Democratic state Sen. Woodson Bradley and Republican challenger Stacie McGinn are squaring off again for North Carolina Senate District 42, a southeastern Mecklenburg County seat that was decided by one of the slimmest margins in the state just two years ago. The district covers parts of Mint Hill, Matthews, Providence, SouthPark and Ballantyne, and both candidates ran unopposed in their March 3 primaries, setting up a direct rematch heading into the Nov. 3 election.
A Razor-Thin History Sets the Stage
Bradley first won the seat in 2024, and just how close that race was depends on which count you look at. According to the Charlotte Observer, McGinn trailed Bradley by just 27 votes after all precincts reported on election night, with Bradley's lead growing to 181 votes — 62,183 to 62,002 — once final absentee ballots were tallied. Other outlets have cited a different final tally: both Axios and The Assembly reported Bradley's margin after a recount as 209 votes, or 0.16 percentage points. Either way, the district remains one of the most competitive in the state, and The Assembly has gone so far as to call Bradley the most vulnerable incumbent Democrat in the state Senate.
Bradley is in her first elected office, having served in the state Senate since January 2025. Outside the legislature, WCNC reports she works as a real estate broker and small business owner, and earned her bachelor's degree in economics and business administration from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1995. McGinn, by contrast, has never held elected office. She's an attorney who has held various financial jobs, including a stint as deputy general counsel for global consumer and small business banking at Bank of America between 2004 and 2011, according to the same WCNC report. She also served as part-time general counsel for the Republican Party of North Carolina, holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Baylor University, and earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Campaign Priorities Diverge on Schools, Safety and Costs
Bradley's campaign says it is focused on lowering family costs, protecting public schools and improving public safety, per WCNC's reporting. Her campaign also says she sponsored more bills than any other freshman senator, pointing to Senate Bill 625, which the campaign says replaces cut federal consumer protection and public safety services, Senate Bill 628, which would require schools to notify parents and police of serious threats, and Senate Bill 719, which would create a state fund for crime victims. Bradley told the Charlotte Observer that her single most important priority is establishing a North Carolina Domestic Violence Registry.
McGinn's platform centers on education, crime and safety, and economic opportunity, according to WCNC. Her campaign says she supports parental involvement and choice in schools, high academic standards, skills-based training and apprenticeships, school safety, and strong law enforcement, along with legislation aimed at job growth, rising housing costs, labor shortages and infrastructure needs. McGinn told the Observer that her top priority is improving reading and math proficiency for public school students. Her endorsements include former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker, former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, former Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari, and congressional District 12 candidate Addul Ali, per WCNC.
Pocketbook Fights Over Energy, Highways and Taxes
On energy costs, Bradley told WSOC-TV that lawmakers need to rein in Duke Energy, saying the utility should not be able to arbitrarily raise its rates. She also said she introduced Senate Bill 839, the Grocery Price Transparency Act, which she says would prevent grocers from using algorithmic pricing. On I-77, Bradley told the Observer she does not believe the highway should be reliant on toll roads or carry a $650 million budget cap. She has also said utility rate increases tied to data center expansion should be borne solely by the data centers themselves, not ratepayers.
McGinn, meanwhile, told the Observer she supports a constitutional amendment to limit local property-tax increases and intends to vote yes on it. Her campaign has also framed the race in financial terms: a July press release posted on her campaign site reported McGinn had $275,000 in cash on hand at the end of the quarter, compared with $240,000 for Bradley, and noted the 2024 race was decided by a 209-vote margin that could make 2026 similarly close.
A Pyramid-Scheme Past Resurfaces
McGinn has also revived questions about Bradley's past involvement with Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, a multi-level marketing company shut down with help from the Federal Trade Commission. According to WFAE, McGinn has characterized Bradley as having been a platinum-level sales manager, chief spokesperson, trainer and member of the company's so-called ring of honor. The FTC had accused the company and its operators of deceiving consumers with promises of significant income for signing up as representatives.
Bradley has pushed back, saying she was a victim rather than a perpetrator. She acknowledged holding the platinum sales manager title but said, per WFAE's reporting, that the title was essentially meaningless within the network-marketing structure. WFAE notes that McGinn's own campaign platform focuses on education, public safety and lowering housing costs, separate from the Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing allegations.
A Long List of Endorsements for Bradley
Bradley has racked up endorsements from an array of labor, public safety and advocacy groups, according to WCNC's reporting, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, the Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council, the International Association of Firefighters, the North Carolina Association of Educators, Planned Parenthood, EMILY's List, Equality North Carolina, the Sierra Club, the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, the Climate Cabinet, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, Moms Demand Action, Lillian's List, Reproductive Freedom for All, Vote Mama PAC, Work for Democracy, and Public School Strong Voters.
With both candidates unopposed in their primaries and the district's history of nail-biter finishes, the Nov. 3 outcome could again come down to a small number of ballots. WCNC Charlotte says it will provide live election results, updates and analysis throughout election night, with coverage on its streaming app beginning at 7 p.m. and continuing on air until 2 a.m., including updates on other major races across the Carolinas and the country.
