"These are assets that we must cherish and protect. I'll never allow them to be sold off."

"Our public lands aren't just our beautiful backyard — they are our lifeline, a strong economic engine, and long-standing connection to our culture. And they are a resource that we must steward wisely... I'll never allow them to be sold off."

"I'll support tax credits that help families save energy and pay less for heat and electricity."

"I'm concerned about the challenges we face: recovery from Hurricane Helene, affordability for working families, and preserving our environment and culture."

"I'm concerned about big challenges like recovering from Hurricane Helene, affordability for working families, and preserving our environment and culture."

"'My family's legacy is kind of built around being environmentalists, which I 100% am, but I remember as a kid seeing some of this regulatory stuff come through, and when it hits the ground, it's often kind of slightly ridiculous,' he said. 'The idea around regulatory activity is to create change, and the challenge of putting regulations in that are effective and make sense on the ground is that they are often disconnected.'"

"We must invest in better pay and training for our law enforcement officers, as well as programs that help tackle the root causes of crime."

"I'll fight to cut red tape and expand access to loans and grants for our small businesses affected by Helene."

"I'll fight to cut red tape and expand access to loans and grants for our small businesses affected by Helene. I'll push to expand rural broadband and cell coverage, so even the smallest farm or shop has a fair shot at reaching customers worldwide."

"And I'll support reforms that help working people, like no tax on tips — real tips, not bonuses for CEOs."

"I'll push both parties to reform the tax code so the folks at the top pay their fair share. And I'll support reforms that help working people, like no tax on tips — real tips, not bonuses for CEOs."

"I'll always support good investments and programs to facilitate economic development, manufacturing and modern jobs."

"I'll push both parties to reform the tax code so the folks at the top pay their fair share."

"I'll take on monopolization — from the food industry to our utilities — so corporations don't control too much business and the free market can work its magic."

"I'm also outspoken about the need to support local businesses and putting Western North Carolina first."

"Lower costs and raise wages for working families"

"On economic policy, Ager was skeptical of tariffs and said that uncertainty is bad for business. 'The potential worry that we have around tariffs is just like, hey, every time you create destabilization, It creates potent the potential for more price increases.'"

"He believes entrepreneurship is the key to creating a resilient agricultural system and wants to see federal policy shift from incentivizing the cheapest food possible to rewarding sustainable, soil-friendly practices."

"I'll support teaching personal finance in schools so our kids know how to save and invest their hard earned dollars."

"I'll support programs for first time home buyers and public service employees like teachers, firefighters, and first responders."

"I'll support robust Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security so the folks most at risk in our communities have the support they need. Let's have robust Medicare services that allow folks to age with dignity — including services such as home and community based care, and dental and vision are covered for Medicare patients."

"I'll defend Medicare's power to negotiate drug prices and keep capping insulin and other essentials. Americans shouldn't be overpaying for prescription drugs."

"I'll push for a public option so everyone has access to quality affordable health care."

"I'll improve our mental health support system including expanding programs to educate and destigmatize mental health issues, allowing earlier intervention, enhancing in and out patient services, and broadly supporting efforts that improve mental health."

"Make quality healthcare affordable and accessible"

"he was instrumental in helping to shape early programs like Medicare and Medicaid."

"'These are very effective ways to help those who need help,' he said. 'These programs make America a great country and create the safety net that we all need.'"

"He called himself 'pro-choice and pro-family,' but emphasized the need to support families after children are born."

"'But when there's gun violence and then you say we need to focus on mental health, and then you go defund mental health — that's inconsistent,' he said."

"Our immigration system needs to be clear, fair, and realistic. I support reforms that treat people with dignity and give businesses the workforce they need to grow, all while keeping every community safe."

"I support reforms that treat people with dignity and give businesses the workforce they need to grow, all while keeping every community safe."

"'I'm generally not going to push too hard on Second Amendment stuff,' he said."

"He called himself 'pro-choice and pro-family,' but emphasized the need to support families after children are born."

"'We live in a great country where freedom is granted to everybody in the Constitution,' he said. 'So let's do everything we can to make sure that's how we roll.'"