Washington’s Targeting of Nonprofits Won’t Sit Well With North Carolina Voters

By. N.C. House Rep. Kevin Crutchfield

North Carolina has always been a place where community matters. From small-town churches to local nonprofits serving families in need, our state depends on organizations that step in long before a government agency ever could. That’s why the results of a recent survey sponsored by Freedom and Faith Defense Project should concern all of us as we head toward the 2026 Senate election. The findings reveal a clear warning: voters in our state are deeply uneasy with federal efforts to expand control over charities, ministries, and nonprofit groups that serve our communities every day. 

According to the survey, if the 2026 congressional elections were held today, North Carolina swing voters would choose the Democratic candidate by eight points. That is a significant shift in a state long known for close races. But it is not simply about partisanship. Voters are responding to a growing sense that Washington is reaching too far into local life, targeting groups that were never meant to be political pawns. 

The survey found that 33 percent of North Carolina swing voters think nonprofits, charities, and religious organizations should face more general regulation, but when asked specifically whether they support President Trump and Republicans in Congress increasing federal control, 49 percent said they oppose it. Only 23 percent support the idea. North Carolinians may believe in oversight, but they do not believe in political intimidation. 

The survey also highlighted what troubles voters most. For 66 percent of North Carolina swing voters, the most concerning federal action is directing agencies to investigate and prosecute privately funded charities, ministries, and religious groups for allegedly supporting domestic terrorism, often using limited due process, vague standards, and political motivations. That should alarm anyone who knows how much our state relies on these organizations. 

North Carolina’s nonprofits and ministries help families keep their lights on, support veterans, assist people recovering from addiction, and offer food, shelter, and hope during hard times. These groups aren’t “political actors.” They are lifelines. And when politicians in Washington begin labeling them as suspicious or “too political,” it doesn’t just create fear, it risks silencing the very voices that strengthen our communities. 

The survey also revealed overwhelming opposition to one of the most extreme proposals floated in Washington: forcing banks to close accounts or deny services based on political or religious beliefs. Seventy percent of North Carolina swing voters oppose such a policy. Only a small fraction supports it. That level of consensus shows how strongly our state values fairness, freedom of expression, and equal treatment under the law. 

As we look toward the 2026 Senate race, candidates should take these findings seriously. North Carolinians want leaders who will guard the independence of local organizations—not leaders who allow federal agencies to target them based on political winds. Voters are paying attention, and they understand the stakes. 

As someone who has seen firsthand how much these groups mean to our state, I believe we must stand firm against federal overreach. Community organizations should be supported, not threatened. They should be protected, not politicized. 

If North Carolina is to remain a place where neighbors help neighbors and local solutions thrive, then our elected leaders must make it clear: Washington has no business using government power to intimidate the people who strengthen our communities.