2025 North Carolina Republican Party Platform

The North Carolina Republican Party unequivocally defends the dream of freedom, opportunity, and the chance to leave this world a better place for the next generation, as inspired by Ronald Reagan’s vision that "America is too great for small dreams."

Preamble

Ronald Reagan once said that, "America is too great for small dreams." Throughout this great nation, people from all walks of life have dreamed of freedom, opportunity, and the chance to leave this world a better place for the next generation. The North Carolina Republican Party unequivocally defends that dream.

We are the party that affirms the guiding principles in our Declaration of Independence, and recognize God, not government, as the Author of these principles. It is the duty of governments to protect these rights. We are the party of individuals and the institutions they create together—families, schools, congregations, neighborhoods—to advance their ideals and realize their dreams. We are the party that encourages equality for all citizens and embraces the inherent value of every single human being God creates—born and unborn. We are the party that defends the religious beliefs and rights of conscience of all Americans and safeguards religious institutions against government control. We reaffirm the Constitution’s fundamental principles: limited government, separation of powers, individual liberty, and the rule of law. As a Party, we denounce bigotry, racism, sexism, antisemitism, ethnic prejudice, and religious intolerance. We are the party that stands strong against tyranny and will fight at home and abroad to protect the lives and fundamental liberties of all people. We are the party of a growing economy that gives everyone—regardless of background—a chance in life, an opportunity to learn, work, and realize the prosperity that is made possible by the freedom we hold dear.

The Republican Party is committed to the values and ideals that are the true greatness of America, and we gladly join together to fight for justice, secure the blessings of liberty, and provide true opportunity and hope for generations to come.

Article I. Family

1. Our nation’s strength lies with the family. It is the foundation of moral character, education, discipline, responsibility, patriotism, and good citizenship.
2. Traditional marriage and family, based on marriage between one man and one woman, is the foundation for a civil society. Therefore, we oppose the use of public funds or government entities to promote the deconstruction of the traditional family, or gender confusion among minors. There are only two genders—male and female. We support actions to return marriage laws to the states; therefore, we support the marriage amendment as part of the North Carolina Constitution and encourage all efforts to defend it.
3. We recognize and honor the courageous efforts of those who bear the many burdens of parenting alone, even as we affirm our support for traditional marriage.
4. We affirm the authority of parental rights over their children’s welfare from conception to emancipation. We support laws that require written, notarized consent for all medical treatments such as but not limited to vaccinations, immunizations, mental health treatments of minor children, drug and alcohol treatment, and counseling and services related to immunizations, contraceptives, pregnancy, and abortion. Government, however, should protect children from abuse and neglect, balancing parental rights with the protection of a child’s health and safety.
5. We support efforts to make adoptions in North Carolina easier to access. We believe that children, when adopted in a "forever home," have the best chances for success in life. We applaud foster parents for their dedication and urge our state to ensure that the foster care system is efficient and puts the best interests of the child first. Support should be provided for young adults as they transition out of the foster care system.

Article II. Individual Liberty

1. Liberty is founded upon a belief in the inherent dignity of the human person and recognition that individuals possess God-given inherent rights including, but not limited to: the right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. The fundamental role of government is to protect those inherent rights as recognized in our Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, including its Bill of Rights, and the North Carolina Constitution, and its Declaration of Rights.
2. We support the free exercise of religion by all Americans. We oppose any restriction on the free exercise of religion such as removing prayer from governmental activities or references to God from public institutions. We reject government efforts to establish or favor any religion or belief system and oppose coercive actions limiting religious freedom. Individuals, businesses, hospitals, and schools should have the right to uphold their religious beliefs, including refusing services that violate their faith.
3. Government must treat all citizens equally under the law. We oppose unjust discrimination and reject policies guaranteeing equal outcomes, which undermine individual freedom.
4. The Second Amendment and the NC Constitution guarantee the right of the individual to keep and bear arms. We support the constitutional ownership, sale, purchase, and carry of firearms by law-abiding citizens. Further, we support reducing the number of "gun-free zones." Gun owners have a right to confidentiality. Personal information acquired by government agencies for gun purchases and permitting should be available to law enforcement for investigative purposes only and not for public record.
5. Private property should not be taken by eminent domain except for direct public use with fair and prompt compensation.
6. We disagree with all censorship of constitutionally protected free speech, including—but not limited to—all social media platforms.
7. We are made in the image of God, endowed with the capacity to learn and exercise individual liberty. It is crucial to safeguard humanity by implementing legal protections and severe penalties for those who misuse technology to alter the essence of what it means to be human.

