North Carolina — 3rd District

Raymond Smith Jr.

Expand rural access and lower costs

Smith advocates for building a healthcare system that reduces consumer costs and prioritizes patients over corporate profits. Drawing on his legislative tenure, he emphasizes expanding healthcare access in rural Eastern North Carolina.

• Focuses on expanding healthcare access across rural communities in Eastern NC
• Advocates reforming the healthcare system to prioritize patients over corporate profits
• Supported bipartisan healthcare reform efforts while serving in the NC General Assembly

“In Congress, Raymond will work to build a healthcare system that brings down costs, expands access, and makes quality care affordable for more people.”

“Eastern North Carolina deserves a member of Congress who will expand healthcare access in rural areas while keeping care affordable.”

Gregory Murphy

Dismantle Obamacare and increase choice

As a physician, Murphy opposes Obamacare as failed legislation and advocates for dismantling its remaining provisions. He supports market-driven reforms that place healthcare treatment and doctor selection directly in the hands of citizens.

• Supports dismantling remaining provisions and remnants of Obamacare
• Advocates putting doctor choice and treatment decisions in the hands of citizens
• Utilizes personal experience as a urologic surgeon and medical faculty member

“Obamacare was one of the worst pieces of legislation ever passed and we must do everything possible to dismantle any remnants of that failed policy.”

“I support healthcare reforms that put the decision making process of doctor choice and treatment options in the hands of the citizens and will look for new and innovative ways to implement such changes.”

Raymond Smith Jr.

Lower everyday costs and support workers

Smith focuses on lowering everyday costs for groceries, housing, and healthcare for working families. He advocates for workforce development, small business tax incentives, and infrastructure projects to drive rural economic growth.

• Prioritizes lowering costs for essential household needs like groceries and housing
• Advocates for small business incentives including targeted tax breaks, grants, and loans
• Supports workforce development and infrastructure investments to sustain long-term growth

“The cost of living has gotten out of control while politicians in DC focus on lining the pockets of their billionaire donors.”

“In Congress, Raymond will focus on lowering the cost of necessities and raising the standard of living for all North Carolinians.”

Gregory Murphy

Cut federal spending and taxes

Murphy advocates for strict fiscal discipline, spending cuts, and lower taxes to combat national debt. He supports a Balanced Budget Amendment and voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.

• Signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge opposing all net tax increases
• Supports passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to curb federal debt
• Voted Yea on the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 to cap spending and raise work requirements

“I support a Balance Budget Amendment and will always look for and support spending cuts, with an eye toward clearing defining wants from needs.”

“Lower taxes. Less Government. More Liberty. Promote Personal Responsibility.”

Raymond Smith Jr.

Improve VA care and military family support

As a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, Smith proposes bipartisan reforms to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs. His platform focuses on expanding childcare access for military families and resolving the military base housing crisis.

• Leverages personal background as a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran
• Advocates for improving VA health services and benefits administration
• Prioritizes expanding military family childcare access and fixing base housing quality

“In Congress, he will work across the aisle to ensure America’s veterans and soldiers get the benefits and respect they deserve.”

“By improving the VA, expanding childcare access for the families of service members, and addressing the base housing crisis, we can ensure that we can protect those who risked their lives to protect our country.”

Gregory Murphy

Maintain strong defense and military services

Murphy emphasizes fulfilling federal commitments to active-duty military personnel and veterans. He supports robust national defense funding and voted Yea on the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

• Advocates for robust national defense funding in alignment with military leaders
• Pledges top-tier services for active-duty troops, veterans, and their families
• Voted Yea on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

“Promises made should be promises kept. That standard goes for our active duty military who stand in harms way to protect our freedoms, as well as our veterans who have honorably served our nation.”

“Maintaining a strong national defense is a Constitutional mandate that must be upheld.”

Raymond Smith Jr.

Increase public school funding and teacher pay

Smith champions full public school funding, higher teacher compensation, and smaller class sizes. Drawing on his background as a teacher and school board member, he supports local control alongside federal funding for special education.

• Advocates for full public education funding under Leandro and increasing teacher pay
• Supports reducing class sizes and upgrading educational technology and infrastructure
• Emphasizes local school control paired with federal support for special education and civil rights

“Quality public education is the best investment we can make in the next generation, and in Congress, Raymond will fight to protect the fundamental right to a sound, basic education.”

