THE GAME THAT IS RIGGED,
AND YOU’RE PAYING FOR IT.
When Republicans lead, the 1% gets "Free Parking." You pay the surcharge.
THE REALITY
North Carolina is the only state in the U.S. that entered 2026 without a budget.
THE COST
Because the NC Republican Legislature failed to pass a budget, critical services are underfunded and costs are shifted to you.
National GOP policies act as an “invisible tax” on working families.
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GROCERIES
+$500/mo.
Beef is up 16%, coffee nearly 20% due to tariffs acting as an import tax.
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UTILITIES
+$250/mo.
Duke Energy is seeking increases of $204–$276/year per household. -
HEALTHCARE
+$700/mo.
Insurance premiums could rise by $5,000+ per year for some individuals. -
RENT/HOUSING
+$300/mo.
Families pay $3,600–$9,600 more per year for the same home than pre-2020. -
CAR INSURANCE
$200+/mo.
Premiums are up as transportation costs remain among the fastest-rising categories.
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ESSENTIAL GOODS
+$200/mo.
Tariffs on materials like steel and aluminum drive up the price of everything.
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GAS PRICES
+$100/mo.
Oil producers earned an extra $63 billion in windfall profits while refining stocks jumped 41% year-to-date.
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TRAVEL
+$75/mo.
Families pay $100–$400 more per flight and $20–$60 more per hotel night, totaling $1,000+ more per trip.
YOU PAY THE DIFFERENCE
Teacher Pay Frozen: No raises or step increases in 2026, leading to an effective pay cut.
The Save Act "Poll Tax": Forcing Americans to pay an extra $130 for a passport just to vote.
Income Tax Hike: Trump-Republican policy will increase middle-income taxes by an average of $900 in 2026.
Medical Bankruptcy: 500,000 insured Americans are forced into bankruptcy every year due to medical debt.
THEY RECEIVE THE WINDFALL
Oil Executives: Receive $20M–$40M per year while U.S. shale producers earn $63B in extra sales.
Retail CEOs: Receive $10M–$30M per year as prices rise for everyday consumers.
Bank CEOs: Receive $15M–$35M per year as interest rates and borrowing costs increase.
Billionaire Investors: The world's richest 500 people added $2.2 trillion to their fortunes in 2025.
Buncombe County Impact
If your property tax bill went up in Buncombe County this year—that’s not just inflation. That’s what happens when state leaders choose tax cuts for the wealthy over funding our communities.
Local Tax Spike:
Property taxes in Buncombe County rose about 5.6% in 2025 ($100+ on a $350k home).
Shifted Responsibility:
When the state doesn't fund schools or infrastructure, the cost moves to local homeowners.
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Raising the minimum wage and increasing taxes on the wealthy.
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Capping rent hikes and lowering prescription drug costs.
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Funding Universal Pre-K and increasing Pell Grants.
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Investing in clean energy to lower utility bills and create union jobs.
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Ending “dark money” and implementing Supreme Court ethics reform.
When Democrats Lead, Everyone Wins
STOP PLAYING A GAME
YOU'RE DESTINED TO LOSE.
Vote Blue on November 3.
Register and Vote Same-Day: Available at any early voting site.
Check Your Status: Visit https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.
Don't Forget: Bring your Photo ID!