ERA Legislative Survey 2016

The survey was conducted by the Equal Rights Amendment North Carolina Alliance. The nonpartisan Alliance, organized this spring, is dedicated to ratification of the ERA. According to Roberta Madden, co-chair, “The amendment is needed to provide bedrock constitutional protection for equal rights for everyone, regardless of gender. We are very pleased by the broad support for equal rights. Supporters include Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians,” she said. The ERA will be introduced in the General Assembly in 2017.

If candidates in your district have responded, please be sure to thank them! If they have not yet responded, urge them to do so. We will continue to update this page as more more responses come in. The goal is to get as many candidates to sign on for the ERA as soon as possible.

The following state Senate candidates pledged to cosponsor and vote for the ERA:

• Angela R. Bryant, incumbent (D-4)
• Albert Pacer (D-11)
• Toni Morris (D-19)
• Floyd McKissick, incumbent (D-20)
• Mike Woodard, incumbent (D-22)
• Valerie P. Foushee, incumbent (D-23)
• Dannie M. Montgomery (D-25)
• Paul A. Lowe, Jr., incumbent (D-32)
• Robert Brown (D-36)
• Jeff Jackson, incumbent (D-37)
• Lloyd Scher (D-39)
• Jonathan Hudson (D-41)
• Art Sherwood (D-45)
• Anne Fischer (D-46)
• Norman Bossert (D-48)
• Terry Van Duyn, incumbent (D-49)

Three state Senate candidates said they oppose the ERA:

• Eric Weaver (R-16)
• Marguerite Cooke (R-40)
• Chris Cole (Lib-41)

The following state House candidates pledged to cosponsor and vote for the ERA:

• Ray Martin (R-11)
• George Graham, incumbent (D-12)
• Rodney Alexander (D-13)
• Dan Whitten (D-15)
• Steve Unger (D-16)
• Charles Warren (D-17)
• Susi Hamilton, incumbent (D-18)
• Larry D. Hall, incumbent (D-29)
• M. (Mickey) Michaux, Jr., incumbent (D-31)
• Rosa U. Gill, incumbent (D-33)
• Yvonne Lewis Holley, incumbent (D-38)
• Joe John (D-40)
• Marvin W. Lucas, incumbent (D-42)
• Roberta Waddle (D-45) – withdrew
• Thomas (Tom) Howell, Jr. (Lib-46)
• Cynthia Ball (D-49)
• Graig R. Meyer, incumbent (D-50)
• Jon Blum (D-53)
• Kim Hargett (D-55)
• Mary (Pricey) Harrison, incumbent (D-57)
• Cecil Brockman, incumbent (D-60)
• Lois Bohnsack (D-70)
• Evelyn Terry, incumbent (D-71)
• Earle Schecter (D-82)
• John Wayne Kahl (D-84)
• Vera Smith Reynolds (D-90)
• Sue Counts (D-93)
• Rochelle Rivas (D-103)
• Peter Noris (D-104)
• Connie Green-Johnson (D-105)
• Carla Cunningham, incumbent (D-106)
• Brian Turner, incumbent (D-116)
• Maureen Mahan Copelof (D-113)
• Susan C. Fisher, incumbent (D-114)
• John Ager, incumbent (D-115)
• Rhonda Cole Schandevel (D-118)

Four state House candidates said they oppose the ERA:

• Elissa Fuchs (R-30)
• Brian Irving (Lib-36)
• David Ulmer (Lib-49)
• Rena W. Turner, incumbent (R-84)

Two state House candidates said they were unsure about supporting the ERA:

• Larry M. Bell, incumbent (D-21)
• Lee Zachary, incumbent (R-73)

Among comments from ERA legislative candidate proponents, Senate candidate Toni Morris (D-19) indicated her support “because the rights of women are constantly being attacked.” House incumbent John Ager (D-115) stated, “The U.S. Constitution needs to protect explicitly the rights of all its citizens.”  Earle Schecter (D-82) wrote, “Sadly, we need such an amendment now more than ever.”

U.S. Senate candidate Deborah Ross (D) pledged to cosponsor and support ERA legislation.

Four candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives responded to the questionnaire, all saying that they would cosponsor and vote for an ERA resolution:

• David Price, incumbent (D-4)
• Andy Millard (D-10)
• Rick Bryson (D-11)
• Alma Adams, incumbent (D-12)