NC · Officeholder
DState Senator · District 27
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: North Carolina Senate District 27
Michael Garrett is a Democratic state senator from North Carolina who represents District 27, covering Guilford County, and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2][4] He is the managing partner of a marketing firm and the only candidate listed for the seat on the general election ballot.[1]
Garrett was born in Raleigh and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007, according to Ballotpedia, which lists his profession as managing partner of a marketing firm.[1]
Garrett has served in the Senate since January 1, 2019, succeeding Trudy Wade.[1] The General Assembly's website shows his committee assignments in Agriculture, Energy, and Environment; Appropriations on Department of Transportation; Commerce and Insurance; Education/Higher Education; Health Care; and Rules and Operations of the Senate.[3] The Democratic primary for his seat on March 3, 2026, was canceled.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Michael Garrett is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina Senate District 27 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
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 Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
Most contested
Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 28–19 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to implement any Medicaid work requirements approved by federal officials, despite conflicting state law, and to report the funding needed.
Apr 30, 2025 · Passed 34–12 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Jun 25, 2025 · Passed 42–4 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Parking Lot Reform/Stormwater Control.
Bars most local governments outside the coastal area from requiring a minimum number of off-street parking spaces, and lets local governments offer optional incentives for extra stormwater controls. Also changes stormwater rules for existing impervious surface.
Jun 23, 2026 · Passed 44–1 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Parking Lot Reform/Stormwater Control.
Bars most local governments outside the coastal area from requiring a minimum number of off-street parking spaces, and lets local governments offer optional incentives for extra stormwater controls. Also changes stormwater rules for existing impervious surface.
Jun 23, 2026 · Passed 44–1 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Protecting Students in a Digital Age.
On the version voted Jun 11, 2025: Requires school boards to adopt internet policies blocking student social media and TikTok on school devices, adds required lessons on social media's health effects, and requires schools to bar student phone use during instructional time, with exceptions.
Jun 3, 2025 · Passed 44–1 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 10 of 204 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Climate & energy (8), Jobs & cost of living (1), Health & care (1)
Adjust Counties/Reappraisal Moratorium.
What it does: On the version voted Jul 1, 2026: Changes which counties must delay their 2026 property revaluations to 2027, applying the delay to any county that reappraised for 2026 unless it has under 12,000 people, meets certain…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 12–6, Republicans 0–27
Jun 23, 2026Official record ↗
SCRIPT Act.
What it does: On the version voted Jun 26, 2025: Licenses pharmacy services administrative organizations and requires pharmacy benefit managers to report rebates and pricing, pay affiliated and independent pharmacies the same rates…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 9–5, Republicans 0–26
Jun 19, 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 yes · most Democrats voted no · 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 yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 5–14, Republicans 24–4
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 yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 6–13, Republicans 27–1
Jun 23, 2025Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Realign Congressional Districts 2025.
With most of their party · Passed 25–20 · Yes 25–No 20 · Democrats 0–20, Republicans 25–0
Oct 20, 2025Official record ↗
Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI.
With most of their party · Passed 26–20 · Yes 26–No 20 · Democrats 0–20, Republicans 26–0
Jun 25, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 26–20 · Yes 26–No 20 · Democrats 0–20, Republicans 26–0
Jun 25, 2025Official record ↗
Defund Planned Parenthood & Cost Transparency.
With most of their party · Passed 28–20 · Yes 28–No 20 · Democrats 0–20, Republicans 28–0
Sep 22, 2025Official record ↗
Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors.
With most of their party · Failed 19–27 · Yes 19–No 27 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–27
Jun 24, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 28–21 · Yes 28–No 21 · Democrats 0–20, Republicans 28–1
Apr 22, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 26–18 · Yes 26–No 18 · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 26–0
Mar 20, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 28–19 · Yes 28–No 19 · Democrats 0–19, Republicans 28–0
Sep 22, 2025Official record ↗
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Showing 10 of 336 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.