“In the General Assembly, Raymond led efforts to expand access to rural healthcare, fund public education, and improve our infrastructure.”

Gregory Murphy

Restrict transgender athletes in female sports

Murphy supports traditional education choices and legislative limits on athletic participation. In the 119th Congress, he voted Yea on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025.

• Voted Yea on H.R. 28 prohibiting biological males from competing in female school athletic programs
• Served as Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee in the 117th Congress
• Assigned to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce

Raymond Smith Jr.

Ban congressional stock trading and reform campaign finance

Smith campaigns on reducing the influence of special interests by banning congressional stock trading and overturning Citizens United. He advocates for sweeping campaign finance reform to increase government transparency.

• Proposes an immediate ban on stock trading by members of Congress
• Supports overturning Citizens United through comprehensive campaign finance reform
• Focuses on reducing the power of lobbyists, billionaires, and special interest groups

“It’s time that we push major campaign finance reform, bring an end to Citizens United, and ban stock trading from members of Congress.”

“Members of Congress are sitting in their office trading stocks instead of delivering for constituents, and places like Eastern North Carolina are suffering because of it.”

Gregory Murphy

Limit government scope and enact term limits

Murphy advocates for strict constitutional limitations on federal authority and signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge. He also voted for the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship for voting registration.

• Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge for members of Congress
• Voted Yea on H.R. 22 (SAVE Act) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote
• Advocates shifting federal authority back to states and citizens under the 10th Amendment

“I believe in a traditional interpretation of the Constitution and I will go to Washington with the goal of decreasing the size and scope of the federal government and to move as much power away from Washington and back to North Carolina and its people.”

Raymond Smith Jr.

Expand rural broadband and floodwater resilience

Smith advocates for securing federal funding to modernize infrastructure in Eastern North Carolina. His priorities include expanding high-speed broadband internet and investing heavily in floodwater resilience and prevention.

• Prioritizes federal funding for floodwater resilience and prevention in Eastern NC
• Advocates expanding high-speed broadband internet access to rural communities
• Focuses on modernizing local water and sewer infrastructure

“We deserve access to modern infrastructure that can move our economy forward, such as broadband internet access, as well as major investments in floodwater resilience and prevention.”

Gregory Murphy

Boost domestic fossil fuels and cut energy regulations

Murphy advocates for increasing domestic production of oil, natural gas, and coal while reducing regulatory hurdles. He voted Yea on the Lower Energy Costs Act and voted to repeal green energy tax credits.

• Voted Yea on H.R. 1 (Lower Energy Costs Act) to boost domestic energy production and exports
• Voted to repeal green energy tax credits under the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023
• Supports reducing permitting restrictions for pipelines, refineries, and energy projects

Gregory Murphy

Enforce immigration laws and secure the border

Murphy strongly opposes amnesty and supports border wall construction alongside strict law enforcement. In 2025, he voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act and the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act.

• Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring DHS detention for theft and burglary arrests
• Voted Yea on H.R. 875 making DUI offenses grounds for deportation or inadmissibility
• Opposes amnesty and advocates funding border security infrastructure as a national security priority

“Allowing individuals to cross our borders illegally endangers our national security, weakens our economy and is an affront to the millions who have played by the rules and entered our nation through the proper legal channels.”

“We must enforce the laws already in place, oppose amnesty for those who broke those laws and provide funding to secure our borders as a matter of both national security and of principle.”

Gregory Murphy

Oppose abortion and promote adoption

Murphy maintains a pro-life platform and pledges to protect unborn children. He advocates for compassionate alternatives to abortion, including reducing regulatory barriers to adoption.

• Maintains a firmly pro-life voting record and platform
• Advocates reducing administrative barriers to adoption as an alternative to abortion

“I am solidly pro-life and will do all within my power to protect the innocent unborn.”

Gregory Murphy

Oppose new gun ownership restrictions

Murphy opposes new gun control laws, arguing that restrictive measures penalize law-abiding citizens while failing to deter criminals. He emphasizes constitutional gun rights, self-defense, and regional sporting heritage.

• Opposes placing further legal burdens or restrictions on law-abiding gun owners
• Argues that restrictive gun laws fail to impact crime because criminals ignore regulations

“Reactionary responses to crimes involving guns overlooks the basic facts that more restrictive gun laws will have little effect on crime because by nature, criminals do not follow the law.”