¶ How To Win Against Addison McDowell
Addison McDowell was a Blue Cross Blue Shield lobbyist until the day he launched his congressional campaign — and since arriving in Washington, every major vote he has cast has made life harder for the North Carolina families he claims to represent. McDowell voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, which cut $1 trillion from Medicaid — threatening coverage for more than 670,000 North Carolinians and slashed $187 billion from SNAP, the largest cut to food assistance in history, while representing one of the most food-insecure metro areas in the country. He told ABC News viewers to "trust the president" on tariffs that are now costing the average household $1,300 a year as textile plants around his district. He refused to join the bipartisan effort to extend ACA subsidies, causing a 29% premium spike from his former employer Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. He has never held a single in-person town hall to face the constituents dealing with these consequences.
¶ HEALTH CARE: INSURANCE LOBBYIST VOTED TO GUT COVERAGE
McDowell was a registered lobbyist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC until the day he launched his campaign — then voted for $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts that could trigger an automatic rollback of NC's Medicaid expansion, threatening 670,000 people.
He refused to sign the discharge petition and voted against extending ACA subsidies, causing a 29% premium spike from his former employer BCBS-NC.
A Hendersonville man's monthly premium nearly tripled from $1,000 to $2,670, and a Charlotte-area couple nearing retirement faces a potential $24,221 annual premium increase.
Message: McDowell lobbied for the insurance industry, then voted to let them raise premiums on hundreds of thousands North Carolinians.
¶ AFFORDABILITY: SAID "TRUST THE PRESIDENT" — THEN PRICES WENT UP
McDowell told ABC News to "trust the president" on tariffs that the Tax Foundation found amount to the largest U.S. tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993, costing the average household $1,300 in 2026.
North Carolina families saw beef prices rise 16% and coffee nearly 20% due to tariff-driven cost increases, and three-in-four NC voters said tariffs would increase prices.
McDowell voted for the largest SNAP cut in history ($187 billion) while representing one of the most food-insecure metro areas in the country, threatening food assistance for 1.4 million North Carolinians including 66% which are households with children.
Message: McDowell told you to trust Trump on tariffs — now you're paying more for groceries, health care, and everything else.
¶ JOBS AND THE ECONOMY: TARIFFS KILLED LOCAL JOBS
North Carolina lost 7,200 manufacturing jobs in 2025 — the only major sector with net losses — while McDowell defended the tariffs causing it.
McDowell voted for a bill that could cost North Carolina 45,000 clean energy jobs and put $24 billion in clean energy investments at risk.
The bill gave the richest 1% more than $50,000 in tax cuts while the poorest 20% got just $110.
Message: McDowell's tariffs closed a factory in his own district while his tax bill rewards millionaires at the expense of working families.
¶ NO EXPERIENCE, NO MANDATE, NO ACCOUNTABILITY
McDowell had never held elected office before winning his seat at age 30 — his only experience was lobbying for Blue Cross Blue Shield and working as a constituent liaison.
He won his primary with only 26% of the vote and avoided a runoff only because his closest opponent dropped out.
He has not held a single in-person town hall since taking office, ducking constituents dealing with skyrocketing premiums, rising grocery prices, and threatened Medicaid coverage.
He refused to answer NC Health News' health care questionnaire during the 2024 campaign.
Message: McDowell won't face his own constituents because he can't defend his record.
¶ BACKED DOGE WHILE HIS DISTRICT FACED JOB CUTS
McDowell said he had DOGE's "back" while more than 35,000 jobs in North Carolina were at risk under federal spending cuts.
Message: McDowell backed the people cutting your jobs instead of fighting for them.
¶ Issue Back-Ups
¶ Policies That Hurt Everyday People
Health Care: Insurance Lobbyist Voted to Gut Coverage
Affordability: Said "Trust the President" — Then - Prices Went Up
Jobs and Economy: Tariffs Killed Local Jobs
No Experience, No Mandate
Refused to Face Constituents
Backed DOGE While District Faced Job Cuts