Article III. Justice

1. One of the main duties of government is to maintain law and order, while securing for its citizens the freedom to pursue the blessings of liberty and the fruits of their labor.
2. We honor the men and women in uniform who protect citizens of North Carolina at home and abroad. We are grateful for our state and local law enforcement as well as our first responders for their public service to our citizens.
3. We oppose the weaponization of the justice system against political opponents and advocate for restoring true justice and due process.
4. We support the death penalty for first-degree murder. Deaths from fentanyl and other highly poisonous synthetic opioids must be investigated and prosecuted as criminal homicide cases. We call for mandatory sentencing for all violent crimes, especially crimes committed against those charged with protecting us. We call for the examination of mandatory sentencing for non-violent crimes to ensure fairness and justice in its application.
5. We support the diversion of first-time, nonviolent offenders to community sentencing, accountability courts, drug courts, veteran treatment courts, and guidance by faith-based institutions with proven track records of rehabilitation.
6. We believe the state must protect the rights of victims and their families, including collaborative efforts that provide for restorative justice. Criminal justice reforms that rehabilitate former offenders to become contributing members of society are applauded, including re-entry support such as transitional housing and employment for recently released inmates.
7. We strongly condemn child exploitation, human trafficking, and all forms of abuse. Governments must protect the innocent from modern slavery, sexual exploitation, and violence. We denounce child sexual abuse materials, including AI-generated child pornography, as well as internet predators, sex crimes, and the grooming of young children. We oppose the abduction, abuse, and exploitation of children and demand strict enforcement against those who prey on the vulnerable. We also advocate for harsher penalties for those who engage in these heinous crimes.
8. Prisons should emphasize security, inmate safety, rehabilitation, education, and labor. We encourage opportunities for literacy education, mental health treatment, substance abuse counseling, and vocational training to aid reentry.
9. We support tort reform, including a cap on awards for pain and suffering, and structured payments of awards for lost income.

Article IV. Sanctity of Life

1. We believe in the sanctity of all human life. Unborn children have constitutional rights to life and liberty, and the government must respect and protect all innocent human life from conception to natural death.
2. We are the Party that offers real solutions for women. We have a moral obligation to assist women who face unexpected pregnancies and applaud organizations that empower women with compassionate, life-affirming resources and care.
3. Every effort should be made to stop abortion drug trafficking in North Carolina. We support closing enforcement loopholes in existing law and extending wrongful death and personal injury protections for women who are injured or die as the result of abortion drugs.
4. We oppose infanticide and urge the enactment of laws to require medical care for babies who survive abortions.
5. We oppose efforts to mandate the provision of abortion or to fund with taxpayer dollars organizations that provide or promote abortion services. Written, notarized parental consent must be required before a minor is given either surgical or chemical abortion.
6. We support requiring mandatory counseling before an abortion to ensure the pregnant woman knows all options and resources available to her and her baby, including information about the possibility of reversing the intended effects of chemical abortion drugs.
7. Medical professionals and pharmacists should have the right to refuse participation in abortion, including the dispensing of chemical abortion drugs.
8. We oppose all forms of euthanasia and assisted suicide, which often target persons with disabilities, the elderly, and infirm. We believe these individuals should be treated with love and respect, not as a burden. We support legislation prohibiting assisted suicide.
9. We support developments in biomedical research that enhance and protect human life, including stem cell research. We oppose human cloning and the destruction of human embryos, along with the sale, purchase, possession, or use of fetal tissue obtained from induced abortions.
10. We support criminal penalties for harming or killing an unborn child when the mother is killed or injured in a criminal act.
11. We support laws which require written, notarized parental consent for an abortion and/or contraceptives for their minor children.
12. We oppose the sale, purchase, possession, or use of fetal tissue or body parts obtained from induced abortions.

