Commitment 2026: Amy Taylor North challenges Jeff Zenger again in Forsyth County House race
Commitment 2026: Amy Taylor North challenges Jeff Zenger again in Forsyth County House race
EDITOR'S NOTE: Full candidate video interviews can be seen in the story below!
Democrat Amy North is making her second attempt to replace Republican incumbent Jeff Zenger for North Carolina's 74th House District seat. Meanwhile, Zenger is seeking a fourth term.
Each campaign has been centered around affordability, education, healthcare and economic issues.
"I'm dedicated to my community and what's best for my community, and we got so close in 2024," North said.
Republican incumbent Jeff Zenger highlights gas prices, property tax reform, and regulation changes as key issues in his bid for a fourth term in Forsyth County.
"Listen, I get it. When I went and took my truck to fill up a week or so ago, about 10 days ago, the pump cut off at $175, and it wasn't full. So, I feel the pain too," Zenger said.
With gas prices in North Carolina and his district climbing to over $4 in early October, Zenger traveled to Raleigh to vote on the Relief at the Pump Act.
"There's a lot of oil out there, but refining capacity is an issue, and so on and so forth. But we don't have any impact on that. Eliminating the gas tax for 45 days or so until things stabilize can really make a big difference. It's one of the things that we can do to have impact on that," he said.
North said voters have shared concerns about education funding, healthcare costs, and everyday expenses like gas and groceries. She criticized recent legislative actions, such as the "Relief at the Pump Act," calling them insufficient and untimely.
"That happened as political theater. If they really cared about families in our area, they've been in charge for 15 years," she said.
North also expressed skepticism about two constitutional amendments on this year's ballot, one lowering the state's maximum income tax rate to 3.5% and another requiring the legislature to enact a property tax levy limit.
"Both of the amendments regarding taxes are hooey. Neither are going to lower taxes. There are no details in there, and the leadership in the Republican Party has had 15 years to come up with reasonable tax reform, and they haven't done it. This is an election year. This is a charade," North said. "I believe in tax reform, but not through amendments."
Click the video player above to watch GOP incumbent Rep. Zenger speak to WXII 12 News.
An amendment on property tax reform, which would enact a property tax levy limit, is an amendment Zenger supports.
"It's a three-legged stool. You've got the number of organizations that are exempt for property tax, which is huge. That's happened over decades and decades. You've got the levy or the tax rate, and you've got the assessed value. So those are the three things that we need to attack," he said.
If re-elected, Zenger said he plans to continue his work on regulation reform, which he described as a "hidden cost driver."
"Just like when you go shopping, you look at something and say, 'Man, I really like that. That really looks good.' And then you look at the price, and you go, 'Well, maybe not that much, right?' It's the same way with regulation. Some regulation, OK, yeah, we can regulate that, but it's just too costly, and so good regulations will stay. Regulations that maybe we're not getting the right return on investment from should go away. All that stuff will help slow the growth of costs in our state," Zenger said.
Click the video player above to watch Democratic candidate North speak to WXII 12 News.
In the 2024 general election, North's campaign received 48.18% of the vote, narrowly missing the opportunity to unseat Zenger.
"We laid a very strong foundation. In fact, we exceeded expectations. And this year, I am knocking on 200 doors a week, speaking to folks on their front steps about what they really care about and what's important to them," North said.
North said her campaign has relied on community collaboration, which she believes is driving momentum for change in the district.
"Yard signs have been out since 2024, saying that Zenger needs to retire, and I ran and got so close in '24 without party support at the state level. But it was my community who surrounded our campaign and supported our campaign," North said.
She said voters are frustrated with the economy, healthcare, and politics, and she believes solutions can be found through collaboration.
"I am hearing that the economy and healthcare and the frustration with politics is what people are upset by. They're fed up, and I know we can do better, and I know we can find solutions by coming together," North said.
North said her campaign has gained strength this election cycle, with support from the community and notable Democrats like Gov. Josh Stein. She described the race as one of the most competitive in North Carolina.
Zenger said his experience in Raleigh and the legislation he has been involved in are what set him apart from his Democratic opponent.
"That distinction matters," he said, believing voters will keep it in mind when they head to the polls.