seats cover much of the state and politically diverse areas, including hard fought primaries and flipping former Republican strongholds.
These wins happen amongst Democrats flipping the North Carolina House and breaking the Senate Republican supermajority.
The First Ask congratulates the following candidates on winning their seats:
Patricia Smith HD-23
Evonne Hopkins HD-35
Amy Taylor North HD-74
Veleria Levy HD-99
Lynne Russo HD-117
Jessica Bichler SD-07
The First Ask announced all of these endorsements in February of 2026, getting in on the ground early. Early investment in overlooked races is a key component of the group’s electoral philosophy.
Caroline Welles, Executive Director of The First Ask, issued the following statement:
“Our endorsed candidates in North Carolina have shown up beyond anyone's expectations. These women put their hearts and souls into their races and, more importantly, into their communities. I am incredibly proud that The First Ask not only invested in these races, but invested early. I cannot wait to see the change they bring to the state of North Carolina.”
The First Ask is a PAC dedicated to electing Democratic women to state legislatures nationwide. The organization advocates for proportionate gender representation in state legislatures and progressive change.