Article V. State Government

1. We believe that in a free society, power should rest in the hands of the people. We believe in a limited government which serves the people, rather than one that burdens them.
2. We affirm three distinct and equal branches of government with a system of checks and balances. No branch shall usurp the powers of any other branch, except those provided by the State Constitution. The Governor’s emergency powers which impact the rights of citizens should only be used with the consultation and approval of the Council of State.
3. We believe that government at all levels should not spend money it does not have and avoid passing on debts to future generations.
4. Government retirement and pension plans should be privately owned and portable.
5. We oppose unfunded state mandates, including state-mandated local property tax exemptions for a particular type of business. We oppose excessive regulation of commerce and industry by either statute or administrative rule and support sunset provisions that require reauthorization for a business regulatory statute or rule to continue in force.
6. No State funds should be spent without an explicit appropriation. We oppose "slush funds" as rewards for political support. Raiding of dedicated funds should not be allowed except in an emergency as determined by law. Every bill heard in committee should receive a recorded vote. The budget bill should be made public at least two legislative days before the final vote in each house. To assure transparency, every committee substitute to a pending bill should be scheduled in committee and on the floor in a manner that gives citizens sufficient notice to communicate with their legislators about the bill.
7. We support the issuance of a driver’s license or state identification card only to those who are lawful residents of the United States.
8. We affirm that the State of North Carolina is prohibited from taking discriminatory action against a person based on a religious or moral conviction.
9. We support efforts to ensure that habitual drug users are not on public assistance. We believe that drug tests are appropriate if there is a reasonable suspicion of illegal drug use.
10. We affirm that law enforcement should honor detainers for illegal aliens held on criminal charges.

Article VI. Health Care

1. We support the transformation of the health care industry to one which champions patient choice and increases cost transparency and competition.
2. Businesses should respect the dignity and rights of conscience of their workers to make their own health care decisions.
3. We strongly oppose a single-payer or government health system. We support competitive, free-market private and employer-based health insurance models, in which the citizens of NC can purchase and participate in their health care, including the choice of services and providers.
4. We support equal access to high-quality, public and private health care regardless of location, race, age, or economic status.
5. We support reasonable and responsive public health measures and policies to better address issues such as infectious diseases, addictions, and mental health, and the goal of eliminating harmful chemicals from our food supply.
6. We value the concept of preventative health care measures and their insurance coverage.
7. We support addressing the serious need for quality, trained direct caregivers for our state’s most vulnerable citizens. We support standards for the training and certification of caregivers and gerontology professionals along with guidelines for staffing standards.
8. We strongly oppose the socialistic practice of denying diagnostics and treatment to our state’s senior citizens.
9. We oppose the use of public funds for transgender surgeries and/or treatments.
10. We support a ban on transgender surgeries or treatments for persons under 18 years of age.
11. We support preserving Medicaid’s original design which provides publicly funded medical assistance for the poor, with a focus on dependent children and their mothers, the disabled, and the elderly.
12. We support eliminating the state’s Certificate of Need programs on the basis that they stifle competition, increase consumer health care costs, limit health care investment in our state, and negatively impact health outcomes.
13. We urge legislators to enact policies that support compassionate, home-based care for individuals with profound intellectual, physical, and mental disabilities.
14. We support conscience protection measures for healthcare workers in situations such as, but not limited to, abortion and transgender surgeries and treatments.
15. We support reforming the state’s mental health system. The needs of patients must be the priority. This includes diagnoses, comprehensive care, follow-up, and stiff penalties for those who abuse or exploit patients.

