RALEIGH – The statewide committee of EMPAC, the political arm of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC), proudly announces its endorsement of Deborah Ross for U.S. Senate. 

EMPAC broke with the tradition of only endorsing in statewide races to vote in unanimous support of Ross, a candidate who clearly prioritizes the issues and concerns of North Carolina’s working families over the special interests of Washington. 

“Our members felt that the U.S. Senate race is too important to stay silent on this year,” said EMPAC Statewide Chairman Tony Smith. “Richard Burr is no friend to working families. The choice is clear for our members who need a senator who cares about them and will work to improve their lives.”

During her five full terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, Ross proved herself to be a consistent champion for state employees and the working families of North Carolina. She sponsored a bill that would raise minimum starting salaries for state employees and supported equal pay legislation that would prohibit employers for paying workers differently based on gender.

Ross’ commitment to improving the lives of working people is consistently evidenced across her platform of investing in public infrastructure, affordable and accessible health care and protecting the social security and Medicare that our seniors desperately rely upon. 

Sen. Richard Burr has voted consistently against working families and retirees. Sen. Burr authored a plan that would hurt our retirees by raising the eligibility age for Medicare and privatizing health insurance for many seniors which would result in higher premiums for the middle-class. Burr voted against extending unemployment benefits and equal pay legislation and voted for tax cuts for the wealthy.