Who is running for NC House, District 98 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for NC House, District 98 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in North Carolina House District 98.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Beth HelfrichDemocrat | John RhodesRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | No public position | Private insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Guns | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsSaid · medium | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Immigration | No single answer fits; see evidence | Deport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possibleQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Election rules | No public position | Photo ID required, with current access otherwiseQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Gender care for minors | No public position | No, ban these treatments for minorsQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Redistricting | Independent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Paid leave | Require employers nationwide to offer a basic number of paid sick daysOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsSaid · medium |
Beth Helfrich
Democrat · IncumbentNorth Carolina State Representative, District 98
Beth Helfrich has represented District 98, which includes Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville, in the North Carolina House since 202512. A Davidson College graduate, she spent nearly two decades in schools as a teacher, administrator and PTO president and has worked as a writer and editor32. She is the Democratic nominee for a second term4.
Where they stand 8 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium
RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium
Official action · medium confidencePaid leaveRequire employers nationwide to offer a basic number of paid sick daysmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Cosponsored House Bill 521, which would require employers to provide earned paid sick days. (2025) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- Said she does not support the state's current abortion restrictions, that bans with exceptions create impossible scenarios, and that she will work to restore abortion access so women, not legislators, are in charge of their reproductive lives. (2024-10-16) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- On second reading, voted for House Bill 261, which created longer sentences for felonies committed by people unlawfully in the country (passed 84 to 29). (2025-04-30) source
- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of House Bill 318, the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, which expanded requirements for jails to cooperate with federal immigration detainers (passed 72 to 48). (2025-07-29) source
- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 153, the North Carolina Border Protection Act, which expanded state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement (passed 71 to 47). (2026-06-24) source
DEI programsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 227, which bans diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in public K-12 schools (passed 71 to 47). (2026-06-24) source
- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 558, which bans diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in public colleges and universities (passed 71 to 47). (2026-06-24) source
- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of House Bill 171, which bans diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in state agencies (passed 71 to 47). (2026-06-24) source
Energy and climateNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 266, which removed the state's 2030 interim goal for cutting carbon emissions from power plants (passed 74 to 46). (2025-07-29) source
Policing and crimeNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted for final passage of House Bill 307, Iryna's Law, which tightened pretrial release rules and changed death penalty procedures (passed 81 to 31). (2025-09-23) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, Religion in schools, China policy.
John Rhodes
RepublicanReal estate broker; former state representative
John Rhodes represented District 98 in the North Carolina House from 2003 to 2007 and has also served as a Cornelius town commissioner1. He is a real estate broker and a former Mecklenburg County medic and Cornelius firefighter who has lived in northern Mecklenburg County for about four decades12. He is the Republican nominee3.
Where they stand 8 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
ImmigrationDeport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possiblemedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Strongly disagreed with sanctuary cities and said all illegal invaders, including undocumented persons, should be deported. (2026) source
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Strongly agreed that attempts to transition a child to the opposite sex are harmful and should be prohibited, adding that it should be treated as child abuse and a crime. (2026) source
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Said no restrictions on gun ownership are needed, that there should be constitutional carry in all 50 states, and that the number and type of firearms a person owns is no business of government. (2026) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Questionnaire answer · low confidenceElection rulesPhoto ID required, with current access otherwiselow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Strongly disagreed that people should be able to vote without photo identification, saying photo ID should be required in all jurisdictions. (2026) source
HealthcarePrivate insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Chose the answer that Medicaid and Medicare should remain available but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tolow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Strongly agreed that government should recognize and support the fundamental right and duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Energy and climate, School choice, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.