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3rd Congressional District · 2026 U.S. House · Unofficial result

U.S. House, 3rd District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Rep. Greg Murphy (R) is the incumbent. Raymond Smith (D) is a former state representative. Daniel Cavender (Libertarian) is also on the ballot and has no campaign website we could find. Murphy leads by 233 votes of 237,904 cast, and the result is unofficial until certified. Check your own address on the NC State Board of Elections voter lookup to confirm your district.

Murphy leadsAll precincts reporting; unofficial until certified1
49.42%Murphy (R): 117,5831
49.33%Smith (D): 117,3501
1.25%Cavender (Libertarian): 2,9711
233Vote margin of 237,904 cast1

Do they have a plan?

We read every issue on each candidate's own website and checked the same six things for every one. We count what's there. We don't grade whether the ideas are good. Read the full scoring rules

Of the issues on their website, how many...Daniel CavenderGreg MurphyRaymond Smith
Names a policyNo website found3 of 6
2 of 6
Says how they'd do itNo website found0 of 6
0 of 6
Includes a number or targetNo website found0 of 6
0 of 6
Says how it's paid forNo website found0 of 6
0 of 6
Gives a timelineNo website found0 of 6
0 of 6
Points to a recordNo website found3 of 6
2 of 6

The candidates, side by side

Each topic shows every candidate's own words on it, in alphabetical order, from their own website. "Nothing on this topic" means their site doesn't cover it. Topic rows are grouped by us from their headings; the scores don't change.

Daniel CavenderLibertarian
Greg MurphyRepublican
Raymond SmithDemocrat
Who they are
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found as of 11/5/2026.
Greg Murphy
U.S. Representative (incumbent); six issue pages, each a short paragraph, no linked plan documents
Raymond Smith
Former two-term North Carolina state representative; six platform headings plus a short About page
Immigration and the border
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Securing the Border"I support President Trump's actions to secure our borders" Also: "We must enforce our laws and crack down on these abuses"4
None of the six checks
Raymond Smith
Nothing on this topic
Veterans
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Delivering for Our Veterans"I am laser-focused on delivering long-overdue justice for those impacted by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, making hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other critical services at the VA available for those in need"6
Names a policy
Raymond Smith
Protecting our Veterans and Military Families"By improving the VA, expanding childcare access for the families of service members, and addressing the base housing crisis"9
None of the six checks
Health care
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Making Healthcare Affordable"I am working tirelessly to advance meaningful solutions to put patients and their doctors back in the driver's seat"5
None of the six checks
Raymond Smith
Quality, Accessible Healthcare"As a State Representative, he worked across the aisle to reform the healthcare system to focus on patients over profits" Also: "he proudly introduced legislation to invest in public education, revitalize communities in Eastern North Carolina, and to expand Medicaid to more than 600,000 North Carolinians who are now able to receive care"9, 10
Names a policyPoints to a record
Schools and education
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Nothing on this topic
Raymond Smith
Strong Public Education"Raymond will fight to protect the fundamental right to a sound, basic education" Record, from his healthcare section: "he proudly introduced legislation to invest in public education"99
Points to a record
Child care and families
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Nothing on this topic
Raymond Smith
Lower Costs for Working Families"In Congress, Raymond will focus on lowering the cost of necessities and raising the standard of living for all North Carolinians"9
None of the six checks
Farms and rural areas
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Standing up for Farmers"Through the Working Families Tax Cut, I fought to make the Death Tax permanent to ensure that family farms stay family-owned for generations" Also: "I am proud to advocate for fair H-2A labor rates"7
Names a policyPoints to a record
Raymond Smith
Nothing on this topic
Roads, transit and infrastructure
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Nothing on this topic
Raymond Smith
Infrastructure for the 21st Century"We deserve access to modern infrastructure that can move our economy forward, such as broadband internet access, as well as major investments in floodwater resilience and prevention"9
None of the six checks
Ethics, term limits and money in politics
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Nothing on this topic
Raymond Smith
Fighting Corruption and Promoting Good Government"push major campaign finance reform, bring an end to Citizens United, and ban stock trading from members of Congress"9
Names a policy
Taxes, jobs and the economy
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Improving the Economy"I helped write and pass the Working Families Tax Cut into law, the largest middle-class tax cut in decades" Also: "This package included No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime Pay, tax relief for seniors, and enhanced the child tax credit and standard deduction"3
Names a policyPoints to a record
Raymond Smith
Nothing on this topic
Defense and foreign policy
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found
Greg Murphy
Supporting Our Troops"I am proud to have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for construction projects on our bases, historic pay raises for our troops, and numerous quality of life reforms"8
Points to a record
Raymond Smith
Nothing on this topic
Their record
Daniel Cavender
None listed
Greg Murphy
  • Says he helped write and pass the Working Families Tax Cut as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.3 Says he has been a physician for 35 years.5
Raymond Smith
  • Two terms in the North Carolina General Assembly for Wayne and Sampson Counties, and a former member of the Wayne County Board of Education, by his own account.10
In their words
Daniel Cavender
None
Greg Murphy

