Rep. Allison Dahle, D-Wake, surprised political observers when she defeated a well-known incumbent in the 2018 Democratic primary – her first bid for elected office. The pink-haired lawmaker has since distinguished herself as someone who can work across party lines to find compromise – particularly on election law issues – as well as someone who’s not afraid to criticize her own party. She represents Southwest Raleigh and portions of Cary.

What are the current and past jobs you’ve held outside of politics? Theatrical stage manager, job coach at The Arc of NC and executive assistant/office manager for a law firm

What lessons from those roles have you applied to your elected position? Listening to people and building relationships in order to better understand them and serve them.

If you could enact a single piece of legislation into law today, what would it be? Paper ballots for voting across the state.

Where do you most enjoy taking an out-of-town visitor in your district? N.C. State

What is your favorite hobby outside of work? Sewing.

Who do you most admire, and why? My mother, Anne C. Dahle. She is 89 years old and still consistently advocates for people to register to vote.  She makes sure they are informed about who they are voting for and if not, where they can find said information whether she agrees with them politically or not.

What’s the best advice you’ve received about how to get legislation passed? Find common ground so you can work across the aisle. For it is in working together that we make meaningful laws that help all North Carolinians.