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Candidates › NC-08 race › 2025–2026
Colby Watson
D Democratic nominee for U.S. House, NC-08
Has not served in Congress
- On the ballot
- On the general election ballotNov 3, 2026 · North Carolina US House 8
- Where to vote
- Find your polling place (opens in a new tab) · More ways to vote
- Top priorities
- Housing
- RESTORE TRUST
- Rights Liberty Freedoms
- Border & Immigration
- Corruption, Integrity, Accountability
- Money
- $57.6K raised, $53.4K spent, $4.2K cash on hand (through Oct 14, 2026). Where it comes from
- Who gives
- 56% of individual money from donors at $200 or less · 99.6% from North Carolina · largest committee giver PRICE FOR CONGRESS, $1K
10 priorities from colbyforcongress.com, in the order they are listed there. Every heading and the text under it is copied exactly, as one passage for each page it is from, and links to that place on the page; hover a source to see which passage it opens.
Homeownership remains a cornerstone of the American dream and one of the surest paths to long-term financial stability and generational wealth. It's time to bring that dream back within reach.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com
I will work to ensure the dream of homeownership remains a reality for every generation of Americans.
Stop Wall Street firms and large institutional investors from buying up our neighborhoods. Cut unnecessary red tape that blocks new homes. Support first-time homebuyer programs. Work with the market to increase the supply of starter homes.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues
Homeownership has long been one of the greatest builders of generational wealth in America. Today, that dream is slipping further out of reach for many families. Homeownership is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve, and for millions of Americans, the cycle of rising rents makes it even harder to save, build wealth, and take that first step toward owning a home. There isn't a single cause. Years of underbuilding, a lack of focus on starter homes, rising construction costs, restrictive regulations in some communities, and large institutional investors buying up single-family homes have all contributed to the problem. It's time to put a renewed focus on helping young families, first-time homebuyers, and all Americans who aspire to own a home. Homeownership remains a cornerstone of the American Dream and one of the surest paths to building long-term financial stability and generational wealth.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues/housing-and-economy
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Healthcare should be about healing people, not maximizing profits. No American should have to choose between getting the care they need and facing financial ruin. Families shouldn't have to rely on GoFundMe to pay for medical treatment.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com
Healthcare should be about healing people, not maximizing profits. We spend more per person on healthcare than any country in the world, yet many Americans still can't afford the care they need. That's not only unsustainable, it's unacceptable. Many families are paying $2,000 a month or more for health insurance, and that's before deductibles, copays, and other out-of-pocket costs. I grew up in a family that didn't always have health insurance. A lot of my injuries were patched up at home with Super Glue, butterfly bandages, homemade splints and stitches. It wasn't always a fun experience. If someone's child is sick or injured, no parent should have to think twice about going to the hospital because of the financial burden. Years of consolidation throughout the healthcare industry are one of the biggest reasons costs have continued to rise. At the same time, healthcare has become one of the wealthiest industries in America and has gained tremendous influence in our political system. Too often, policy is shaped to benefit the industry itself rather than the people it is supposed to serve. We should measure our healthcare system by healthier people, not higher profits.
Strengthen antitrust enforcement and stop anti-competitive mergers. Protect independent physicians, clinics, and rural hospitals. Lower prescription drug costs. Improve health outcomes, not just healthcare spending. Cut unnecessary administrative costs and bureaucracy.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/healthcare
Healthcare should be about healing people, not maximizing profits. No American should have to choose between getting the care they need or financial ruin. Families shouldn't have to rely on GoFundMe to pay for medical treatment.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues
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I believe in fair, incentive-based markets that reward hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurship. But markets only work when there's plenty of opportunity and an honest day's work gives people a real chance to get ahead.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com
Cut the red tape that strangles small businesses and the skilled trades. Stop punishing the people who build, make, and fix things. Support American manufacturing and keep good-paying jobs here at home. Support the small businesses that Main Street runs on. Fund apprenticeships, trade schools, and job training. Reward skilled work with wages people can live on.
The American Dream isn't supposed to be about surviving. It's supposed to be about working hard, getting ahead, and building something you can rely on. Today, many Americans are working as hard as ever while falling further behind. Family farms are disappearing, and more and more economic power continues to consolidate into fewer and fewer hands. That means less competition, fewer choices, less leverage for employees and producers, and fewer opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs. I believe a healthy economy is built from the ground up, with small businesses serving as its backbone. I believe in an incentive-based economy where hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurship are rewarded. But for that system to remain strong and sustainable, it must also be fair. We need guardrails that prevent powerful corporations from gaming the system and extracting wealth from our communities without putting anything back. Let's put our focus back on the real economy, where people build businesses, make things, grow food, and create opportunity, instead of relying so heavily on speculative markets. A strong, sustainable economy is one where a hard day's work is enough to build a good life.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues/labor-and-farming
An honest day's work should be enough to build a good life. Today, too many Americans are working as hard as ever and finding it harder to achieve the American Dream. As economic power continues to consolidate into fewer hands, competition shrinks, small businesses struggle, and working families lose leverage.
