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7th Congressional District · 2026 U.S. House · Unofficial result

U.S. House, 7th District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Rep. David Rouzer (R) ran for re-election against Kimberly Hardy (D), a professor and social worker, and Libertarian Maad Abu-Ghazalah. With all precincts reporting, Rouzer leads by 2,425 votes, a gap of less than one percentage point. Results are unofficial until certified. Check your own address on the NC State Board of Elections voter lookup to confirm your district.

Rouzer leadsAll precincts reporting; unofficial until certified1
49.89%Rouzer (R)1
49.13%Hardy (D)1
0.98%Abu-Ghazalah (Libertarian)1
2,425Vote margin of 320,680 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...Maad Abu-GhazalahKimberly HardyDavid Rouzer
Names a policy1 of 4
4 of 4
7 of 11
Says how they'd do it0 of 4
0 of 4
0 of 11
Includes a number or target0 of 4
0 of 4
1 of 11
Says how it's paid for0 of 4
0 of 4
0 of 11
Gives a timeline0 of 4
0 of 4
0 of 11
Points to a record0 of 4
0 of 4
3 of 11

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.

Maad Abu-GhazalahLibertarian
Kimberly HardyDemocrat
David RouzerRepublican
Who they are
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Single-page campaign site
Kimberly Hardy
Professor and social worker; Second Vice-Chair, NC Democratic Party
David Rouzer
U.S. Representative, elected in 2014 (his site)
Abortion
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Limit the proliferation of data centers"But its growth needs to be balanced by the amount of carnage it is doing to our living planet."77
None of the six checks
Kimberly Hardy
Nothing on this topic
David Rouzer
Life & Marriage"I was a co-sponsor of the Marriage Amendment to the NC Constitution and campaigned for its adoption by the people."2 Also: "I will vigorously fight any attempt by the courts to void the vote of the people of North Carolina or any legislative effort to repeal it."2 On life: "I am pro-life and will do everything in my power in Congress to fight for the rights of the unborn in our country."22
Names a policyPoints to a record
Guns
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Nothing on this topic
Kimberly Hardy
Nothing on this topic
David Rouzer
Second Amendment"I am a proud member of the NRA, and a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights."22
None of the six checks
Immigration and the border
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Nothing on this topic
Kimberly Hardy
Nothing on this topic
David Rouzer
Immigration & Border Security"we should replace the current federal laws that allow citizenship via family ties with a work or military service requirement."2 Also: "we must establish easy-to-use guest worker and high skilled visa programs"22
Names a policy
Veterans
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Nothing on this topic
Kimberly Hardy
Nothing on this topic
David Rouzer
Veterans"We must reform the Veterans Administration so that it is customer friendly and appropriate the funding necessary to ensure quality long-term care."2 Also: "By investing in career training programs and incentivizing businesses to hire veterans, we can help our heroes transition from active duty to other careers."22
None of the six checks
Health care
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Nothing on this topic
Kimberly Hardy
Healthcare"Protect Medicare and Medicaid and fight to keep health insurance premiums affordable and coverage meaningful."5 Also: "Rollback cuts to cancer research and other vital programs at the National Institutes for Health and National Science Foundation."55
Names a policy
David Rouzer
Healthcare"Obamacare must be repealed, and our healthcare system significantly reformed in order to bring down the cost of individual health care."2 Also: "We must also have medical malpractice reform so that doctors aren't practicing defense medicine"22
Names a policy
Schools and education
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Nothing on this topic
Kimberly Hardy
Education"Protect funds for Head Start, the Preschool Development Grant, Title I, and Career & Technical Education."55
Names a policy
David Rouzer
Education"I believe that control of education needs to be in the hands of parents, teachers and principals at the local level."22
None of the six checks
Energy and environment
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Defend the environmentHe writes that "the single most effective thing an individual can do to save the environment is to be vegan."77
None of the six checks
Kimberly Hardy
Environment"Prioritize the cleaning and repurposing of Brownfield and Superfund sites."5 Also: "Ensure FEMA funding remains available and readily accessible in times of need."55
Names a policy
David Rouzer
Nothing on this topic
Disasters and the coast
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Nothing on this topic
Kimberly Hardy
Nothing on this topic
David Rouzer
Coastal Communities"I will also work with my colleagues in the House to protect the federal floodwater insurance program, which is vital to our coastal communities."22
Names a policy
Budget, debt and spending
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Nothing on this topic
Kimberly Hardy
Nothing on this topic
David Rouzer
National Debt & Budget"I will support a balanced budget amendment that requires Washington adhere to these same principles."2 Record, from his Taxes section: "In the State Senate I helped craft two balanced budgets without raising taxes on hard-working North Carolinians."22
Names a policyPoints to a record
Taxes, jobs and the economy
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Nothing on this topic
Kimberly Hardy
Jobs"Raising the federal minimum wage for the first time in nearly 30 years."5 Also: "Eliminating taxes on tips, especially in industries that had mostly cash-based tips just a few years ago."5 And: "Fight to protect and expand the Opportunity Zone and Community Block Development Grant programs that encourage investment in our small towns."55
Names a policy
David Rouzer
Economy & Jobs"This includes the repeal of Obamacare."2 Also: "it should be our goal to be the number one exporter of oil and natural gas."22
Names a policyIncludes a number or target
Taxes"In the State Senate I helped craft two balanced budgets without raising taxes on hard-working North Carolinians."2 Also: "I also proposed legislation to completely eliminate the state's burdensome gas tax that strains family budgets and small businesses."2 Forward: "We need to lower all taxes so people can keep more of their money"22
Names a policyPoints to a record
Defense and foreign policy
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Stop funding wars"We need to stop arming Israel and other foreign regimes like Egypt, Jordan and the Ukraine and start using our leverage to create peace in the world through diplomacy."77
Names a policy
Kimberly Hardy
Nothing on this topic
David Rouzer
Foreign Policy & Military"I believe in military intervention only when we have a threat to the national interest of the United States."22
None of the six checks
How government works
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Return control of our government to the people"Our government should represent the voters not special interests."77
None of the six checks
Kimberly Hardy
Nothing on this topic
David Rouzer
Nothing on this topic
Their record
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
  • His site lists no elected office or prior public record.7 It is a single page with a PLATFORM menu link; the platform text is on the home page.
Kimberly Hardy
  • Professor at Fayetteville State University since 2016, by her own account.6 Second Vice-Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party since 2023.6 Her bio says she was "the Democratic nominee for NC House 43 in 2020."6 Her site lists no elected office.
David Rouzer
  • His Meet David page says he was "elected to Congress in 2014" and "served two terms in the NC Senate."3 His site looks out of date: the newest item on its home page is dated 12 November 2020,4 and the Coastal Communities text still reads "In Congress, I will be a tireless advocate" in the future tense.2 Scored as posted.
In their words
Maad Abu-Ghazalah

