District 7 Candidates Discuss Policy at Forum

Candidates for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District met at the UNCW Burney Center on October 12, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Elections

District 7 Candidates Discuss Policy at Forum

Live Poll

Should candidates for office be required to attend all scheduled public forums?

Democratic candidate Kimberly Hardy and Libertarian Maad Abu Ghazalah participated in a candidate forum on October 12, 2026. Incumbent Representative David Rouzer did not attend the event at the UNCW Burney Center.

Why it matters

The forum offered voters a chance to assess the positions of candidates running to represent North Carolina Congressional District 7. The absence of the incumbent highlights the specific field of participants engaging with the community during this election cycle.

The forum featured candidates from North Carolina Congressional District 7 who participated in a lightning round of policy questions. The event was co-organized by WHQR, Port City Daily, WECT, and The Seahawk.

The players

Kimberly Hardy

She is the Democratic candidate running for a seat in North Carolina's 7th Congressional District.

Maad Abu Ghazalah

He is the Libertarian candidate seeking election to represent North Carolina's 7th Congressional District.

David Rouzer

He is the incumbent Representative for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District who declined the invitation to attend the forum.

The details

Candidates participated in a lightning round where they answered yes-or-no questions by raising their hands. Both Kimberly Hardy and Maad Abu Ghazalah expressed support for ending the Iran War, ending financial military aid to Israel, and fully funding the IDEA program, while opposing the abolition of the U.S. Department of Education.

The candidates forum was recorded live on October 12, 2026.

Political Context

The candidates' stance on fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reflects a clear commitment to maintaining existing federal education mandates. This consensus marks a departure from platforms that seek to reduce the scope of the U.S. Department of Education.

The forum provides voters in District 7 with clarity on where candidates stand regarding federal military and education policy. These positions will directly influence how representatives vote on funding and legislative priorities that impact the local community's representation.

The takeaway

Voters can review the recorded forum audio to better understand the policy differences between the candidates. Comparing these positions helps residents identify which candidate best aligns with their own views on national and regional priorities.