Article VII. Education

1. We support an educational system that provides all children access to an education that empowers them to reach their highest, God-given potential, allowing them to contribute to the betterment of our society. A North Carolina high school diploma should fully prepare students to enter college, technical school, or the workforce.
2. Parental Rights and School Choice. We support universal school choice, allowing parents to decide the best educational path for their children, whether public, private, charter, homeschool, or religious schools. Education funding should follow the student, ensuring equal opportunity for all. Parents must have access to all curricula and data about their children, including content that is stored electronically. Schools should not ask children to answer offensive or intrusive personal questionnaires without parental consent. We oppose sex education in public schools without parental consent. Public schools should not be permitted to teach children about homosexual behavior and gender identity. No birth control devices or drugs should be distributed in public schools. We support teaching abstinence until marriage as the expected norm for sexual behavior.
3. Curriculum and Educational Standards. Emphasis on academic achievement is paramount. We believe education policies and budget decisions are best made by local and state governments, rather than national agencies. We support teaching civil liberties and patriotism as an important part of becoming a good citizen. We support regular recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, displays of the American and North Carolina State flag, and use of our national motto "In God We Trust". Curricula must include civics so that students will be prepared to vote as informed citizens. We oppose curriculum that seeks to divide students based on race or gender. Instead, curricula should promote the unity of all students around American values such as liberty, justice, and opportunity for all, and should encourage students to join together against all forms of oppression and injustice. We support English as the official language of the United States. Therefore, we support the expedited use of English as a Second Language in the classroom as an assimilation tool. We strongly support the North Carolina General Statute that affirms local school boards have the authority to set the curriculum for their respective school districts.
4. Teacher Accountability and School Performance. We support fair teacher compensation based on merit, performance evaluations, and market conditions. Teacher evaluations should be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, educational training, job longevity, administration-based performance measures, and student achievement. Schools should be accountable for student achievement, and educational reforms must prioritize measurable academic improvement.
5. Protecting Student Safety and Fairness. Every child deserves a safe learning environment. Schools should provide a level of security which protects students and faculty from harm, consistent with the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution. We oppose policies that allow biological males to compete in women’s sports, ensuring fairness and integrity in athletics.
6. Religious Freedom and Traditional Values. Students and faculty must have the right to pray in schools without censorship. We support revitalizing Judeo-Christian values in education and emphasizing the importance of the nuclear family and personal responsibility.
7. Higher Education and Workforce Development. We applaud the efforts of the Republican-led General Assembly in supporting community colleges, as these colleges truly open doors and remove barriers to accessible, high-quality education for all citizens. Community colleges play a vital role in developing our workforce and they provide much-needed basic literacy programs, vocational training, and university transfer options for students from all walks of life. We support maintaining and expanding opportunity scholarships and education savings accounts that support the education of children and open doors for students in need.

Article VIII. Economy, Jobs & Opportunity

1. Free-market capitalism is the most just economic system. It unleashes the human spirit to pursue happiness, create wealth, and own property; it also rewards self-reliance, hard work, and spurs innovation and generosity to improve lives.
2. We urge reforms when government over-regulation results in inflated prices for businesses and consumers.
3. Equal application of economic policies ensures equal opportunities for all.
4. We support a federal and state balanced budget.
5. Economic freedom is essential to human liberty and dignity. The North Carolina Constitution recognizes that people’s "inalienable rights" include the "enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor." We believe in lower taxes to give people more freedom over their lives and to restrain the impulse of government toward tyranny and control.
6. Our nation’s economic security depends on reliable and affordable energy. We should have energy sources that people can depend on to light and heat their homes. We support upgrading our energy grid and securing our energy infrastructure. We must avoid dependence on energy from foreign powers.
7. We support expansion of reliable sources of energy such as nuclear power, oil and natural gas, and coal. We support safe and reliable delivery of energy.
8. We must eliminate government-mandated quotas and massive taxpayer subsidies for solar and wind energy. Wind and solar require expensive transmission and infrastructure upgrades to support these intermittent power resources.
9. We recognize the serious economic warfare and strategic threats posed by communist China. We support de-coupling our economy from China and revoking its most-favored-nation status.
10. We believe in free trade which helps North Carolina businesses sell their products in the global marketplace. However, we also support the federal government’s use of free trade enforcement mechanisms to level the playing field when unfair tariff and non-tariff barriers are found which harm our interests.
11. We believe that strategic products, materials, and rare earth minerals should be sourced from or made in America.
12. We support free and fair trade with America’s allies for North Carolina industries that seek to grow their export business. We support agriculture, agribusiness, and commercial fishing as driving forces in North Carolina’s economy. We support legislation to protect farmland and these industries from foreign ownership and burdensome regulations.
13. We strongly affirm North Carolina right-to-work laws which designate that payment of union dues or fees cannot be a requirement for employment and support any and all efforts to guarantee protections for North Carolina as a right-to-work state.
14. We oppose any initiative by the Federal Reserve or our federal government to create a digital currency which would dangerously expand the surveillance state and its means to police persons based on social or other criteria.

