Lisa Grafstein
North Carolina State Senator, District 13 since 2022. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
North Carolina State Senator, District 13Born 1966Civil rights lawyer
- In office
- 3 yrs
- Since 2022
- Bills became law
- 0
- 36 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 3.0%
- Chamber median 8.4%
- With party
- 94%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +21.6
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Agriculture, Energy and Environment
- Appropriations and Base Budget
- Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety
- Judiciary
- Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight
- Legislative Ethics
- Local Government Legislative
- Regulatory Reform
- State and Local Government
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
APPROPRIATIONS; BUDGETING; EMPLOYMENT; GENERAL ASSEMBLY; MEMBERSHIP; PERSONNEL; PUBLIC; SALARIES & BENEFITS · Failed in committee May 2026
APPROPRIATIONS; BUDGETING; CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS; COUNCIL OF STATE; COUNSELING; EMERGENCY SERVICES; EMPLOYMENT; HEALTH SERVICES; INSURANCE; INSURANCE · Failed in committee May 2026
APPROPRIATIONS; BUDGETING; COUNCIL OF STATE; EMPLOYMENT; FUNDS & ACCOUNTS; INSURANCE; INSURANCE · Failed in committee May 2026
BOARDS; CJRS; COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES; COMMUNITY COLLEGES; COMMUNITY COLLEGES OFFICE; COST-OF-LIVING; EDUCATION; EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION; EMPLOYMENT; GENERAL ASSEMBLY; HIGHER EDUCATION; JUDGES; LRS; MAGISTRATES; OCCUPATIONS; PERSONNEL; PUBLIC; RETIREMENT; SALARIES & BENEFITS; STATE EMPLOYEES; TEACHERS; TSERS; UNC; GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES; UNC SYSTEM OFFICE · Failed in committee May 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Grafstein sits in the North Carolina State Senate
Grafstein is closer to the center than 43% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: , Sydney Batch, Kandie Smith
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET
With Grafstein’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats94%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills24%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the North Carolina State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Grafstein’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Grafstein | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2026 | HB 562: Budget Technical Corrections Modifications. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 34–3 |
| Jul 28, 2026 | SB 1092: 2026 Senate and House Appointments. | No | No | Yes | Passed 32–9 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | SB 257: 2026 Appropriations Act. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 35–10 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | HB 56: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections. | No | No | Yes | Passed 30–13 |
| Jul 1, 2026 | SB 474: Adjust Counties/Reappraisal Moratorium. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 40–7 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Grafstein was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | North Carolina Senate District 13 | Won | D+21.6 | D+4.9 | +16.7 |
| 2024 | North Carolina State Senate, District 13 | Won | D+3.3 | — | — |
| 2022 | North Carolina State Senate, District 13 | Won | D+28.1 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: North Carolina State Board of Elections (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $406.3K
- Spent
- $329.7K
- Cash
- $49.3K
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections filings through Oct 17, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 1:06 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| LISA GRAFSTEIN CAMPAIGN State | Active |
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections filings through Oct 17, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 1:06 AM ET
Seats Grafstein has held
- North Carolina State Senate, District 13 · since 2022
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Grafstein has run against
- Robert van Brederode (R) · 2026 general, won
- Scott Lassiter (R) · 2024 election, won
- David Bankert (R) · 2022 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: North Carolina State Board of Elections (unofficial)
How we know Grafstein
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/a370c6f1-338d-49c3-a0b4-41e885dc0d80
- Wikidata Q121535132
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET