Jessica Bichler
Jessica Bichler earned a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College in 2000 and a graduate degree from the University of South Carolina in 2012. Her career experience includes working as a business owner.
· Ballotpedia
Campaign site
Taxes, budget & cost of living: “ECONOMY North Carolina’s economy should work for everyone, not just large corporations and the wealthy. To support working families and ensure economic opportunity for all, we must: Lower taxes for working families and the middle class Make large corporations pay their fair share of taxes Protect homeowners from being priced out of their communities Raise the minimum wage Expand assistance programs for small businesses”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026)) Taxes, budget & cost of living: “My top priorities are lowering the cost of living, strengthening public education, and protecting the environment, and I believe these issues are intertwined. Reducing the cost of healthcare, food, and housing is essential for working families and ensures that our communities can thrive. Having a school-aged child, I know that access to a quality education gives kids the confidence and skills to succeed, which builds a strong workforce and drives long-term economic growth.”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026)) Michael Lee
Michael V. Lee earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from Wake Forest University Law School. Lee's career experience included working as a lawyer with Lee Law Firm, PLLC.
· Official legislative page · Ballotpedia
Campaign site
Campaign priorities & governance: “For Michael, education is measured by whether students are learning. He co-authored the law that put the Science of Reading in every elementary classroom, and our earliest grades now outperform national benchmarks. As Senate Education Chairman, he helped write the newest budget's average 8% teacher pay increase and $48,000 starting pay.”
(Campaign website (accessed Oct 23, 2026))