Mujtaba Mohammed, candidate for NC Senate District 38
Name: Mujtaba Mohammed
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 37
Campaign website: mohammednc.com
Occupation: Public interest attorney and state senator
Education: UNC Charlotte, BA History and NCCU School of Law, JD
Have you run for elected office before? Incumbent — Senate District 38
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I am a former 3rd vice-chair of the MCDP, active member of Precinct 212, and former member of the NCDP Council of Review. I serve the people of Greater Mecklenburg as a board member for the Council for Children’s Rights where we work to improve outcomes, and fight for our youth and expand their opportunities. I also serve on the Governor’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice where we have begun implementing life changing policy.
What are the three issues that you see as most important to your district and what will you do to address them?
Education, healthcare and opportunity are my top three issues. We need to adequately fund our classrooms so that the state can focus on building people, not prisons. North Carolina can do a better job to expand the number of K-3 assistants, reduce class sizes, tackle the growing infrastructure needs of our schools and more. Next we need to expand Medicaid and expand workforce training programs in North Carolina.
At a time when costs are rising, state government has a surplus. How should it be used?
North Carolina needs to make the tax plan more equitable. We need to reduce the tax burden on working North Carolinians, expand homeownership programs and bring North Carolina’s infrastructure into the 21st century. The surplus should be used responsibly with an eye towards improving outcomes and opportunities for not only our residents but the state.
Will you vote for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina?
Yes.
What has the legislature gotten right, and what has it gotten wrong, about public education in North Carolina?
The state has moved in the right direction to increase starting teacher pay but we are not increasing it fast enough, high enough and the state has consistently left out significant raises for our veteran educators. I believe North Carolina is also making the right investments in our UNC and Community System but I would like more updated Master Plans from our schools. I also believe we have room to improve on calendar flexibility, recognition of holidays and more wrap around supports.
Should North Carolina change its abortion laws? How?
The current state law banning abortion after 20 weeks should remain.
Please add anything else voters should know about your position on the legality or availability of abortion in North Carolina.
North Carolina needs to codify the Roe and Casey protections into state law.
Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?
Yes.
What, if anything, should the legislature do to shape curriculum dealing with topics of race, sexuality and gender?
The legislature should not attempt to shape the curriculum without the State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction but it does serve the state’s interest to ensure our youth are educated on race, sexuality, gender, sex, drugs/addiction, (DARE/MADD), etc.
Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?
Yes.
