North Carolina — 13th District

Paul Barringer

Supports border security and legal immigration reform

Barringer advocates for balancing strong border security with modernizing legal immigration channels. He supports targeted enforcement to curb illegal crossings and drug trafficking while expanding legal pathways for agricultural, healthcare, and technology workers.

• Enhance border security to stop illegal crossings, drug trafficking, and human exploitation
• Modernize legal immigration systems to address workforce shortages in agriculture, healthcare, and technology
• Establish clear, fair legal pathways for individuals who follow the rules

“Border security is a basic function of government, and we need smart, effective enforcement to stop illegal crossings, drug trafficking, and exploitation. At the same time, we need to modernize our legal immigration system to meet workforce needs”

Brad Knott

Supports strict border enforcement and mandatory deportation

Knott prioritizes securing the southern border, completing the physical wall, and strictly enforcing federal immigration laws. In Congress, he voted for the Laken Riley Act and legislation making DUIs grounds for deportation, while proposing a mandatory five-year prison term prior to deportation for illegal immigrants who commit felonies.

• Finish construction of the border wall and fully enforce existing immigration laws
• Require a minimum five-year prison sentence followed by deportation for any illegal immigrant who commits a felony
• Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S.5) requiring detention of illegal immigrants arrested for theft crimes
• Voted for H.R.875 making driving while impaired grounds for deportation or inadmissibility

“Our border must be secured. The wall must be finished. An illegal immigrant who commits a felony should be sent to prison for a minimum of five years and then deported.”

Paul Barringer

Supports fiscal discipline and bipartisan spending restraint

Barringer emphasizes reducing federal waste, improving spending oversight, and controlling national debt growth across administrations. He criticizes debt accumulation under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden and calls for practical budget discipline that protects taxpayers without undermining vital programs.

• Reduce federal waste and improve oversight to control federal spending
• Criticize national debt accumulation under both Donald Trump (40% increase) and Joe Biden (25% increase)
• Promote practical spending discipline to ensure long-term economic stability

“Fiscal responsibility means reducing waste, improving oversight, and focusing spending on what actually works.”

Brad Knott

Supports spending cuts and a constitutional balanced budget amendment

Knott blames high inflation and elevated interest rates on excessive federal spending and multi-trillion-dollar deficits. He calls for ending omnibus spending bills, scrutinizing every spending measure for cuts, and enacting a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

• Support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
• End omnibus spending bills and scrutinize federal spending to make cuts
• Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) reconciliation bill and the FY2025 budget resolution (H.Con.Res.14)

“His torrent of wasteful spending has given us two trillion-dollar deficits, undercut the value of the dollar, and brought on high-interest rates. It makes no sense for Washington politicians to print money to pay for their wasteful spending.”

Paul Barringer

Supports protecting reproductive choices and expanding maternal care

Barringer believes the law should not interfere with a woman making healthcare decisions in consultation with her doctor. He advocates for policies supporting maternal health, family planning, contraception access, and adoption to ensure women have comprehensive support.

• Prevent legal impediments to women making healthcare choices with their physicians
• Invest in maternal health care, family planning, and access to contraception
• Enhance adoption and foster care systems to support women and children

“However, the law should not be an impediment to a woman making the health care choices she needs to make with her doctor.”

Brad Knott

Opposes abortion and supports state restrictions

Knott identifies as pro-life and praises the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision for returning abortion regulation to state governments. He opposes federal efforts to expand abortion access and pledges to defend faith-based crisis pregnancy centers.

• Support state-level laws protecting the unborn and praise the Dobbs decision overruling Roe v. Wade
• Oppose federal legislation legalizing abortion up to birth
• Protect faith-based crisis pregnancy centers from political attacks

“The Dobbs decision properly overruled Roe v. Wade, returning authority over abortion to the states, as our Constitution provides. I’m pro-life. I support state laws protecting the unborn.”

Paul Barringer

Supports Second Amendment rights and violence prevention measures

As a gun owner, Barringer supports the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. He advocates for enforcing existing firearm regulations while collaborating across party lines to pass common-sense measures to reduce gun violence.

• Protect Second Amendment rights for law-abiding gun owners
• Enforce existing firearm safety laws on the books
• Work across party lines on common-sense solutions to prevent gun violence

“We need to enforce the laws already on the books, while also working together—across party lines—to find common-sense solutions that reduce gun violence, keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, and protect both our rights and our communities.”

