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NC · Officeholder

Bob Brinson

RState Senator · District 3

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: North Carolina Senate District 3

Biography

Bob Brinson is a Republican state senator from North Carolina who represents District 3 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026, against Democrat Charles Dudley.[1][4] He holds a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.[1]

Brinson assumed office in the Senate on January 1, 2025, according to Ballotpedia, which lists his education as a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.[1] The General Assembly's website lists his district as covering Beaufort, Craven and Lenoir counties.[2] It shows his committee assignments in Agriculture, Energy, and Environment; Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources; Education/Higher Education; State and Local Government; and Transportation, along with the Select Committee on Property Tax Reform.[3] The Republican primary for his seat on March 3, 2026, was canceled.[1]

  1. 1.Bob Brinson - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Senator Bob Brinson - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly · North Carolina General Assembly Official record
  3. 3.Senator Bob Brinson - Committees - North Carolina General Assembly · North Carolina General Assembly Official record
  4. 4.North Carolina State Senate elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

North Carolina Senate District 3

Bob Brinson is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina Senate District 3 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

  • Jobs & cost of living77 with · 0 against77 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      2025 Appropriations Act.

      Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 28–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Various Revenue Laws Changes.

      On the version voted Jun 24, 2026: Makes a range of tax law changes, including updating the state's link to the federal tax code, creating a Hurricane Helene timber-loss deduction, applying the 8% rental car tax to peer-to-peer rentals, and creating a 40% credit for rehabilitating corporate campuses.

      Jun 23, 2026 · Passed 27–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Limit Rules With Substantial Financial Costs.

      Makes state rules costing $20 million or more over five years take effect only if a General Assembly bill approves them. Requires two-thirds board votes for rules costing $1 million or more, and unanimity at $10 million or more.

      Jun 10, 2025 · Passed 26–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All jobs & cost of living votes
  • Rights & public safety58 with · 1 against59 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Realign Congressional Districts 2025.

      Changes the boundaries of North Carolina's congressional Districts 1 and 3, redrawing part of the state's U.S. House district map.

      Oct 20, 2025 · Passed 25–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI.

      Bars state agencies from operating workplace diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and bars state agencies and local governments from spending public money on such programs or accepting federal funds that require them, with penalties under state budget laws.

      Jun 25, 2025 · Passed 26–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors.

      Defines male and female by biological sex in state rules; requires consent and age verification for online explicit images; bars state funds for prisoner gender transition care; sets a 10-year malpractice window for adult transition care; sets school sleeping quarters, religious excusal, library book rules.

      Jun 24, 2025 · Failed 19–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All rights & public safety votes
  • Climate & energy19 with · 2 against21 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Rocky Mount/Louisburg Utility Revenue/Advisory.

      Limits Rocky Mount's transfers of electric and natural gas revenue to other city funds, creates a nine-member public utilities advisory committee there, limits Louisburg's transfers of electric revenue, and repeals a 2021 law on Louisburg's use of electric rates for economic development.

      Jul 1, 2026 · Passed 29–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Expand CEPS/Nuclear and Hydro.

      Counts all nuclear and fusion power plants, including those placed in service before 2007, as "new clean energy facilities" under the state's clean energy portfolio standard, and drops the 10-megawatt size limit for hydroelectric plants to count as renewable energy facilities.

      May 7, 2025 · Passed 29–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      The Power Bill Reduction Act.

      Removes the interim carbon reduction target for electric utilities, allows alternative recovery of financing costs for baseload plants under construction, changes fuel-cost and performance-based ratemaking rules, and authorizes securitization of coal plant retirement costs.

      Jul 29, 2025 · Passed 30–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All climate & energy votes
  • Education & families21 with · 0 against21 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Charter School Changes.

      On the version voted Jul 29, 2025: Shifts charter school oversight from the State Board of Education and state superintendent to the Charter Schools Review Board, lets charter schools move within 10 miles without approval, and lets large remote academies seek their own charters.

      Jun 25, 2025 · Passed 26–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Parents Protection Act.

