2026 General Election: November 3, 2026. New info launches early October.
Jessica Finkel
Party:
Democrat
Incumbent:
No
Age:
28
Previous experience in elected office:
None
Occupation:
Production strategist at a digital agency supporting political candidates
Description:
Finkel’s top issues include educational equity, economic mobility, environmental stewardship, public safety, accessible transportation, public and mental health and affordable housing. She supports “liveable wages and access to proper resources for all teachers,” expanding early-childhood education and youth workforce pipelines and ensuring county dollars lift families rather than creating bureaucratic barriers. She emphasizes environmental justice, renewable energy programs and protecting air and water quality, particularly in frontline Black and brown neighborhoods. On public safety, she advocates for community-led strategies, law enforcement accountability and ending fear-based policing practices, while also prioritizing expanded affordable transit, sidewalks and bike lanes. Her website calls for expanding mental health crisis services, preventative healthcare and workforce housing while preventing displacement of long-time residents in historically marginalized communities.
Other personal:
Finkel moved to Mecklenburg County in 2019 with her husband. She has lived in District 1 for the last 2.5 years. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida.
The Election Hub Questionnaire
Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).
Age: 28
Education: Bachelor's in Public Relations and Bachelor's in Sustainability Studies from the University of Florida
Current Occupation: Production Strategist
Where I live: North Charlotte, near Huntersville
Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share your previous experience in elected office that would be relevant to voters.
I bring a combination of community-rooted leadership, policy understanding, and a deep commitment to equity and civil rights. I understand how the county decisions affect people’s everyday lives, and I have spent my entire career advocating for justice and a safe, healthy future for all people. And while this is my first time running for public office, I’ve been the Co-Coordinator of the Charlotte hub of the Sunrise Movement, Secretary of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP, and an active member of Jewish Voice for Peace. My on-the-ground organizing experience gives me a strong understanding of what’s going on directly in our communities and helps me stay connected to their needs.
Tell us 1-2 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.
In 2023, I worked with a coalition of organizations from across North Carolina to create energyfundsforall.org, a website designed to get Inflation Reduction Act funds in people’s hands. Over the course of the year we broke down what funds were available, how people could access them, what forms they needed to fill out, who could access what funds, and talked directly to local governments and community organizations to get an idea of what they needed most. Since the launch of that website, we’ve helped homeowners, renters, non-profits, and more access the funds and do everything from lowering their energy bills to installing solar panels in their communities.
We must prioritize getting already available funds in people’s hands. Many funds are already there, our communities just don’t know about them or how to access them and as commissioner I will use my learnings from creating energyfundsforall.org to collaborate with local organizations to improve the education gap on what funds are available.
What endorsements from any notable North Carolina organizations or people have you received?
While I haven’t received any yet, I have had wonderful conversations with the Charlotte Metrolina Labor Council, LGBTQ+ Dems, and Charlotte Muslim Caucus and look forward to continuing my partnerships with them.
How long have you lived in the region/district where you are running for office?
I’ve lived in Charlotte for the past 6.5 years and in my district for 2.5 years.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself that voters may be interested to know.
I’m an incredibly avid reader and love frequenting bookstores around Mecklenburg County. I’ve participated in the Greater Charlotte Book Crawl for several years and always love getting to visit new stores and interact with new people. It’s what inspired me to host events at bookstores, to meet people where they are and talk with them in a space that feels comfortable to them. I’ve said again and again, reading is political and if we continue to support our local bookstores we will continue to support an educated populace who cares about one another.