I believe a strong economy is built from the ground up, with small businesses as its backbone. We need fair markets where hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurship are rewarded, not monopolies that stifle competition and opportunity. It's time to put our focus back on the real economy, where people build businesses, grow food, make things, and create something that lasts.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues
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Our Constitution exists to protect the freedoms of the American people, and I will always work to defend those rights.
That includes protecting the First Amendment, the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to peacefully assemble, and the right to petition the government.
I also support and will defend the Second Amendment and the constitutional right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms.
The rights and liberties guaranteed by our Constitution belong to every American, regardless of who they are, what they believe, or who they love. It is not the government's job to tell law-abiding Americans how they should live their lives. Government exists to protect our constitutional rights and liberties, not to take them away.
As your representative, I will work to uphold those freedoms equally and defend the constitutional rights of every American.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues
A nation without secure borders cannot remain secure, but a nation without compassion loses part of what makes it strong. Secure the border. The chaos and fentanyl flow through a broken system. Then make immigration fair.
Secure our southern border with modern technology, infrastructure, and adequate staffing.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues
Strengthen enforcement against drug trafficking, human trafficking, and criminal organizations.
Protect the dignity and human rights of every person while enforcing our nation's laws.
Modernize and speed up the legal immigration system.
Hold employers accountable for knowingly exploiting undocumented labor.
Provide efficient case processing so asylum claims and immigration cases are resolved quickly.
Focus enforcement resources on violent criminals and genuine public safety threats.
Work with local communities to develop practical immigration solutions rather than political theater.
A nation without secure borders cannot remain secure, but a nation without compassion loses part of what makes it strong. We can have both.
For too long, Washington has allowed this issue to become a political weapon instead of solving it. One side often ignores legitimate concerns about border security, while the other too often uses fear and division instead of practical solutions. The American people deserve better than that.
We need a secure border, modern technology, sufficient personnel, and an immigration system that is organized, efficient, and fair. We should stop illegal immigration while making the legal immigration process faster, more transparent, and easier to navigate for those who follow the law.
We must also recognize that many people already living in our communities have worked, paid taxes, raised families, and built lives here for years. Every situation is different, and we should approach immigration with both common sense and humanity rather than one-size-fits-all policies.
America has always been a nation of laws, but it has also been a nation of opportunity. We should protect both.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues/civil-rights-and-democracy
Public office was never meant to be a path to wealth, but one of service, duty, and responsibility.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues
Over the decades, big money has flooded our political system and our election cycles, reducing the power of the American people's voices. Decisions like Citizens United opened the door for unlimited amounts of money to flow into our elections, giving special interests greater influence over our government. Too many members of Congress accept money from large corporate PACs or organizations that represent powerful special interests, including foreign-aligned lobbying groups. When elected officials rely on that money, they inevitably become more responsive to those interests than to the people they are sworn to represent.
That's why we need real campaign finance reform to limit the influence of special-interest money and return power to the American people.
At the same time, members of Congress are allowed to trade stocks in companies that are directly affected by the policies they write. Having access to privileged information while buying and selling stock is a clear conflict of interest. Most Americans agree that members of Congress should not be trading stocks while in office. It's a clear conflict of interest, yet it continues. Public office should never be a pathway to personal enrichment.
Elected officials should put the American people first. Every vote, every policy decision, and every action in office should be grounded in what benefits the people they serve.
No one should be above the law. Whether you're a member of Congress, a corporate executive, or a private citizen, accountability should apply equally. We must once again hold those in positions of power accountable for their actions and restore the public's trust in our institutions.
Ban members of Congress from buying, selling, or trading individual stocks while in office. Support a constitutional amendment to overturn the effects of Citizens United. Enact meaningful campaign finance reform to reduce the influence of special-interest money. Strengthen lobbying and ethics laws, including revolving-door restrictions. Increase transparency in campaign finance, lobbying, and government. Strengthen anti-corruption laws and protect whistleblowers. Hold everyone accountable under the law—no one is above it.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues/corruption
Every family deserves to feel safe in their home and community, but that's not always the reality in the 8th District. Safe communities are built by well-trained, well-supported local law enforcement, responsible community members, holding violent offenders accountable, addressing the root causes of crime, and making sure people have somewhere to turn before a crisis becomes a tragedy. Growing up in this district, I've seen what happens when emergency services are stretched too thin, when families facing domestic violence don't know where to turn, and when people struggling with addiction can't get the help they need. These aren't distant problems; they touch nearly every community. Most of us know a family member, friend, neighbor, or coworker who has faced one of these challenges.