      Provides that parents or caregivers who raise or refer to a child consistent with the child's biological sex cannot face abuse or neglect findings on that basis alone, and bars adoption agencies from rejecting parents who do not support a child's gender transition.

      Jun 23, 2025 · Passed 28–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed.

      On the version voted Jul 29, 2025: Bars public colleges and universities from endorsing or compelling belief in listed "divisive concepts" about race and sex, keeping diversity, equity and inclusion offices, or treating people differently based on federally protected traits, with exceptions for protected speech, research and legally required policies.

      Apr 9, 2025 · Passed 28–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All education & families votes
  • Health & care19 with · 0 against19 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Defund Planned Parenthood & Cost Transparency.

      Directs the state Medicaid agency to disenroll Planned Parenthood Federation of America and associated entities as providers and engage others. Requires hospitals and surgical facilities to give written good-faith estimates for scheduled services on request, capping final bills at 5% above the estimate.

      Sep 22, 2025 · Passed 28–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Govt Mandates Increase Healthcare Costs.

      Requires any bill adding a health insurance mandate, including coverage, cost-sharing or prior-approval rules, to repeal at least as many existing mandates and fund its cost unless an actuarial note shows savings, and applies mandates effective July 1, 2025, or later to the State Health Plan.

      Feb 12, 2025 · Failed 18–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Dental Board Reform.

      Changes the State Board of Dental Examiners from dentists elected by dentists to appointees of the Governor, legislative leaders and the Labor Commissioner, sets a 10-member board of six dentists, two hygienists and two public members, and limits service to two three-year terms.

      Apr 30, 2025 · Passed 27–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All health & care votes
  • Housing & rent5 with · 0 against5 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Drug-Free Zones/Unauthorized Public Camping.

      On the version voted Jun 30, 2026: Creates felonies for selling drugs in posted drug-free zones around homeless service facilities, and bars local governments from allowing regular camping or sleeping on public property except at sites they designate for up to a year with Labor Department certification.

      Jun 24, 2026 · Passed 26–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Land Use Clarification and Changes.

      Requires commercial zoning to permit public school buildings by right or special use, phases out cities' extraterritorial planning jurisdiction by county population starting October 1, 2026, and clarifies that existing use rights survive approval of added uses.

      May 6, 2025 · Passed 33–12 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Title Fraud Prevention.

      Makes filing a knowingly false deed a felony, requires photo ID from most people recording property documents, lets registers of deeds refuse suspicious documents, lets property owners sue over fraudulent filings, and requires tax collector certification before deeds are recorded.

      Jun 19, 2025 · Failed 1–39 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All housing & rent votes
  • Technology & privacy3 with · 0 against3 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Robocall Solicitation Modifications.

      Applies state telephone solicitation rules to robocalls and text messages, requires prior express written consent for solicitations, bans impersonating government officials in them, and counts civil penalties per violation within a single solicitation.

      Jun 17, 2026 · Passed 31–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      GSC Uniform Comm. Code/Emerging Technologies.

      Updates the state's commercial code, as recommended by the General Statutes Commission, adding rules for transferring and controlling electronic records and electronic money and for using them as loan collateral, effective October 1, 2025.

      Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 45–1 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All technology & privacy votes
  • Transportation3 with · 0 against3 votes

    Most contested

    All transportation votes
  • Foreign affairs & defense1 with · 0 against1 vote

    Most contested

    • Yes

      NC Farmland and Military Protection Act.

      Bars foreign parties tied to adversarial governments from acquiring or holding interests in agricultural land or land within 50 miles of a military installation. Holdings before April 1, 2027 may continue but must be registered; later acquisitions must be sold within one year.

      Jun 23, 2026 · Passed 42–3 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All foreign affairs & defense votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 6 of 243 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Climate & energy (5), Jobs & cost of living (1)

  • Shrimp Trawling Transition Program/Fees.

    What it does: On the version voted Jun 24, 2025: Creates annual payments through October 1, 2028, for commercial fishers who sold shrimp trawled in inshore waters from 2023 to mid-2025, and temporarily raises commercial and recreat…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 4–15, Republicans 25–3

    Jun 23, 2025Official record ↗

  • Shrimp Trawling Transition Program/Fees.

