Rep. Brad Knott voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut nearly $200 billion from SNAP — putting 1.4 million North Carolina food assistance recipients at risk of reduced benefits — while repealing clean energy tax credits that 88,960 North Carolina households used in 2023 alone. Knott then voted to protect Trump's 25% tariffs on Canada even as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that American consumers and businesses bore nearly 90% of the $264 billion in tariff costs collected in 2025. In Knott's own district, Johnston County soybean farmers described existential anxiety over retaliatory tariffs, and a John Locke Foundation report warned that tariffs could wipe out $695 million in North Carolina farm income and 8,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Knott accepted over $192,000 from agribusiness, manufacturing, energy, retail, and real estate PACs — including $10,000 from sugar industry interests that directly benefit from tariff protections that raise food prices for consumers. When the News & Observer surveyed North Carolina's congressional delegation on tariffs, Knott was identified as one of several Republicans who "have been silent on the issue."
Knott Voted Against A Resolution To End Trump's 25% Tariffs On Canada. According to CNBC, the House passed H.J.Res. 72 by a vote of 219-211 on February 11, 2026, to terminate the national emergency Trump declared to impose tariffs on Canadian goods. Six Republicans crossed party lines to vote with Democrats; Knott was not among them. [CNBC, 2/11/26]
The Federal Reserve Bank Of New York Found American Consumers And Businesses Bore Nearly 90% Of Tariff Costs. According to Fortune, Federal Reserve Bank of New York economists found that "Americans paid for nearly 90% of the tariffs in 2025, including 94% of the levies from January to August of last year, 92% from September to October, and 86% in November." The economists wrote, "'Our results show that the bulk of the tariff incidence continues to fall on U.S. firms and consumers.'" [Fortune, 2/13/26]
The Yale Budget Lab Estimated Tariffs Cost The Median American Household $1,400 Per Year. According to the Yale Budget Lab, the median annual cost of tariffs per household was approximately $1,400, with the burden falling disproportionately on lower-income families — the bottom decile paid 2.4% of their income in tariff costs versus 0.8% for the top decile. [Yale Budget Lab, 11/17/25]
Three-In-Four North Carolina Voters Said Tariffs Would Increase Prices. According to Carolina Journal, a May 2025 poll found that 75% of North Carolina voters expected tariffs to raise consumer prices. [Carolina Journal, 5/25]
Knott Was Silent When The News And Observer Surveyed North Carolina's Delegation On Tariffs. According to Yahoo News, the News & Observer identified Knott as one of several North Carolina Republicans who "have been silent on the issue" of tariffs, alongside Sens. Ted Budd and Reps. Richard Hudson, Virginia Foxx, David Rouzer, and Greg Murphy. [Yahoo News, Viewed 2/16/26]
A John Locke Foundation Report Found Tariffs Could Cost North Carolina Farmers $695 Million And 8,000 Jobs. According to NC Newsline, a January 2026 report warned that tariffs could wipe out nearly a third of North Carolina's net farm income, with total state economic losses reaching $1.9 billion. The pork industry faced $430 million in losses, cotton $125 million, soybeans $90 million, and sweet potatoes nearly $50 million. [NC Newsline, 1/16/26]
A Johnston County Farmer In Knott's District Said He Was Nervous About Making Enough To Pay The Bills. According to ABC11, Brandon Batten of Triple B Farms in Four Oaks, Johnston County, said, "'We're all a little nervous trying to say, are we going to make enough to pay the bills? Are we going to be able to go again next year? Are we going to be able to satisfy those operating notes?'" Batten added, "'China is a huge consumer of everything. Beans are big. Not buying any beans has a tremendous impact on U.S. agriculture.'" [ABC11, Viewed 2/16/26]
North Carolina Sweet Potato Exports Totaled $129 Million In 2024, And Farmers Warned Tariffs Could Cause Significant Hardship. According to Carolina Journal, NC Sweet Potato Commission Executive Director Michelle Grainger said, "'Blanket tariffs can cause significant hardship for farmers — especially those who depend on exports.'" North Carolina produces 64% of the nation's sweet potato crop. [Carolina Journal, Viewed 2/16/26]
Tariffs Raised Food Prices For North Carolina Families. According to WUNC, Black Mountain farmer Mary Carroll Dodd said, "'When the price of everything it takes to grow vegetables goes up from soil to tools to fertilizer, packaging, transportation, then the vegetables on the holiday table goes up as well.'" Asheville food importer Collin Tuthill added, "'Placing a tariff or a tax on any kind of food item is something that makes absolutely no sense to me.'" [WUNC, 11/25/25]
Knott Voted For The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Which Cut Nearly $200 Billion From SNAP Over Ten Years. According to the NC Institute of Medicine, 1.4 million North Carolinians — including 600,000 children — rely on SNAP benefits. The law expanded work requirements to adults ages 55-64, eliminated exemptions for homeless individuals and veterans, and capped future benefit increases. [NCIOM, Viewed 2/16/26]