Article IX. Environment

1. As we are stewards of our God-given natural heritage, we have a duty to protect the earth’s resources. This includes using them responsibly to support economic growth and energy independence while caring for the land.
2. We support reasonable measures to keep our air, water, and soil free of substances that harm the health of our people as well as that of domestic animals and wildlife. We support the maintenance of adequate wildlife habitat. We take practical steps to keep our air, water, and soil clean for the well-being of people, animals, and all living things.
3. Local, state, and national parks provide valuable access to the outdoors. Land use should respect private property rights, avoid federal overreach, and place more control in the hands of state and local governments.
4. Global warming and climate change remain matters of ongoing scientific debate. Policy decisions must be grounded in facts, not fear, and should protect American jobs, energy independence, and the economic strength of our citizens.

Article X. Elections

1. The Elections Clause of the US Constitution is the primary source of constitutional authority to regulate elections and appoints states as the primary regulatory authority for the election process. Election laws and policies should ensure honesty and accuracy in all elections.
2. A free society demands an honest and accurate election process. Our laws and policies at every level of government should ensure that elections are conducted with absolute fairness and integrity, regardless of party registration, race, or socio-economic resources. Every vote should count and not be canceled out by illegal votes.
3. We support legislation requiring election judges at all election sites, including early voting sites. Poll observers should be allowed at every polling place and placed in a position that enables thorough observation. The rights of voters should be equally protected regardless of voting method.
4. We support enforced statewide procedures for updating voter rolls to ensure accuracy.
5. Current laws regarding absentee voting should be analyzed and tightened to ensure ballot security. The rights of all voters should be equally protected regardless of voting method.
6. We encourage election officials to report—and state and federal prosecutors to promptly investigate and prosecute—voter and election fraud.
7. We support the Electoral College as the Constitutional mode of electing our President and oppose all efforts to abolish it, as a national popular vote would be a grave threat to our federal system.
8. All voting should be conducted in a manner that utilizes paper ballots for review and protects the privacy of the voter. We support state efforts to ensure ballot access for the elderly, the disabled, military personnel, and all legitimate voters. We support laws with strict requirements regarding the postmark and return of absentee ballots by election date except as otherwise required by federal law.
9. We reaffirm our support of Voter ID and oppose the reinstatement of straight-ticket voting. Proof of citizenship should be required when registering to vote.
10. Voters should have timely information on candidates’ campaign finances. We oppose funding election campaigns with public or foreign funds.
11. Neither the State Board of Elections nor the county boards of elections have the authority to accept private monetary donations for the purpose of administering elections or employing individuals on a temporary basis.
12. We encourage the General Assembly to redefine the Uniform Military and Overseas Voter Act and eliminate the right of an overseas voter as defined in Article 21A, 163-258.2 (1)e who was born outside of the United States but never resided in North Carolina to be able to vote in any North Carolina state or local election.

