Progressive as defined by Miriam-Webster is of or relating to progress: such as using, involving, or interested in new or modern ideas characterized by continuous improvement or advancement. 

To me, being progressive is about standing up against the status quo. Being progressive isn’t about a label. It’s about direction. It’s about moving forward.

We have to recognize that North Carolina is, and has been, always changing and understand that our leadership must change with it. Our communities, our economy, and our challenges are not the same as they were a decade ago. We can’t keep relying on yesterday’s thinking to solve today’s problems.

Progressive leadership is rooted in people. It starts with listening — to working families, business owners, students, seniors, parents, and neighbors who too often feel left out of the decision-making process. 

At the end of the day policy isn’t abstract. It shows up in classrooms, kitchens, doctor’s offices, and paychecks. When leadership forgets that, people pay the price.

Being progressive also means being solutions-oriented. It’s not about ideology for ideology’s sake. It’s about asking hard questions and delivering real answers. 

How do we make housing more affordable? 

How do we strengthen public education? 

How do we expand access to healthcare? 

How do we build an economy where hard work is rewarded and opportunity is within reach?

Those challenges require forward-thinking ideas, not political games or backward-looking distractions.

For too long, North Carolina politics has been stuck in a cycle of obstruction and stagnation — leaders more focused on maintaining power than solving problems. That kind of standstill costs families time, money, and opportunity. Progress means rejecting the “this is how it’s always been” mentality and choosing to do better.

Moving forward requires boldness and practicality at the same time. It means investing in communities instead of cutting corners. It means protecting rights instead of rolling them back. It means believing that government can work — when it is transparent, accountable, and focused on the people it serves.

Progress doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen alone. It happens when we bring people together across differences with a shared belief that our future can be better than our past. It happens when dignity, fairness, and opportunity guide every decision.

That is why I’m deeply honored to be endorsed by the Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party — a group committed to real progress, bold solutions, and leadership that looks forward, not backward.