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


Links

Philip E. "Phil" Berger websites
Philip E. "Phil" Berger phones Philip E. "Phil" Berger emailFacebookX

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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