Brad Knott

Opposes new gun restrictions and supports enforcing existing laws

Knott opposes passing new firearm restrictions, arguing that current background check systems and prohibitions on felons are sufficient. He advocates focusing exclusively on enforcing existing laws against criminals rather than burdening law-abiding citizens.

• Defend Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms
• Enforce existing background checks and felon possession prohibitions
• Oppose new gun regulations that target law-abiding citizens

“We already have numerous laws regulating firearms, including a background check system and prohibitions on the possession of guns by felons and drug addicts. We need to enforce the gun laws we have, not pass new ones that target the law-abiding rather than criminals.”

Paul Barringer

Supports public education, parental transparency, and vocational service

Barringer supports public schools and teachers while emphasizing parental involvement in curriculum decisions. He also promotes service programs for older youth combining education, vocational training, and community service.

• Support public school teachers and invest in public education
• Ensure parents have transparency and a seat at the table regarding school curricula
• Expand youth service programs combining vocational training, education, and community service

“I’m a proud supporter of our public schools and the teachers who show up every day to give our kids the best shot at a strong future. But I also believe parents should have a real seat at the table when it comes to what’s being taught in the classroom.”

Brad Knott

Supports school choice and opposing woke curricula

Knott contends that public schools fail students by promoting critical race theory and transgenderism instead of foundational education. He advocates for school choice policies allowing parents to move children to alternative schools, and voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

• Support school choice programs to give parents educational alternatives
• Oppose critical race theory and transgender concepts in public school curricula
• Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R.28)

“Instead, public schools push woke ideologies like critical race theory and even transgenderism. Parents must have a voice in school curriculums and policies. I support school choice so parents can get their children out of failing schools”

Paul Barringer

Supports law enforcement resources and inmate rehabilitation

Barringer supports providing police officers with necessary resources while advocating for prison rehabilitation and re-entry programs to curb recidivism. He highlights his personal volunteer work teaching literacy and bible study inside prison systems.

• Provide police officers with necessary resources, funding, and support
• Support prison rehabilitation, literacy, and re-entry job programs to reduce recidivism
• Combine effective law enforcement with second-chance opportunities

“Supporting the police and supporting rehabilitation are not opposing values—they’re both essential to a just and safe society.”

Brad Knott

Supports tough-on-crime prosecution and backing police

Citing his background as a federal prosecutor, Knott strongly supports law enforcement and tough-on-crime policies. He opposes defunding the police and attributes violent crime and drug addiction to lenient criminal justice policies.

• Back law enforcement 100% and oppose defunding police initiatives
• Promote tough-on-crime prosecution targeting drug dealers and violent criminals
• Apply federal prosecutorial experience to strengthen public safety

“The Democrats’ defunding of the police and soft-on-crime policies have brought us deadly violence, along with rampant addiction and death from illegal drugs. As a prosecutor, after working with sheriffs and police departments investigating and convicting drug dealers, I ‘Back the Blue’ 100%.”

Paul Barringer

Supports democratic alliances and opposing authoritarian regimes

Barringer emphasizes strengthening international alliances with democratic nations based on shared values and fair trade. He opposes compromising principles or appeasing authoritarian dictatorships that undermine human rights and democratic norms.

• Strengthen security and trade partnerships with democratic allies
• Oppose appeasement of dictatorships and authoritarian regimes
• Promote global leadership grounded in democracy, justice, and human rights

“We should not cozy up to dictatorships or authoritarian regimes that undermine human rights, freedom, and the rule of law. America’s role in the world should reflect our values of democracy and justice, and we should lead by example, not by appeasement.”

Brad Knott

Supports strong alliance with Israel and holding Iran accountable

Knott advocates for a firm foreign policy standing with Israel against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. He also insists that any Gaza refugees should be resettled in Arab nations rather than admitted to the United States.

• Stand firmly by Israel as a loyal democratic ally in the Middle East
• Maintain a strong foreign policy that holds Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah in check
• Require Gaza refugees to be resettled in Arab countries rather than the U.S.

“We must stand by Israel. And we need a strong foreign policy that holds Iran in check. Any refugees from Gaza must go to Arab countries, not the USA.”

Paul Barringer

Supports fully funding the VA and protecting PACT Act benefits

Barringer advocates for fully funding the Department of Veterans Affairs while streamlining bureaucracy to improve access to healthcare and mental health services. He pledges to protect expanded benefits under the PACT Act and enhance local district VA facilities.

