North Carolina State Senate District 43

Campaign priorities & governance: “Steve Rutherford was in attendance for the swearing-in of Rev. Thomas S. Gillespie for Lowell Township City Council. Rutherford said he is making every swearing-in ceremony possible to give and show support to those who have won a political seat. It's important to me since I'm running for office to support this that are doing the same.” (Campaign website (accessed Oct 23, 2026))

Campaign priorities & governance: “I’m running for the North Carolina Senate because too many people feel unseen, unheard, and left to carry the weight of a system that no longer works for them.” (Campaign website (accessed Oct 23, 2026))

Jobs, economy & workforce: “I’ve spent my life listening—to people on the job, in uniform, in classrooms, in church basements, and in living rooms across Gaston County. As a Navy veteran, I learned the value of service and responsibility. As a documentary filmmaker, I learned how to pay attention—how to sit with people long enough to understand what’s really happening beneath the surface.” (Campaign website (accessed Oct 23, 2026))