    What it does: On the version voted Jun 24, 2025: Creates annual payments through October 1, 2028, for commercial fishers who sold shrimp trawled in inshore waters from 2023 to mid-2025, and temporarily raises commercial and recreat…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 5–14, Republicans 24–4

    Jun 23, 2025Official record ↗

  • Flounder/Red Snapper Seasons and Shrimp Trawl.

    What it does: On the version voted Jun 19, 2025: Directs state fisheries regulators to allow a recreational southern flounder season of at least six weeks, set a 750,000-pound commercial flounder quota and a year-round red snapper…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–16, Republicans 25–3

    Jun 18, 2025Official record ↗

  • Flounder/Red Snapper Seasons and Shrimp Trawl.

    What it does: On the version voted Jun 19, 2025: Directs state fisheries regulators to allow a recreational southern flounder season of at least six weeks, set a 750,000-pound commercial flounder quota and a year-round red snapper…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 2–15, Republicans 25–3

    Jun 18, 2025Official record ↗

  • Flounder/Red Snapper Seasons and Shrimp Trawl.

    What it does: On the version voted Jun 19, 2025: Directs state fisheries regulators to allow a recreational southern flounder season of at least six weeks, set a 750,000-pound commercial flounder quota and a year-round red snapper…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–16, Republicans 24–4

    Jun 18, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HB 268 · NC SENATE

2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.

YesVOTED

Motion: Conference Rpt Third Reading

On the version voted Aug 5, 2026: Makes technical, clarifying and other changes to the 2026 state budget law, including adjustments to Hurricane Helene recovery grants and programs, budget procedure rules, and several local and board appointment provisions.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 31–6·Substantive·Jul 29, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 562 · NC SENATE

Budget Technical Corrections Modifications.

YesVOTED

Motion: Conference Rpt Motion 8 To Adopt

Adjusts the 2026 budget act: redirects several directed grants, moves authorization of the America's Semiquincentennial license plate into GS 20-63, delays an insurance regulatory charge change to 2027, and appropriates $225,000 for State Fire Marshal and $300,000 for Labor Department positions.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 34–3·Substantive·Jul 29, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 377 · NC SENATE

2026 Court Changes.

YesVOTED

Motion: Conference Rpt Motion 8 To Adopt

Changes court laws, including when juvenile records may be disclosed, giving any attorney of record access to the trial file in indigent appeals, assigning superior court judges to districts with a county over 1 million people, and Judicial Standards Commission definitions.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 26–11·Substantive·Jul 29, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 268 · NC SENATE

2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.

YesVOTED

Motion: Conference Rpt Second Reading

On the version voted Aug 5, 2026: Makes technical, clarifying and other changes to the 2026 state budget law, including adjustments to Hurricane Helene recovery grants and programs, budget procedure rules, and several local and board appointment provisions.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 34–8·Substantive·Jul 28, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1092 · NC SENATE

2026 Senate & House Appointments.

YesVOTED

Motion: Second Reading

On the version voted Aug 4, 2026: Appoints people to boards and commissions, including community college trustees and a Special Superior Court judge, on the recommendation of the Senate leader and House Speaker, and corrects earlier appointments.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 32–9·Substantive·Jul 28, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 958 · NC SENATE

Election Law Changes.

YesVOTED

Motion: Amendment 1

Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 31–11·Substantive·Jul 28, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 958 · NC SENATE

Election Law Changes.

YesVOTED

Motion: Amendment 2 Motion 1 To Table

Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 28–14·Procedural·Jul 28, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 958 · NC SENATE

Election Law Changes.

YesVOTED

Motion: Amendment 3 Motion 1 To Table

Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 28–14·Procedural·Jul 28, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 958 · NC SENATE

Election Law Changes.

YesVOTED

Motion: Amendment 5

Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 28–14·Substantive·Jul 28, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 958 · NC SENATE

Election Law Changes.

YesVOTED

Motion: Amendment 6 Motion 1 To Table

Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 28–13·Procedural·Jul 28, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 336 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.