• Fully fund the VA and protect expanded benefits under the PACT Act
• Streamline VA bureaucracy and leverage public-private partnerships to reduce wait times
• Enhance local VA facilities serving veterans in the 13th District

“I support fully funding the VA while streamlining bureaucracy to ensure timely access to quality health care, mental health services, and job training. I’m fully committed to protecting the expanded benefits granted to veterans with the passage of the PACT Act.”

Brad Knott

Supports funding military construction and veterans programs

Knott voted in favor of H.R.5371, providing federal appropriations for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and related extension programs for fiscal year 2026.

• Voted for H.R.5371 appropriating federal funds for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs

Paul Barringer

Supports constitutional accountability and reducing money in politics

Barringer stresses independent representation, defending democratic norms, and standing up to presidential power abuses regardless of party. He advocates reducing the influence of wealthy donors in politics and maintaining strict constitutional oversight.

• Defend democratic norms, rule of law, and constitutional accountability
• Reduce the influence of billionaire donors and money in politics
• Provide independent representation free from party leadership or presidential control

“I’m running to represent the people of this district – not Donald Trump, party leadership, or billionaire donors. Congress works best when members are willing to stand up to any president who abuses power and to wealthy interests that try to buy influence.”

Brad Knott

Supports voter ID, free speech, and limiting judicial injunctions

Knott emphasizes defending free speech and religious exercise against cancel culture. In Congress, he voted for the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship for federal voting, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the NORRA Act limiting federal district court injunctions.

• Protect free speech and religious freedom against left-wing cancel culture
• Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R.22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal election registration
• Voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R.4405) to publish unclassified investigative materials
• Voted for NORRA of 2025 (H.R.1526) limiting federal district court injunctions to case parties

“Freedom of speech and the free exercise of religious faith form the bedrock of American liberty. Today, both of those freedoms are under assault from the Left.”

Paul Barringer

Supports market-driven reforms and protecting public programs

Drawing on more than 20 years as a healthcare consultant working with state Medicaid programs, Barringer advocates for curbing administrative inefficiencies and duplicative treatments. He emphasizes protecting Medicare and Medicaid while reforming payment incentives to lower patient costs and expand access.

• Reduce healthcare administrative waste and unnecessary duplicative treatments
• Protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid for seniors, low-income families, and disabled individuals
• Reform healthcare payment incentives and increase provider flexibility to lower costs

“The reason we have programs like Medicare and Medicaid in the first place is because the market fails to cover the needs of seniors, low-income families, and those with disabilities. It’s our responsibility to continue supporting these vital programs”

Paul Barringer

Opposes broad tariffs and supports targeted trade enforcement

Barringer opposes broad, blanket tariffs, arguing they act as a tax on consumers and penalize local farmers and small manufacturers reliant on export markets. He supports targeted trade enforcement, diplomatic pressure, and investments in domestic competitiveness.

• Oppose broad, punitive tariffs that increase consumer costs and harm agricultural exports
• Utilize targeted trade enforcement and multilateral diplomacy to counter unfair practices
• Invest in domestic manufacturing, supply chains, and worker competitiveness

“While targeted trade enforcement has a role in addressing unfair practices, broad tariffs function like a tax on consumers, especially hurting farmers, small manufacturers, and rural communities who rely on affordable materials and access to international markets.”

Paul Barringer

Supports family farms, rural infrastructure, and export market access

As a farm owner and timberland manager, Barringer advocates for policies protecting family farms and reducing federal red tape. He opposes tariffs that harm agricultural exports, supports disaster relief for farmers, and calls for investments in rural infrastructure.

• Protect family farms and eliminate unnecessary federal red tape
• Oppose tariffs that disrupt foreign export markets for American farm products
• Invest in rural infrastructure, farmland preservation, and disaster assistance

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and our communities, and I support policies that protect family farms, promote fair markets, and reduce unnecessary federal red tape.”

Paul Barringer

Supports public land preservation and voluntary conservation

Barringer opposes selling or privatizing federal public lands and supports full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He advocates for active forest management, voluntary conservation easements, and protecting clean water and biodiversity.

• Prevent the sale or privatization of federal public lands
• Fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
• Promote active forest management, voluntary conservation easements, and clean water protection

“I believe in protecting and managing our public lands through common-sense conservation, as part of our responsibility to future generations. That means preventing the sale or privatization of federal lands”