The True Cost of Michael Wray's Votes
Michael Wray's votes in Raleigh consistently aligned with corporate PACs, not the people of District 27. Here is the cost of his votes on your wallet and your community.
Representative Wray has claimed credit for securing $200 million in legislator-directed funding. However, official records from the NC General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division reveal the actual total is $144.6 million.
His claim is exaggerated by $55.4 million (a 27% inflation).
This surge in short-term, non-recurring funding came at a high price: Wray's votes for bills that hurt District 27 long-term.
He issued no statements or press releases criticizing the 2023 gerrymandering of Senate District 2, which includes Halifax and Warren counties. While Rodney Pierce leads the fight for voting rights, Wray remains silent.
He even voted against the redistricting bill (HB 898, 2023) but said nothing to defend his constituents' representation.
He voted to increase auto insurance coverage requirements (SB 452, 2023), a move that benefits the insurance industry and drives up costs for every driver in North Carolina.
He voted to remove sheriffs' authority to approve or deny pistol permits (SB 41, 2023), putting more guns on our streets and weakening local law enforcement's ability to keep communities safe.
He voted with Republicans to override Governor Cooper's veto of HB 488 (2023), directly increasing utility and insurance costs for families across the district.
He voted with Republicans to override Governor Cooper's veto of HB 600 (2023), weakening the power of the NC Department of Environmental Quality to protect our natural resources.
He voted to cap damages in nuisance lawsuits (HB 467, 2017), protecting large polluters (like hog farms) from full accountability to homeowners and communities.
He voted to protect the big internet providers and stop municipalities from creating their own ISP (HB 129, 2011), ensuring rural communities remain underserved.
Michael Wray voted with Republicans 85% of the time in the 2023-24 session.
He is not his own man. The question is: Whose man is he?
SOURCES:
[1] NCGA Roll Call #588 (2023) on SB 452. [2] NCGA Roll Call #140 (2023) on SB 41 Veto Override. [3] NCGA Roll Call #479 (2023) on HB 488 Veto Override. [4] Transparency USA, Michael Wray Contributions (2017-Present). [5] NCGA Roll Call #614 (2023) on HB 600 Veto Override. [6] NCGA Roll Call #488 (2017) on HB 467 Veto Override. [7] NCGA Roll Call #155 (2011) on HB 129. [8] NC General Assembly Fiscal Research Division, Legislator-Directed Appropriations Data (2005-2025). [9] NCGA Roll Call #542 (2023) on HB 898.