Jack, 

Today, I want to introduce you to Deborah Ross, who is running for the U.S. House in North Carolina's second congressional district. 

In 2019, after nearly a decade of litigation, the courts forced North Carolina to redraw its heavily gerrymandered congressional districts. The newly redrawn second congressional district in North Carolina is more urban—and more Democratic—than its previous iteration, and one of our best pickup opportunities of the year.

Deborah has spent her career improving the quality of life in her community and throughout North Carolina as a legislator, lawyer, teacher and citizen. We asked Deborah a few questions for our latest Off the Sidelines Candidate Spotlight. I hope you'll take the time to learn more about the issues she believes deserve more attention on the campaign trail, her (objectively) adorable dog Wylie, and the three women she'd love to have dinner with.

And if you like what you read, please consider splitting a donation between Deborah's campaign and Off the Sidelines today. Your donation will go directly toward electing Deborah and other game-changing women running for Congress this year.

Thank you,
Stefanie

Off the Sidelines: Tell us about yourself. Why did you decide to get off the sidelines and run for office?

Deborah Ross: I came to North Carolina in 1987 for an education, but what I gained was so much more. Here in Wake County, I found a community that cares about our region, our people and our future. Together, we’ve created one of the fastest growing areas in the country. But along with all of this new opportunity come serious challenges in transportation infrastructure, housing, health care, education, climate change and more. I will never lose sight of our priorities and our people.

I have a track record of working for our region and growing opportunities for all of us.
As a leader in the North Carolina House of Representatives, I worked to gather bipartisan
support for our region’s critical needs. I worked across the aisle to protect voting rights, fund
local transit and transportation projects, increase access to affordable housing and health care, and support working families. We don’t need more of the typical fights we’re accustomed to from some politicians in Congress: partisan bickering, stalemates, special interests gaming the system. We need someone working for all of us—fighting for equality, for justice, and for progress. We need someone working to get things done. I am willing to work with anyone and everyone who wants to do the right thing for our state and country. It’s time to re-instill faith and hope in our democratic systems.

OTS: What's one issue that deserves more attention on the campaign trail?

DR: With online classes, working from home, and telehealth as the new normal, access to broadband is critical. Millions of people do not have internet access, and many communities
struggle with connection in other ways. Early in my career, I specialized in municipal bond law, helping local governments fund infrastructure projects. I went on to work for our regional transit agency to improve public transportation in a region experiencing rapid growth.

As a renewable energy lawyer, I have worked to protect our environment and grow our state’s clean energy sector, helping to create thousands of jobs. Modernizing our electric grid and creating incentives to expedite battery storage for intermittent renewables will reduce our use of fossil fuels. Infrastructure investments provide an opportunity to level the playing field and create good-paying jobs. I will work to drive investment in the infrastructure projects of the future so that all of our communities are connected and can thrive.

OTS: Whose support are you most grateful for?

DR: I learned what made our country special from an outstanding teacher who was from a small town in North Carolina. Mrs. Pass, my high school civics teacher, taught me that the values in our founding documents were part of our nation’s promise to make people’s lives better, and that promise became my life’s work. She inspired me, always encouraged me to be involved in my community, and to reach for my dreams. She treated me like I was special and I just adored her. I still keep in touch with her.

OTS: What's one piece of advice you would give your younger self?

DR: Always have a posse—you can’t do it alone. You have to have a posse. Surround yourself with people who will support you through the best of times and the worst of times.

OTS: Reading any good books?

DR: My book club is now reading The Presidential Difference by Fred Greenstein. It’s about
leadership styles from FDR to Barack Obama. Gets me excited and hopeful for this November.

OTS: What's a fun fact that people might not know about you?

DR: I have a wonderful dog, Wylie. I love to take him on walks every morning, and sometimes we’ll take him to the dog park in the afternoon. He’s been loving the pandemic because we get to spend more time with him. He’s quite the Zoom photobomber. And, I was a competitive synchronized swimmer when I was in high school!

Deborah's dog, Wylie!

OTS: If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be and why?

DR: Ruth Bader Ginsburg (of course), Sandra Day O’Connor, and Angela Merkel. I really believe when women work together across different experiences that the whole world changes, and I think that the partnership between Justice O’Connor and Justice Ginsburg was one of the most profound expressions of that. I think it’s undervalued and was done a generation before we got into women’s issues as we understand them in politics today. They were just getting it done! And for Angela Merkel, she has demonstrated extraordinary leadership internationally and is one of the most influential people on the world stage today. She’s completely under-appreciated for what she has done to exemplify the values that could bring us all together.

OTS: How do you unwind?

DR: I love practicing yoga. It’s been great to be able to do online classes in the wake of COVID-19. We all need to find some time to breathe, find connectivity even if it’s through virtual means, and focus on one's inner energy. And I walk my dog Wylie with my husband Steve at least once a day and sometimes more!