Our police are neighbors who run toward danger. Fund them, train them, and stand with them. Crack down on fentanyl traffickers poisoning our communities. Treat addiction like the disease it is. Strengthen emergency services. Support victims of domestic violence and expand access to shelters and support services. Strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Expand access to mental health care and crisis intervention. Hold violent offenders accountable.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues/crime
Parents are a child's first teachers. My own parents homeschooled me, so I know firsthand how important parental involvement is. I support strong public schools, parents' right to choose the educational path that's best for their family, and keeping students, parents, and local communities at the center of education.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues
Fund strong local public schools.
Pay teachers what the job is worth.
Keep education decisions with parents and local communities, not bureaucrats in Washington.
Ban social media companies from collecting data on children under 18.
Expand career and technical education, apprenticeships, and the skilled trades.
Not every student needs a four-year degree to build a good life.
Fully fund special education.
Strengthen Title I support for high-need schools.
Education is one of the greatest investments we can make in our future. The strength of tomorrow depends on the education we provide our children today. As someone who was homeschooled, I strongly support parents' right to choose the educational path they believe is best for their family. At the same time, our public school teachers deserve better pay and greater support. Every child deserves a quality education and a real opportunity to succeed.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues/education-and-healthcare
Supporting our veterans should never be a partisan issue. Honor their service not only with words, but with action. Our nation has a responsibility to keep the promises it makes to those who serve. That means maintaining a strong and accountable VA, ensuring veterans can easily access the benefits they have earned, and treating every veteran with the dignity, respect, and gratitude they deserve.
Cut red tape and reduce delays at the VA. Expand access to in-home and community-based care so veterans can receive care closer to home. Improve mental health care, PTSD treatment, and suicide prevention services. Fully honor the PACT Act and ensure veterans exposed to toxic substances receive the care and benefits they have earned. Strengthen job training and career transition programs for veterans.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues/environment-and-infrastructure
“No more forever wars.” Congress should not allow endless conflicts without defined objectives, and American lives should never be put at risk without clear goals. If our nation goes to war, the people’s representatives in Congress should debate it and vote on it. I support strengthening Congress’s authority over war powers and repealing outdated authorizations that have allowed conflicts to continue for decades without accountability.
Over the past two decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on wars in the Middle East with little to show for it and no lasting benefit for the American people. Much of that cost was borrowed money, and the debt from those wars will be carried by future generations.
Our foreign policy should also reflect our values. No weapons should be given to governments engaged in human rights violations. America should lead with strength, but also with principle, and our actions abroad should leave the world better than we found it.
Our first responsibility is to protect the American people, uphold our Constitution, and pursue peace whenever possible without compromising our national security.
A strong America at home is the foundation of strong leadership abroad. Peace through strength, diplomacy, and accountability, not endless war. Trade and partnerships that benefit the American people. Human rights and the rule of law should guide our foreign policy.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/issues/foreign-policy-and-immigration
AI is already changing our lives and our economy, and like anything else, it can be used for good or for bad. I believe technological progress should improve the lives of the American people, not leave families paying higher electric bills, communities carrying the cost of new infrastructure, and a handful of massive corporations collecting most of the benefits.
In many cases, massive data centers are being pushed into communities without residents having much say in the process. These projects can have a real impact on the environment, water and electricity usage, local infrastructure, and potentially utility costs.
I believe communities deserve to know the facts before these projects are approved. Residents should understand how much water and electricity will be required, what infrastructure will need to be built, who will pay for it, who will benefit, and what the long-term impact will be on their community.
The people who live there deserve a real voice in deciding what happens in their own backyard.
Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than our laws and regulations have been able to keep up. I understand the importance of ensuring America remains a world leader, especially as we compete with countries like China.
But winning the AI race cannot mean abandoning our principles. We still have a responsibility to protect Americans’ privacy, property, jobs, safety, and communities as this technology develops. The goal should be smart, reasonable guardrails that protect the American people as this technology progresses.
The truth is, no one really knows exactly where this technology is going. Some believe AI will bring incredible prosperity and improve our lives. Others believe it could eliminate millions of jobs and fundamentally change our society for the worse. I understand the concern. And it may be that AI brings tremendous prosperity for some while creating real loss for others. We should not accept a future where technological progress enriches a few while leaving millions of Americans behind.
I am not interested in being blindly for AI or blindly against it. My responsibility as your representative would be to put the American people first.
I want America to lead the world in technology and innovation, but that cannot mean giving massive technology companies free rein to do whatever they want. If AI threatens American jobs, our privacy, our security, or the well-being of our communities, then government has a responsibility to act.
The companies developing this technology have a responsibility to their businesses and shareholders. Your representative has a responsibility to you. I will never confuse the two.
Set clear, enforceable guardrails around AI. Give local communities a voice and a choice on new data centers. Support moratoriums on new data centers when necessary. Require transparency about the water and electricity demands of data centers. End taxpayer subsidies for data centers. Protect the American workforce from reckless AI driven displacement.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · colbyforcongress.com/data-centers-ai