Kimberly
Hardy
Democratic challenger Kimberly Hardy, a Fayetteville State professor and NC Democratic Party officer, runs for NC's 7th Congressional District seat in 2026.
- sources
- 12
- positions
- 8
- endorsements
- 5
Background
Dr. Kimberly Hardy is a Democratic candidate challenging Republican incumbent David Rouzer for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District seat in the November 2026 election. 21213
Hardy is an associate professor of social work at Fayetteville State University, a position she has held since 2016. She earned a Bachelor's and Ph.D. in social work from Morgan State University and a Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University. Before joining the university, she worked as a school social worker. 27
Hardy has been active in Democratic Party politics in North Carolina, serving as second vice-chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party since 2023. She previously ran as the Democratic nominee for North Carolina House District 43 in 2020, losing the general election, and ran again in the 2022 Democratic primary for the same seat, also unsuccessfully. 714
Her campaign focuses on economic issues, including better jobs, and she is affiliated with the Patriotic Millionaires advocacy organization. Her family has roots in eastern North Carolina. 1117
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 7, North Carolina
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Associate Professor of Social Work, Fayetteville State University; Second Vice-Chair, North Carolina Democratic Party
- Website
- kimberlyhardyforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknownpollPolling average shows Rouzer leading Hardy by +7.1 based on single August 20 poll
A forecast page reported an average of Rouzer +7.1 based on one poll dated August 20, 2026, with a model forecast of Rouzer +9.1, reflecting a thin polling record for the NC-7 race.
North Carolina’s 7th District 2026 Forecast: Hardy vs. Rouzer · Seldon Beta · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 10newsHardy outlines immigration, economy, and anti-gerrymandering positions in News & Observer questionnaire
In responses published by The News & Observer, Hardy called for reversing cuts to food assistance and health coverage, supported secure borders with a path to citizenship for peaceful long-term residents, backed a ban on partisan gerrymandering, and supported a constitutional amendment limiting corporate campaign spending.
Two NC challengers' views on immigration, ‘forever wars' and the economy · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8newsDaily Kos CBC Roundup highlights Hardy's NC-7 campaign
A Daily Kos community roundup featured Hardy's campaign, noting she ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and is now the Democratic nominee facing Republican David Rouzer and Libertarian Maad Abu-Ghazalah on November 3.
CBC Roundup: Kimberly Hardy for (NC-7) - better jobs ... · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsHardy participates in Port City Daily/WECT/WHQR/UNCW candidate questionnaire
Port City Daily, working with WECT, WHQR, and UNCW's The Seahawk, published a questionnaire for NC-7 candidates. Hardy responded; incumbent David Rouzer did not.
Election 2026 Q&A: Candidates for U.S. House ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24endorsementNorth Carolina AFL-CIO endorses Hardy for U.S. House District 7
The North Carolina AFL-CIO listed Kimberly Hardy as its endorsed candidate for U.S. House District 7 as part of its list of NC union-endorsed candidates for the November 3 general election.
NC Union Endorsed Candidates for November 3rd General ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsPBS NC publishes Hardy campaign interview
PBS NC published its interview with Democratic candidate Kimberly Hardy discussing her campaign for NC's 7th Congressional District.
Kimberly Hardy, Democratic Candidate for NC's 7th ... · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18newsHardy records interview with PBS NC's Kelly McCullen about her campaign
Hardy sat for an interview recorded September 18 with PBS NC's Kelly McCullen to discuss her campaign for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District.
Kimberly Hardy, Democratic Candidate for NC's 7th ... · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 16newsHardy criticizes Rouzer for skipping Cape Fear bridge public hearings
At public hearings on a proposed replacement for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, Hardy highlighted the bridge's importance to the state and criticized incumbent David Rouzer for not attending either hearing, also noting his role as chair of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee amid opposition to a toll.
As NCDOT weighs Cape Fear bridge designs, locals ask · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Mar 3filingHardy wins Democratic nomination for NC-07 after primary canceled; ran unopposed
The March 3 Democratic primary for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District was canceled because Hardy ran unopposed, making her the party's nominee for the November general election.
CBC Roundup: Kimberly Hardy for (NC-7) - better jobs ... · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- National Association of Social Workers Political Action for Candidate Election (NASW-PACE) organizationHardy identified as endorsed in a 2026 candidate listing; no endorsement date available in the sources. socialworkers.org
- Patriotic Millionaires organizationHardy appears on the organization's candidate page and 'MONEY Agenda Champions' list; no specific endorsement date given. patrioticmillionaires.org
- National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) organizationListed under North Carolina NC-07 on the PAC's 2026 federal endorsements page; October 4, 2026 is the page update date, not necessarily the exact endorsement date. nowpac.org · Oct 4, 2026
- Higher Heights for America PAC organizationListed on the PAC's 2026 endorsements page for NC-07; September 25, 2026 is the page update date, not necessarily the exact endorsement date. higherheightsforamericapac.org · Sep 25, 2026
- North Carolina State AFL-CIO and affiliated labor councils unionHardy listed among union-endorsed candidates for the November 3 general election on the State AFL-CIO page and affiliated council pages; September 24, 2026 is the page date, not necessarily the exact endorsement date. aflcionc.org · Sep 24, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $376K
- Spent
- $351K
- Cash on hand
- $25K
As of Sep 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6NC07196(opens in a new tab)
Sources 12
- [1] Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) - NASW(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] Two NC challengers' views on immigration, ‘forever wars' and the economy(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [3] CBC Roundup: Kimberly Hardy for (NC-7) - better jobs ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] 2026 Federal Endorsements - NOW PAC(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [5] Election 2026 Q&A: Candidates for U.S. House ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [6] North Carolina’s 7th District 2026 Forecast: Hardy vs. Rouzer · Seldon Beta(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [7] 2026 Endorsements -Higher Heights for America PAC(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
- [8] NC Union Endorsed Candidates for November 3rd General ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [9] Kimberly Hardy, Democratic Candidate for NC's 7th ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [10] As NCDOT weighs Cape Fear bridge designs, locals ask(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [11] Values | Get Involved Today — Dr. Kimberly Hardy for Congress(opens in a new tab) Jun 17, 2026
- [12] Dr. Kimberly Hardy(opens in a new tab) Apr 9, 2026