🗳️ Hardy vs. Humphrey: A Race Years in the Making

Kinston Mayor Don Hardy has officially launched his campaign for the North Carolina House of Representatives, challenging incumbent Chris Humphrey for the District 12 seat — reigniting a political rivalry rooted in years of local tension and contrasting leadership styles.

On December 18, 2025, Mayor Don Hardy announced his candidacy for the District 12 seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives, currently held by Republican Chris Humphrey. Hardy, a Democrat and two-term mayor of Kinston, will now juggle his campaign while continuing to serve as mayor — a role he’s held since 2017.

This isn’t just a race between two politicians. It’s a collision of local legacy, party lines, and unresolved friction.

🔥 Their History: From City Hall to Raleigh

• Chris Humphrey, a former Lenoir County commissioner, has represented District 12 since 2019. He’s known for his conservative stance on fiscal policy and public safety, often aligning with state Republican leadership.

• Don Hardy, by contrast, has built his reputation on community engagement, disaster recovery leadership, and youth empowerment — including his support an allegedth grassroot organizations like Kinston Teens.

Their paths have crossed repeatedly:

• In 2020, Hardy publicly criticized Humphrey’s support for legislation that Hardy said “ignored the needs of eastern North Carolina’s most vulnerable communities.”

• In 2022, Hardy and Humphrey clashed over hurricane recovery funding, with Hardy accusing state leaders of dragging their feet while Kinston residents waited for aid.

• In 2023, Hardy backed a local resolution opposing a state bill Humphrey co-sponsored, which Hardy claimed would “undermine municipal authority.”

  
  

📣 Hardy’s Platform

Hardy’s campaign is expected to focus on:

• Affordable housing and infrastructure investment

• Youth programs and public education

• Transparent disaster recovery funding

• Protecting local control from state overreach

He’s already framed the race as a “fight for eastern North Carolina’s future,” telling supporters, “We need a representative who knows what it means to live the struggle — not just legislate from a distance.”

🧭 What’s Next

With candidate filing underway and primaries approaching in March 2026, this race is drawing attention across the region. Hardy’s entry sets up a high-profile showdown between two familiar names — and voters will be watching closely to see whether Kinston’s mayor can unseat the incumbent in Raleigh.