Article XI. Federal Policy

1. The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land and must be interpreted according to its original meaning. It establishes a government of limited and clear separation of powers to preserve liberty, protect individual rights, and ensure accountability. Upholding this framework is essential to maintaining the rule of law and defending the freedoms granted to every American.
2. Congress, the President, and the courts must adhere to Article I, Section 8, and the Ninth and Tenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, which state that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people. Federal overreach undermines the constitutional balance and threatens the rights of the states to govern their own affairs.
3. Securing the border and enforcing immigration laws are essential to protecting America’s sovereignty, safety, and identity. Illegal immigration strains public resources, depresses wages, and threatens community security.
4. No treaty or international organization should weaken America’s sovereignty or interfere in our elections. The authority to govern and elect our leaders belongs solely to the American people.
5. A republican form of government is the foundation of freedom. We support the Electoral College as the constitutional mode of electing our President. Tyranny, in any form, has no place in a free society.
6. Opposition to slavery is the foundation for the Republican Party. We oppose slavery, including human trafficking, in any form both foreign and domestic.
7. America’s defense and foreign policy must put the interests of our nation first, promoting peace through strength and protecting our sovereignty. Alliances like NATO should serve U.S. security goals and act as deterrents to those who threaten our freedom and way of life. Support for freedom, religious liberty, and free markets abroad must never come at the expense of American power or independence.
8. Granting permanent resident status to those who have broken immigration laws undermines the integrity of the legal immigration process. Amnesty encourages further violations of the law. Employers must hire only those legally authorized to work in the United States.
9. We support advocacy for policies that uphold Israel as a sovereign nation, affirming its right to self-defense and recognizing its borders without conditions. Furthermore, we acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
10. Individuals should have the freedom to choose market-based options for retirement, health care, insurance, workers’ rights, and other personal or economic decisions.
11. A sound monetary policy is essential to maintaining a stable, reliable U.S. dollar. To ensure transparency and accountability, the Federal Reserve must be subject to regular, comprehensive audits. Preserving the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency is vital to America’s economic strength and global leadership.
12. Federal funds should not be distributed to any organization that promotes or performs abortions.
13. Freedom exists because brave men and women have answered the call to serve. America’s veterans and active-duty service members are a national strength and must be honored as such. This nation holds a sacred obligation to ensure they and their families receive the care, support, and dignity they have earned.
14. We support the doctrine of Separation of Powers which is a fundamental cornerstone of our Constitutional republic and reject the usurpation of powers by one branch of government from another. In particular, we call for the end of unelected, unaccountable politically appointed federal judges usurping the powers of Congress by trying to legislate from the bench and of usurping the powers of the presidency by attempting to micromanage executive branch agencies and policy.
15. An entrenched bureaucracy can constitute a threat to citizen control of government. We believe it is essential to our Constitutional republic that appointed public officials in the executive branch bureaucracy be subject to the control and supervision of the elected president and responsive to elected members of Congress.
16. We support promoting our nation’s prosperity and economic growth through cutting wasteful spending and unnecessary regulations. To secure America’s future, we must balance the Federal budget, reduce debt, and limit inflation to enable more of our people to realize the American dream.

Conclusion

Thomas Jefferson said that "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance". We, the North Carolina Republican Party, are committed to remaining vigilant as we stand guard to protect the freedoms we hold dear. Ronald Reagan stated that a strong Republican Party is like a stool that stands on three legs: strong defense, free enterprise, and strong moral values. Together, we will turn back the tide of socialism and preserve our nation as a beacon of liberty, hope, and opportunity for all.

This document is respectfully submitted by the 2025 NCGOP Platform Committee.

2025 Platform Committee Members

• Julie Scott Emmons, Chair
• John Spruill, 1st District
• Tom Wetherby, 2nd District
• Steve Rader, 3rd District
• Diane Maurer, 4th District
• Greg Angle, 5th District
• Connie Baker Porter, 6th District
• Brendon Skyler Core, 7th District
• Ken May, 8th District
• Julie Scott Emmons, 9th District
• Resha Peregrino-Brimah, 10th District
• Herschel Johnson, 11th District
• Ashley Bookout, 12th District
• Laura Pichardo, 13th District
• Mark Schalk, 14th District
• Kevin Austin, At Large
• John Anglin, At Large
• Gay Dillard, At Large