Meet Joshua Estep
My name is Joshua Estep, and I'm running for the NC State House of Representatives in District 6. I'm 36 years old and live in Barbecue with my wonderful wife Angela and my 5 year old son Bear. I graduated from Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington with a degree in Construction Management and currently work for a small, family owned masonry contracting business in Raleigh.
Growing up, my mother was a public school teacher and my father worked in a paper mill. I got my first job at 14, washing dishes at Coronet Seafood in Rural Hall. I spent the next 12 years going to school and working full time in the food service industry. In 2015, my wife and I moved back to the Triangle for work, and in 2017 we settled in Barbecue, where we've built our life. I've had a successful career in construction since then and love what I do. Through my work, I volunteer regularly with the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association, helping with apprenticeship competitions across the state.
I've always had an interest in politics, but until recently I didn't think running for public office was possible for someone like me. However, seeing a legislature that wasn't working for the working class and failing our public schools pushed me to step up. I want to write compassionate legislation that benefits all North Carolinians laws that protect good paying jobs, support small businesses, and ensure every child gets a quality education. I want women in NC to have the right to make their own healthcare decisions without the state interfering. I want to help build a bright future for our children.
I love my community and the people I've come to call my neighbors. Harnett County is a great place to live, and together we can make it even better. I'm asking for your vote so I can fight for working families in Raleigh
Policy Priorities
Affordable Housing
As someone who works in construction, I see firsthand why housing has become unaffordable for working families. Rising material costs, labor shortages, and excessive regulations all drive up prices but too often, the "affordable" housing that does get built cuts corners on quality, leaving families with homes that won't last.
We need a better approach. I'll fight for state subsidies and tax incentives that encourage local contractors to build quality, affordable homes not cheap ones. Good construction creates jobs, strengthens our communities, and gives families homes they can be proud of for generations.
We also need to expand access to first time homebuyer programs like those offered by the State Employees Credit Union. Local and regional banks should be incentivized to offer lower down payments, reduced interest rates, and flexible terms so that young families and working people can actually afford to buy a home in Harnett County.
Everyone deserves a safe, quality home they can afford. That's not just good policy it's the foundation of strong communities.
Teacher Raises &
Public School Funding
Public schools are the foundation of our communities. I will fight every session to raise starting pay for our teachers to at least $50,000, with room for local supplements, and ensure they receive adequate annual raises based on years of service and certifications. Competitive teacher pay means we can recruit and retain talented educators who will give our children the quality education they deserve.
I also believe we need tight restrictions on the school voucher program, including income caps that ensure taxpayer dollars go to families who actually need assistance not to wealthy families who can already afford private school. Every dollar we can redirect should go back into our public schools, where the vast majority of North Carolina's children learn and grow.
Beyond teachers, we need to invest in the support staff that keep our schools running school nurses, counselors, teacher assistants, and cafeteria workers. These professionals are essential to creating safe, healthy learning environments, and they deserve adequate staffing levels and fair compensation.
Our children are our future, and they deserve our investment.
Accessible rural healthcare that is affordable.
Every year we see more rural hospitals closing their doors while healthcare costs continue to rise. Federal cuts to Medicaid mean $793 billion less in funding over the next 10 years impacting 33% of North Carolinians. Districts like ours will be hit the hardest.
With federal funding shrinking, it's up to the state to step up. We need representatives who will pass budgets that stabilize existing rural hospitals, invest in workforce recruitment, and help cover insurance gaps through Medicaid expansion. The state can also invest in mobile clinics to bring preventative care including family planning services, cancer screenings, and prenatal care directly to residents in underserved areas.
Healthcare is personal, and medical decisions should be made between patients and their doctors not by politicians in Raleigh. I believe women have the fundamental right to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions, including access to abortion, birth control, and comprehensive family planning services. North Carolina's current abortion ban is government overreach that puts women's health and lives at risk. I will fight to repeal these restrictions and protect access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare.
Rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to healthcare access. When hospitals close and clinics shut down, women lose access to essential services everything from routine gynecological care to emergency obstetric services. We must ensure that every North Carolinian, no matter their zip code, can access affordable, quality healthcare close to home.
Through thoughtful and compassionate legislation, we can rebuild the healthcare infrastructure our communities desperately need.
Volunteers are the backbone of every successful campaign. We’d love to have volunteers to talk to folks in the district, host events, and more…
Together we can build a brighter future for NC.
