Jeff Jackson, 42, a lawyer, former prosecutor and major in the U.S. Army National Guard, has been a U.S. House of Representatives member from the 14th Congressional district since 2023 and a state senator from 2014 to 2022. He lives in Charlotte.
The job
Duties include representing state government agencies, departments and commissions in legal matters, providing legal opinions to the General Assembly, governor and other public officials upon request, can initiate a court proceeding on behalf of the state and handles criminal appeals for the state.The state attorney general’s office does not have authority over local district attorneys, law enforcement officers or courts.
Our Q&A with Jackson
Are there steps an AG can take to battle the fentanyl crisis? What would you do?
The fentanyl epidemic must be a day one priority. It’s devastating our communities and we need to tackle it from the supply and demand sides. On the supply side, I’ll push for a dedicated Fentanyl Control Unit to crack down on the organized crime networks bringing it in. But we also need to focus on the demand side — addiction. Most real addicts using fentanyl aren’t getting high — they’re using it to stave off withdrawal. I’ll advocate for the statewide expansion of lifesaving treatments, such as medication-assisted treatment.
Would you defend the state’s current abortion laws in the courts? Why or why not?
One of the core responsibilities of the Attorney General is to represent the state. It would be my obligation to do so even in matters in which I personally disagreed. However, in exceptionally rare instances, should the matter involve a clear violation of the Constitution, I would not be able to provide a defense. I agree with the US District Court that pieces of SB20, the law restricting abortion access, were unconstitutional.
As a potential attorney general, where do you stand on the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes?
Medical marijuana is a practical solution for a lot of people in need. As a veteran, I’ve seen friends struggle with PTSD and find relief through medical marijuana. I’ve also heard from cancer patients about how it helps manage their pain. As Attorney General, I’ll advocate for reforms that allow doctors and patients to make the best decisions for their health, free from outdated restrictions. North Carolina needs to move forward and allow access to medical marijuana for those who need it.
You were in the state legislature when HB2 was adopted. Why did you vote how you did on the bill? How has that law, and North Carolina’s experience with it, shaped your current thoughts on the issues that arose?
I’m proud to have opposed HB2 from the beginning. It cost our state billions of dollars and was a national embarrassment. The law, which was championed and authored by my opponent, was a mistake that shouldn’t be repeated. When we try to legislate fear and division, everyone suffers.
What stance would you take as an attorney general on whether to defend laws that have generated controversy in the state — such as those that focus on transgender youth and the care providers can administer, their potential involvement in female sports teams and conversations they have with school teachers? Please elaborate on your reasons.
As referenced above, one of the core responsibilities of the Attorney General is to represent the state. It would be my obligation to do so even in matters in which I personally disagreed unless a law involves a clear violation of the Constitution. The NCGA should be focused on helping North Carolinians, not being legislative bullies. Laws like HB2 demonstrate how these policies can have wide-reaching negative effects and I’ll always stand against them.
What actions as attorney general would you take if companies released chemicals such as PFAS into state waterways?
Everyone deserves clean drinking water. I’ve heard loud and clear from folks across the state that this is a top concern. In places like the Cape Fear River, where harmful chemicals were dumped, the North Carolina Department of Justice has worked to hold those polluters accountable and secure major settlements. As Attorney General, I’ll continue this work and take companies to court if they dump harmful chemicals and ensure that we protect clean air and water for our families.
More North Carolina youth are using nicotine pouches in middle school and high school. The current attorney general sued e-cigarette manufacturer Juul in 2019 to try to slow vaping among minors. North Carolina reached a 2021 settlement restricting Juul’s marketing to teens in this state. Is this a strategy you might employ? Please explain your rationale.
The rising use of nicotine pouches among North Carolina youth is a real issue, and we need to stay on top of it. The strategy used by our current Attorney General to hold Juul accountable was strong. The settlement not only restricted predatory marketing but also brought in significant funds to support prevention and research. As Attorney General, I will keep pushing for accountability for any company targeting children and teens with nicotine products. I would build on this approach by using the funds from that settlement to boost crucial prevention and education programs.
The current attorney general joined a bipartisan group of AGs from across the country to launch an investigation into TikTok to determine whether the company engaged in deceptive conduct that has harmed the mental health of its users, especially children and teens. Where do you stand on such an action? What would you do as AG to limit potential social media harms to children?
The rise in self-harm and mental health issues that we’ve seen among teens has been directly tied to social media and is an enormous concern. I fully support the investigations into social media platforms for possibly exploiting users. We need to push for better oversight and accountability from social media companies. Keeping our young people safe online means staying ahead of the curve and making sure these companies play by the rules.
State demographers predict that there will be more people in North Carolina 65 and older in 2031 than people younger than 18. Older residents often are the target of scammers. If you were attorney general, what steps would you take to limit such actions?
Holding scammers accountable is one of the top priorities for the Attorney General. It’s crucial to set a high standard of enforcement and go after those who exploit people, especially scammers targeting our seniors. One application that is particularly alarming is how quickly A.I. is being integrated into online and phone scams, often targeting senior citizens with technology that can mimic a close relative’s voice. Ensuring that our law enforcement and state legislature are ahead of the curve on addressing this threat must be a top priority of mine for the next Attorney General.
Similarly with Medicaid fraud, the AG’s office has recouped hundreds of millions of dollars from health care providers who have defrauded the government. How would you protect the state against such activity?
Medicaid fraud steals from taxpayers and harms the people who rely on critical healthcare services. As Attorney General, I’d continue the aggressive approach to rooting out fraud, just like we’ve seen with recent actions from NCDOJ. My office would partner with federal agencies and leverage our Medicaid Investigations Division to make sure that those who cheat the system are held accountable, and that recovered funds go back to the people who need it.