"I understand that food comes from farmers, not the grocery store."

Greg Murphy, campaign site7

"Making life more affordable for you is my top priority."

Greg Murphy, campaign site3
Raymond Smith

"We deserve leaders who listen, deliver, and serve people over politics."

Raymond Smith, campaign site11

"It's time that we push major campaign finance reform, bring an end to Citizens United, and ban stock trading from members of Congress."

Raymond Smith, campaign site9
Where we read it
Daniel Cavender
No campaign website found (checked 11/5/2026)
Greg Murphy
Website: murphy4congress.com/issues/ (checked 11/5/2026)
Raymond Smith
Website: raymondsmithfornc.com/platform (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • Both say patients should come before profits. Murphy wants "a system that puts patients above profits."5 Smith wants a system "to focus on patients over profits."9
  • Both want the VA to work better for veterans. Murphy: "improving access to and the timely delivery of quality healthcare."6 Smith: "By improving the VA, expanding childcare access for the families of service members, and addressing the base housing crisis."9
  • Both point to military bases in Eastern North Carolina. Murphy says he delivered "hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for construction projects on our bases."8 Smith wants to address "the base housing crisis."9

Where they really split

  • Why costs are high: Murphy says "inflation, fueled by reckless policies, has made everything more expensive."3 Smith says "politicians in DC focus on lining the pockets of their billionaire donors."9
  • First priorities: Murphy points to the tax law he "helped write and pass."3 Smith leads with "major campaign finance reform, bring an end to Citizens United, and ban stock trading from members of Congress."9

What each one leaves out

  • Murphy's six issue pages name a policy on three (the tax law, VA services, the estate tax) and give no details, numbers, costs or dates on any. His health care page names no policy.3, 5, 6, 7
  • Smith's platform names a policy on two of six issues (stock trading and Citizens United, and the Medicaid expansion he says he introduced as a state legislator) and gives no details, numbers, costs or dates. It has no section on immigration, taxes or the border.9
Sources (checked 11/5/2026)
  1. NC State Board of Elections results, statewide, unofficial (100% of precincts reporting, last county upload Nov 4, 2026 4:13 PM): er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/03/2026&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0
  2. Greg Murphy campaign, Home: murphy4congress.com/
  3. Greg Murphy campaign, Improving the Economy: murphy4congress.com/issues/improving-the-economy/
  4. Greg Murphy campaign, Securing the Border: murphy4congress.com/issues/securing-the-border/
  5. Greg Murphy campaign, Making Healthcare Affordable: murphy4congress.com/issues/making-healthcare-affordable/
  6. Greg Murphy campaign, Delivering for Our Veterans: murphy4congress.com/issues/delivering-for-our-veterans/
  7. Greg Murphy campaign, Standing up for Farmers: murphy4congress.com/issues/standing-up-for-farmers/
  8. Greg Murphy campaign, Supporting Our Troops: murphy4congress.com/issues/supporting-our-troops/
  9. Raymond Smith campaign, Platform: raymondsmithfornc.com/platform
  10. Raymond Smith campaign, About: raymondsmithfornc.com/about
  11. Raymond Smith campaign, Home: raymondsmithfornc.com/