North Carolina general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for NC Senate, District 40 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for NC Senate, District 40 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in North Carolina Senate District 40.
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 | Joyce WaddellDemocrat | Bobbie ShieldsRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | Keep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Minimum wage | Raise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingOfficial action · medium | Get rid of it; let employers and workers agree on payQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Business regulation | No public position | Cut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rulesQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Healthcare | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenOfficial action · medium | Add a government plan anyone can buy into (a public option)Questionnaire answer · medium |
| Abortion | Legal in all cases, left to the woman and her doctorSaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Guns | No single answer fits; see evidence | Keep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Curriculum and books | No single answer fits; see evidence | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Marijuana | Decriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)Official action · medium | Medical use onlyQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Gender care for minors | No single answer fits; see evidence | 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 |
| Qualified immunity | No public position | Yes, keep it as courts apply it nowQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Paid leave | Create a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| School vaccines | No public position | End school vaccine requirements; leave it to parentsQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No single answer fits; see evidence | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsQuestionnaire answer · medium |
Joyce Waddell
Democrat · IncumbentNorth Carolina State Senator, District 40
Joyce Waddell has represented District 40 in Mecklenburg County in the North Carolina Senate since 201512. A former teacher and administrator in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for 21 years, she also served on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education and holds a doctorate from UNC Greensboro24. She is the Democratic nominee for re-election5.
Where they stand 17 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
AbortionLegal in all cases, left to the woman and her doctormedium
Said · medium confidence- Answered that there should be no restrictions on abortion and said the decision should be between the woman and her doctor. (2022-10-10) source
- Asked in 2024 whether she supports the state's current abortion restrictions, said reproductive health is a personal and complex issue and that her approach is to seek a balance between public health, individual rights and community well-being, without taking a position on the 12-week law. (2024-10) source
- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 20, which limited most abortions to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (passed 30 to 20). (2023-05-16) source
MarijuanaDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)medium
Official action · medium confidence- Cosponsored Senate Bill 1072, a proposed constitutional amendment under which possession of limited amounts of cannabis for personal use would not be a crime and medical use would be allowed. (2026-05-05) source
- Answered yes when asked whether medical marijuana should be legalized in North Carolina. (2022-10-10) source
RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Cosponsored Senate Bill 804, the Fair Maps Act, which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission. (2026-04-22) source
- On third reading, voted against Senate Bill 249, which redrew the state's congressional districts in the middle of the decade (passed 26 to 20). (2025-10-21) source
Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- On second reading, voted for Senate Bill 403, which directed the state to put work requirements on Medicaid coverage as soon as federal regulators allow them (passed 34 to 12). (2025-04-30) source
Minimum wageRaise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 525, the Living Wage Guarantee Act, which would raise the state minimum wage to $15 an hour with automatic cost-of-living increases. (2025-03-26) source
Paid leaveCreate a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysmedium
Official action · medium confidenceHealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenmedium
GunsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 41, which repealed the state's pistol purchase permit requirement (passed 30 to 19). (2023-03-28) source
- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 50, which allows adults to carry a concealed handgun without a permit (passed 30 to 19). (2025-07-29) source
Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of House Bill 808, which bars gender transition treatments such as puberty blockers and hormones for minors, with limited exceptions (passed 27 to 18). (2023-08-16) source
Transgender athletesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of House Bill 574, the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, which limits girls' and women's school and college teams to students who are female at birth (passed 27 to 18). (2023-08-16) source
Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 49, the Parents' Bill of Rights, which sets parents' rights to review curriculum and school materials (passed 27 to 18). (2023-08-16) source
Election rulesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 747, which ended the three-day grace period for mail ballots arriving after Election Day and changed same-day registration rules (passed 30 to 19). (2023-10-10) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overriding the governor's veto of House Bill 10, which requires sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration detainers and added money for private school scholarships (passed 30 to 19). (2024-11-20) 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 30 to 19). (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 30 to 19). (2025-07-29) 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 30 to 19). (2025-07-29) 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 30 to 19). (2025-07-29) source
School choiceNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidenceEnergy 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 30 to 18). (2025-07-29) source
- Voted for final passage of Senate Bill 266, which removed the state's 2030 interim goal for cutting carbon emissions from power plants (passed 29 to 11). (2025-06-19) source
- On second reading, voted for Senate Bill 261, the Energy Security and Affordability Act, a broad energy bill (passed 31 to 12). (2025-03-13) source
Term limitsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against House Joint Resolution 151, which asked Congress to call a convention to propose congressional term limits (passed 29 to 20). (2024-12-02) source
No public position found on: Business regulation, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, 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, Religion in schools, China policy.
