Deborah Ross — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in North Carolina, 2026

Congresswoman Deborah Ross voted against the FY 2026 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill due to concerns over federal immigration agent actions and insufficient protections for immigrants. She champions comprehensive immigration reform, emphasizing family unity, border security, and pathways to citizenship. Ross supports "Documented Dreamers," introducing the America's CHILDREN Act and cosponsoring the American Dream and Promise Act to prevent their deportation. She also voted for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, establishing a legal status program for agricultural workers.

““Like many Americans, I am deeply disturbed by the shameful actions we have seen from federal immigration agents in North Carolina and across the country. Masked agents descended on our cities, terrorized law-abiding citizens, abducted people off the streets, and even killed a U.S. citizen – all without any oversight or accountability. Although this bill includes some reforms, the Republican leadership refused to include critical priorities, including provisions that would fund body cameras, prevent CBP and ICE from deporting U.S. citizens, and more. Again, I could not vote in good conscience for this legislation while our communities are under attack and while our state continues to wait for the help it was promised by the Trump administration.” — Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Statement on DHS Funding Bill, January 22, 2026.”

Congresswoman Deborah Ross has supported initiatives aimed at lowering healthcare costs and expanding access. She championed the PBM Reform Act, which passed the House to combat harmful pharmacy benefit manager practices and reduce prescription drug prices, stating that PBMs act as unregulated middlemen. Ross also advocates for extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and introduced a bill to block federal agencies from sharing medical data with ICE to protect patient privacy and immigrants' access to care.

““For too long, PBMs have acted as unregulated middlemen, driving up the prices of life-saving medications for patients,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Nobody should have to choose between paying for necessary prescriptions and putting food on the table. At a time when health care costs continue to skyrocket, our bipartisan PBM Reform Act will reign in abusive PBM practices and take real steps to lower prescription drug prices. I urge the Senate to act quickly to pass this urgently-needed legislation.” (Congresswoman Ross, ross.house.gov, January 22, 2026)”

Representative Deborah Ross voted for the Build Back Better Act to reduce carbon pollution and bolster the clean energy economy, aiming to combat the climate crisis. She also advanced legislation, signed into the Inflation Reduction Act, to overturn a moratorium on offshore wind leasing. Additionally, her bill encouraging electric vehicle development became part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and she actively opposes fracking and works to protect against harmful PFAS chemicals.

“As a state legislator, I voted to support clean energy alternatives, halt fracking, and implement measures to reduce emissions in North Carolina. In Congress, I was proud to vote to pass the Build Back Better Act, in part because it represents an unprecedented effort to combat the climate crisis. This transformational legislation will reduce carbon pollution, bolster community resilience, and strengthen the American clean energy economy. — Deborah Ross, from her statement on wakedems.org”

Representative Deborah Ross has consistently supported abortion rights and reproductive freedom. She voted against Republican abortion bills in January 2023, stating that an overwhelming majority of Americans support a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. Ross also voted twice to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which aims to enshrine abortion rights into federal law, and supported the Right to Contraception Act. She is endorsed by Population Connection Action.

““In their first days in the majority, House Republicans are already fast-tracking an extreme agenda that is at odds with the needs of women and the will of the American people,” said Congresswoman Ross. “An overwhelming majority of Americans support a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. These latest pieces of anti-choice legislation are nothing but political stunts. I stand united with my Democratic colleagues in fighting for women’s reproductive freedom and opposing these dangerous proposals.” (Congresswoman Ross, ross.house.gov, January 2023)”

Deborah Ross voted against the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026, citing insufficient FEMA funding for North Carolina and the bill's failure to include critical reforms for federal immigration agencies like funding for body cameras and preventing the deportation of U.S. citizens. She also stated her commitment to ensuring Israel's security while refusing to accept money from AIPAC in 2026. Ross supports placing guardrails on Homeland Security and ICE operations.

““Furthermore, while this bill includes urgently-needed funding for FEMA, these resources are completely insufficient to meet needs of Western North Carolina. As Governor Stein made clear during his recent visit to the Capitol, our state needs more than $13 billion in federal funding to recover from the devastation that Hurricane Helene inflicted more than a year ago. I continue to call for emergency supplemental funding legislation to help families and communities in our state still struggling to rebuild. Again, I could not vote in good conscience for this legislation while our communities are under attack and while our state continues to wait for the help it was promised by the Trump administration.” ... “Like many Americans, I am deeply disturbed by the shameful actions we have seen from federal immigration agents in North Carolina and across the country. Masked agents descended on our cities, terrorized law-abiding citizens, abducted people off the streets, and even killed a U.S. citizen – all without any oversight or accountability. Although this bill includes some reforms, the Republican leadership refused to include critical priorities, including provisions that would fund body cameras, prevent CBP and ICE from deporting U.S. citizens, and more.” — Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Statement on DHS Funding Bill, January 22, 2026.”

Research pending more substantial sources.

Deborah Ross is endorsed by multiple organizations advocating for gun safety. These include Giffords, Brady Campaign, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), Everytown for Gun Safety, and Moms Demand Action. These endorsements indicate her support for policies aimed at reducing gun violence and implementing stricter gun laws.