Murphy, Smith echo party platforms
The article profiles North Carolina 3rd Congressional District candidates Greg Murphy and Raymond Smith and compares their views on healthcare, energy, foreign policy and other issues. On data centers, Smith opposes new facilities until their health, environmental and utility impacts are studied, while Murphy supports development with safeguards for water, energy costs and noise.
The Reflector examines the 2026 congressional race in North Carolina’s 3rd District, where Republican incumbent Greg Murphy faces Democratic challenger Raymond Smith Jr., with Libertarian candidate Daniel Cavender also on the ballot. Murphy emphasizes his record on healthcare, energy production and national security, while Smith focuses on affordability, veterans’ services and opposition to unauthorized military action against Iran.
The candidates differ over data center development as North Carolina communities consider moratoriums and new regulations. Smith says construction should pause until potential health, environmental and utility impacts are fully studied. Murphy supports building data centers to maintain U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence but says facilities must avoid depleting or contaminating water supplies, increasing energy costs or creating excessive noise.