Eugene Douglass is a retired chemist and college professor who has taught in the U.S. and abroad. He holds a doctorate in polymer science from N.C. State.
Candidate Q&A
What do you see as the biggest financial and administrative challenge to implementing the work requirements for Medicaid that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill?
In an October 2026 Substack post, Douglass wrote that he supports Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults and says Medicaid should prioritize children, older adults and people with disabilities. He has argued that federal Medicaid matching funds should be tied to verifying that patients, providers and services are legitimate, pointing to an ongoing state audit of autism therapy billing as an example of potential fraud.
He has not publicly identified what he sees as the biggest administrative or financial challenge of implementing the new requirements.
What would be your plan for ensuring the future security/strength of Social Security and Medicare?
In a 2026 iVoterGuide questionnaire, Douglass said Medicare and Medicaid should remain available, while opposing additional taxpayer-funded health care programs. He has broadly called for reducing federal spending and the size of the federal government. NC Health News could not find a public statement outlining how he would address the long-term finances of Medicare or Social Security.
What would you support in Congress as a plan to help control health care/ pharmaceutical costs?
In his substack post, Douglass says greater competition and consumer choice would lower health care costs. He supports allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines and favors catastrophic insurance paired with health savings accounts and greater choice of doctors. He opposes expanding federal health care programs and argues the federal government’s role should focus on enabling interstate insurance markets.
NC Health News could not find a public statement from Douglass specifically addressing prescription drug prices.
What steps would you take to improve access to health care in rural areas? How do we make the Rural Health Transformation Program successful in North Carolina?
Douglass has broadly called for reducing federal involvement in matters he believes should be handled by state and local governments. We could not find a public statement from him addressing rural health care access or how North Carolina should use Rural Health Transformation Program funding.
The rollout of AI is moving fast, including in health care, and leaders in that space are calling for things to slow down. What federal moves should be taken to regulate it, if at all?
NC Health News could not find a public statement from Douglass outlining how he believes artificial intelligence should be regulated, including its use in health care.
Where do you stand on federal vaccine policy? What should be done to prevent future disease outbreaks?
In a candidate questionnaire, Douglass has said vaccine requirements should be limited to known public-health threats involving vaccines with full FDA approval and that people should be permitted religious or philosophical exemptions. He has opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates. NC Health News could not find a public statement outlining what federal measures he supports to prevent future disease outbreaks.
We’ve had some high-profile food contamination outbreaks, yet the federal government is pulling back on regulation of food, air and water. What level of federal regulation do you support and why?
Douglass has called for eliminating federal rules that duplicate state and local laws, while retaining a federal role in interstate matters. We could not find a public statement from him specifically addressing federal regulation of food safety, air pollution or drinking water.
PFAS contamination is a nationwide issue; how do you address it while balancing public safety and business interests?
NC Health News could not find a public statement from Douglass addressing PFAS contamination or how he would balance public health protections with costs to businesses and utilities.
The building and placement of data centers have become a big issue, particularly in many rural communities. What should be the federal government’s role, if any, in how these are developed?
Douglass supports data-center development but says large facilities should bring their own reliable power generation rather than shifting infrastructure costs onto residential ratepayers. He told INDY Week that constituent concerns about electric bills led him to refine his position, saying he wants the jobs and computing capacity without “socializ[ing] the plant” onto residents.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
In another 2026 candidate questionnaire, Douglass identified abortion, parental authority and energy policy as additional priorities. He said he supports legal protections for life from conception to natural death and emphasized nuclear energy and grid reliability.
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