
Philip E. "Phil" Berger
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Philip E. "Phil" Berger
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary - Federal, Statewide, State, Judicial, School Board
Race
State Senate, District 26
Incumbent
Yes
EDUCATION
Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, JD, 1980-1982
Averett College, Danville, VA, BS, 1978-1980
Danville Community College, Danville, VA, 1970-1978
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Eden Boys & Girls Club, Previous Board Member
Best Friends of Rockingham County, Previous Board Member
Eden Jaycees, Previous Member
Rockingham County Board of Elections, Previous Member and Chair
Help, Inc., Former Board Member
Rockingham County Republican Party, Member, Former Officer (Various Positions
First Presbyterian Church, Member, Former Deacon, Former Finance Chair
National Rifle Association, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
North Carolina State Senator, 2001-2025
President Pro Tem North Carolina Senate, 2011-2025
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
North Carolina House of Representatives, 1994-1994
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
North Carolina Values Coalition
Virginia Foxx
Ted Budd
OTHER (4)
President Donald J. Trump
Steve Troxler
North Carolina Troopers Association
Americans for Prosperity AFP Action North Carolina
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (20)
President Donald J. Trump
Supporter/Endorser
Senator Ted Budd
Supporter/Endorser
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (22)
Committee to Elect Republican Women (2024)
State Republican Party Organizations (2023)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
Young Republican National Federation (2020)
Bill Rabon (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (66)
Bill Goebel (2024)
East Rising PAC (2024)
Patrick McHenry (2024)
Sam Page (2024)
Seth Woodall (2024)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
NC Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (8)
Michael Walters (2024)
NC Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2024)
State Employees Association of North Carolina (2024)
Beyond Finance (2022)
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
Phil Berger's grade from pro-marijuana group, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Rape, Incest, Life of Mother, Life of Child
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Church should not control the state and the state should not control the church. A person's religion and religious beliefs should help inform that person's views on matters of public policy.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. There are multiple reasons including Israel being a country with an elected government, cultural and societal connections, a history of supporting the United States, and a similar outlook on defense of western civilization.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
My views are closest to C; however, I do think that there should be options for assistance to individuals in some circumstances for aid in purchasing private insurance.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
Any government database should avoid personal identification of individuals which information could be misused by government entities.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Support current North Carolina Current Minimum Wage. Minimum wage laws can have the effect of limiting opportunity for entry level jobs for individuals with limited skills or education and so I do not support increasing the state minimum wage.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Strengthen the Audits authorized by law Control growth in spending to no more than inflation and population growth Regular review and, if called for, elimination of unnecessary, duplicative, or failing programs
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
Strongly agree if funding creates control
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Protect public safety
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I support restrictions on gun ownership by individuals convicted of felonies, particularly felonies involving violence or theft.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
I believe in an individual's natural rights to life, liberty and property and in a limited government by and with the consent of the people with limited enumerated governmental powers.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Disagree
And to be clear, I do not support a Casino being located in Rockingham or Guilford County.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Presbyterian Christian and believe and adhere to the statement of faith found in the Apostle's Creed.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Expansion of Nuclear generation, continue to utilize natural gas and coal. It is most important that generation be dependable and dispatchable irrespective of time of day or weather conditions.
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