Knott Celebrated Cutting Benefits, Saying Congress 'Removed Illegal Aliens And Able-Bodied Young People' From Programs. According to a press release from Knott's office, Knott said, "'We removed illegal aliens and able-bodied young people from the very programs designed to keep our most vulnerable citizens secure.'" Knott did not mention SNAP, Medicaid, or food assistance by name, nor did he acknowledge that the cuts affected 46,000 North Carolina veterans, homeless individuals, and parents with teenage children. [Knott.house.gov, 7/3/25]
The OBBBA Shifted Up To $420 Million In Annual SNAP Costs To North Carolina. According to WRAL, the law required states to share in SNAP benefit costs based on error rates starting October 2027, with North Carolina facing up to $420 million annually in new matching fund requirements plus $65 million in increased administrative costs at the state level and $14 million at the county level. State Rep. Donny Lambeth said there was "'too much work to do, and I just don't see how we can do it.'" [WRAL, 1/13/26]
The Average SNAP Family In North Carolina Stood To Lose $234 Per Month In Food Assistance. According to the Center for American Progress, the OBBBA would reduce average monthly SNAP benefits by $234 per family and put 1,439 North Carolina grocery stores and other SNAP retailers at increased risk of financial instability. [Center for American Progress, Viewed 2/16/26]
Knott Voted For The OBBBA, Which Repealed Clean Energy Tax Credits Used By Nearly 89,000 North Carolina Households. According to BPR, the law terminated the residential clean energy credit and the energy efficiency credit after December 31, 2025. In 2023, 62,490 North Carolina households used the energy efficiency credit and 26,470 used the clean energy credit, which covered up to 30% of installation costs for solar panels, heat pumps, and other upgrades. [BPR, 7/25/25]
The OBBBA Was Projected To Increase Average North Carolina Household Energy Costs By $215 In 2026. According to the Center for American Progress, the law would raise average annual electricity costs by $215 for households and 21% for businesses in 2026, with families spending $529 more on gasoline annually by 2035 and a $640 million decrease in the state's GDP from higher energy prices. [Center for American Progress, Viewed 2/16/26]
The OBBBA's Energy Provisions Were Projected To Cut Over 41,000 Jobs From North Carolina's Workforce By 2030. According to Energy Innovation, North Carolina was among the five states hardest hit by the OBBBA's energy provisions, with over 41,000 job losses projected in 2030 and another 32,000 by 2035. [Energy Innovation, 7/1/25]
Knott Accepted Over $192,000 From Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Energy, Real Estate, And Retail Industry PACs. According to FEC records, Knott's top affordability-related industry PAC contributions included $73,000 from manufacturing and trade-protected industries, $44,000 from agribusiness and food companies, $42,500 from retail and consumer goods companies, $19,500 from real estate and housing interests, and $13,500 from energy companies. [FEC, Viewed 2/16/26]
Knott Accepted $10,000 From Sugar Industry PACs That Directly Benefit From Tariff Protections. According to FEC records, Knott accepted contributions from the American Crystal Sugar Company PAC ($5,000), Amalgamated Sugar Company PAC ($1,500), Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Sugar PAC ($1,000), Michigan Sugar Company Growers PAC ($1,000), Florida Sugar Cane League PAC ($1,000), and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida PAC ($500). U.S. sugar tariffs and price supports keep domestic sugar prices roughly double the world market price. [FEC, Viewed 2/16/26]
Knott Accepted $7,500 From Caterpillar, A Major Beneficiary Of Steel Tariff Protections. According to FEC records, Knott received three contributions from Caterpillar Inc. PAC totaling $7,500. Knott also accepted $1,000 from Nucor Corporation PAC, a major domestic steelmaker that directly benefits from steel tariffs. [FEC, Viewed 2/16/26]
A North Carolina Economist Said Families Face A 'New Economic Reality' Of Tariff-Driven Inflation. According to WRAL, Duke University's John Coleman said, "'If you had to make some cutbacks or some adjustments in terms of what you had to buy, what you wanted to buy, you're going to have to continue to do that for quite some time. It's unfortunate, but that's just the new economic reality that we're faced with.'" N.C. State professor emeritus Mike Walden added, "'Businesses have been trying to not do that [raise prices], but they have a breaking point. I think we're beginning to see that breaking point.'" [WRAL, Viewed 2/16/26]
Nearly 8,500 Wake County Families Paid More Than Half Their Income On Rent. According to the NC Housing Coalition, 48% of renter households in Wake County were cost-burdened and approximately 56,000 working families making less than $39,000 a year were unable to find affordable housing — a number projected to reach 150,000 households over the next 20 years. Since 2010, Wake County lost 59% of housing units with rent below $750 per month. [NC Housing Coalition, Viewed 2/16/26]
The NC Association Of County Commissioners Called The OBBBA's SNAP Cost Shift 'One Of The Most Significant Unfunded Mandates In Generations.' According to WRAL, Kevin Leonard of the NC Association of County Commissioners described the state's new SNAP cost-sharing obligations as "'one of the most significant unfunded mandates [...] in generations.'" [WRAL, 1/13/26]