"It's time to elect a congressman whose priority is to protect life"

Maad Abu-Ghazalah, campaign home page7

"Our government doesn't care what we, the people, think, because they're too busy cashing checks from their wealthy donors."

Maad Abu-Ghazalah, campaign home page7
Kimberly Hardy

"I will be a strong voice in making sure that wherever you live in southeast NC, you have local public schools that provide young people with a strong start."

Kimberly Hardy, campaign Priorities page5

"Southeastern North Carolina's natural environment is the center of our region's charm, industry, and culture."

Kimberly Hardy, campaign Priorities page5
David Rouzer

"We must create a business climate that is friendly to capital investment and job creation."

David Rouzer, campaign Issues page2

"Families across North Carolina and America are required to live within their means, and the Federal government should be forced to do the same."

David Rouzer, campaign Issues page2
Where we read it
Maad Abu-Ghazalah
Website: getmaad.org/ (checked 11/5/2026)
Kimberly Hardy
Website: kimberlyhardyforcongress.com/priorities (checked 11/5/2026)
David Rouzer
Website: davidrouzer.com/the-issues/ (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • Rouzer and Hardy both back federal flood help for the coast. Rouzer: "protect the federal floodwater insurance program."2 Hardy: "Ensure FEMA funding remains available and readily accessible in times of need."5
  • Both want lower taxes in some form. Rouzer: "We need to lower all taxes so people can keep more of their money"2 Hardy: "Eliminating taxes on tips"5
  • Both talk about small business. Rouzer: "Our small businesses, entrepreneurs, and farmers are the economic engine of this state and nation."2 Hardy: "Help our local entrepreneurs, including our veterans, apply for federally-backed small business loans"5

Where they really split

  • Health care: Rouzer: "Obamacare must be repealed, and our healthcare system significantly reformed."2 Hardy: "Protect Medicare and Medicaid and fight to keep health insurance premiums affordable and coverage meaningful."5
  • Israel: Rouzer: "I support a strong alliance with Israel."2 Abu-Ghazalah: "We need to stop arming Israel and other foreign regimes like Egypt, Jordan and the Ukraine"7
  • Energy: Rouzer: "I support an all-of-the-above energy policy"2 Hardy: "Support homegrown energy initiatives including solar, wind, and geothermal."5

What each one leaves out

  • Rouzer's site names a policy on seven of its eleven issues and spells out how on none. It gives a number on one (the oil and gas export goal) and no costs or dates. It cites a past action on three (balanced budgets, the gas tax bill, the Marriage Amendment). Much of it appears to date from earlier campaigns.2
  • Hardy's Priorities page names a policy on all four of its issues and spells out how on none. It gives no numbers, costs, dates or past actions on any issue.5
  • Abu-Ghazalah's page names a policy on one of four issues (ending arms to named countries) and gives no details, numbers, costs, dates or past actions.7
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. David Rouzer campaign, The Issues: davidrouzer.com/the-issues/
  3. David Rouzer campaign, Meet David: davidrouzer.com/meet-david/
  4. David Rouzer campaign, Home: davidrouzer.com/
  5. Kimberly Hardy campaign, Priorities: kimberlyhardyforcongress.com/priorities
  6. Kimberly Hardy campaign, Meet Kimberly: kimberlyhardyforcongress.com/meetkimberly
  7. Maad Abu-Ghazalah campaign, Home (platform): getmaad.org/