Bobbie Shields
RepublicanPrivate citizen
Bobbie Shields is a licensed civil engineer with an MBA from UNC Charlotte who spent 27 years in Mecklenburg County government, including as interim county assessor and interim county manager36. He ran for Senate District 40 in 2018, 2020 and 20221. He is the Republican nominee in 20264.
Where they stand 13 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareAdd a government plan anyone can buy into (a public option)medium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Chose the answer that health insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, alongside private options, and added that private options should be made more affordable. (2022) source
- In 2026, again chose the answer that government-funded health insurance should be available for all who want it alongside private options, saying private options have not proven willing to provide for those most in need. (2026) source
School vaccinesEnd school vaccine requirements; leave it to parentsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Asked when a government, school or employer should be allowed to require vaccinations, answered none, saying data should educate people and restrictions could protect the public from those who choose not to be vaccinated. (2022) source
Qualified immunityYes, keep it as courts apply it nowmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Agreed that police officers should have qualified immunity for on-duty conduct consistent with departmental policy, while noting that bad departmental policy is possible. (2022) source
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Agreed that attempts to transition a child to the opposite sex are harmful to that child and should be prohibited. (2026) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Agreed that biological males should not be allowed to compete in women's sports or use women's spaces. (2026) source
Minimum wageGet rid of it; let employers and workers agree on paymedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Said a minimum wage should be determined by market forces. (2026) source
Business regulationCut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rulesmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Listed eliminating unnecessary government regulations, meaning those not based on cost-benefit analysis, among his priorities for cutting government waste. (2026) source
GunsKeep current laws and enforce what is already on the bookslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Said he supports preserving the Second Amendment and continuing to ban automatic weapons and related devices such as bump stocks. (2020) source
- In 2026, said no restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety, but gun owners must be accountable for what happens as a result of their ownership. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tolow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Strongly agreed that parents should have the right to know what schools teach about sex and LGBT issues and to opt their children out of instruction they object to. (2020) source
- 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
AbortionNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Chose the option that there should be a ban on abortion with some exceptions, but added that he did not subscribe to any listed option, that abortion should be the choice of the affected person or persons, and that if government intervenes it should discourage and not fund elective abortions. (2022-10-07) source
- In 2020, agreed that human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage, and listed rape or other crimes against the woman, danger to the mother's life and a fetus that cannot survive as the circumstances in which abortion should be allowed. (2020) source
- In 2022, said abortions should be discouraged outside cases of crime or danger to the fetus or mother but are and should be an individual's choice, and that he would not support legislation banning abortion in North Carolina. (2022) source
- In 2026, said he is opposed to abortion but believes it is a personal choice, and that an elective abortion should be allowed for rape, incest or a threat to the mother's life. (2026) source
School choiceNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he supports school choice. (2020-10-14) source
- Said the legislature has rightly expanded educational options such as charter schools but should give more attention to resources for public school facilities and teachers. (2022-10-07) source
- Agreed that states should allow parents to use the Opportunity Scholarship Program to pay for private school. (2022) source
Election rulesNo single answer fitslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Agreed that people should be able to vote without photo identification, after answering neutral to the same statement in 2020. (2022) source
- In 2026, answered neutral on voting without photo identification, adding that if photo ID is required there should be no barriers to obtaining it. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Immigration, Energy and climate, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, 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.