N.C. Senate 42

There are 50 members in the N.C. Senate, and they serve as the "upper house" of the General Assembly. Their powers include proposing and passing laws, along with the N.C. House; fiscal oversight of the state budget (more than half of the state budget goes to education); gubernatorial veto overrides; confirmation of certain executive branch appointments; redistricting; proposing N.C. constitutional amendments and providing constituent services. 

State residents must be at least 25 years old to run for the Senate and they must have lived in N.C. for at least two years. State senators serve two-year terms with no term limits.

The N.C. Senate has 20 Democrats and 30 Republicans. To override a veto of any bill by the governor, three-fifths of both chambers (30 senators and 72 House members) must vote to override it.

N.C. District 42 covers eastern and southern Mecklenburg County, including Matthews, Mint Hill, Ballantyne and some of south Charlotte. The district's median age is 41 years, slightly higher than the state median of 39 years. The median household income is $125,000, making it significantly more affluent than the state average, where median household income is $72,000.

Among registered voters in the district, 43% are unaffiliated, 31% are Republicans and 25% are Democrats.

Incumbent Democrat Woodson Bradley faces Republican Stacie McGinn in a rematch of the 2024 election.

N.C. Senate 42 Candidates