Benton Sawrey

Republican | North Carolina

Candidate Profile*

Verified Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Benton Sawrey


Party

Republican


Election Year

2026


Election

Republican Primary - Federal, Statewide, State, Judicial, School Board


Race

State Senate, District 10


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Benton Sawrey websites
Benton Sawrey phones
Benton Sawrey email
FacebookLinkedIn

EDUCATION

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, B.A.

2009, University of South Carolina, J.D.

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

Johnston Community College, Board of Trustees, 2015-2022

Partnership for Children of Johnston County, Board of Directors, 2017-2021

Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, Board of Directors; Officer, 2015-2022

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

North Carolina Senate District, 2023-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

North Carolina Senate District 11, 2016-

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (1)

North Carolina Values Coalition

OTHER (1)

*Americans for Prosperity AFP Action North Carolina

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (12)

Addison McDowell (2024)

Bob Brinson (2024)

Brad Briner (2024)

Committee to Elect Republican Women (2024)

Deanna Ballard (2024)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (10)

Jim Perry (2024)

North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (2023)

Charles F. Fuller (2022)

Charter One (2022)

DeVan Barbour IV (2022)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)

NC Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2024)

North Carolina Advocates for Justice (2016)

OTHER INFORMATION

The candidate co-sponsored the Parents Bill of Rights.

Benton Sawrey'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?

Unsure whether the non-elective provisions would be responsive to this question under current North Carolina law, but will cite specifically, to provisions made under law for rape, incest, life of mother.

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?

Individuals are free to practice their own faith without interference from government actors; government cannot establish an official state-religion that would preclude someone from free exercise. Government cannot compel or force someone to act against their religious beliefs.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly 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. Israel is a western-style democracy that is committed to the rule of law in a region plagued by dictators and theocracies. It is committed to the rule of law and shares common Judeo-Christian values with American society. It is the cradle of Christianity and the site of innumerable important religious sites. Israel is a valuable trading and security partner.


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.

(c)

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

Private businesses and employees should be permitted to negotiate wages and salaries without government mandates.

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.

(1) Auditing Medicaid providers to verify services provided match claims for payment reported to DHHS. (2) Successfully implementing re-enrollment changes directed by OBBB to verify Medicaid eligibility. (3) Managing utilization in high-cost and high-growth areas under Medicaid. Medicaid makes up nearly 50% of our total state spend and, as a Medicaid and DHHS chair, this has tremendous opportunity for cost savings.


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.

Strongly Agree


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

Uphold the rule of law; administer justice and hold people accountable for their wrongdoing when a crime is committed.

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?

18 U.S.C. Sec. 922(g) identifies persons and classes of persons that should be prohibited from ownership of guns.


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?

Conservative

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

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a Christian that believes Jesus is the son of God, died for humanity's sins and was resurrected and will come again. I believe in the Holy Trinity and the power of grace, love, and forgiveness. I believe that the Bible is the word of God. I am a lifelong member of the Methodist church. I regularly attend church services with my family.


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.

Disagree

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Nuclear

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