Rep. Addison McDowell
Policies that Harm North Carolinians
Rep. Addison McDowell has built his short congressional career around pushing legislation that directly undermines LGBTQ rights, immigrant families, and diversity initiatives. His actions not only stigmatize vulnerable populations—they also weaken the economy and community fabric of North Carolina.
Anti-LGBTQ / Homophobic Legislation
- “Do No Harm in Medicaid Act” (H.R. 498, 119th Congress): McDowell co-sponsored this bill to ban Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for minors.
- “One Big Beautiful Bill” (2025 budget reconciliation package): McDowell voted yes on amendments that went further—blocking Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA coverage of gender-affirming care for all ages.
- In statements, he praised the measure as “protecting children,” ignoring mainstream medical consensus that gender-affirming care saves lives.
Impact on NC: Roughly 2,000 transgender North Carolinians rely on Medicaid or ACA insurance. Blocking coverage means more out-of-pocket costs, disrupted care, and higher suicide risks, especially in rural areas of NC-06.
Anti-Immigrant Policies
- H.R. 3466 (119th): McDowell sponsored this sweeping bill that:
- Eliminates the Diversity Visa Lottery
- Restricts family reunification visas to spouses and minor children only
- Caps refugee admissions
- Creates a restrictive “skills-based” system that sidelines family unity and diversity.
- He has also backed measures to sharply limit humanitarian parole, framing current practices as “open-border giveaways.”
Impact on NC: Immigrants sustain key sectors of the NC economy, from agriculture to health care to higher education. Limiting visas and family reunification threatens workforce stability, breaks up families, and harms local industries in Greensboro, High Point, and surrounding areas.
Anti-Diversity / DEI Alignment
- While McDowell has not sponsored federal DEI bans directly, he has aligned himself with the North Carolina General Assembly’s wave of anti-DEI legislation (2023-2025). These state laws restrict DEI offices in schools, universities, and agencies.
- His public statements praising “ending woke DEI bureaucracies” echo those state-level attacks.
Impact on NC: Students, workers, and public servants lose access to programs designed to ensure fair representation and opportunity, reinforcing systemic inequities.
Summary Table
| Category | McDowell’s Actions / Votes | Impact on North Carolinians |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-LGBTQ | Co-sponsored H.R. 498 to ban Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care; Voted for One Big Beautiful Bill banning such care coverage nationwide | Denies lifesaving medical care for trans youth and adults; increases health risks in NC-06 |
| Anti-Immigrant | Sponsored H.R. 3466, eliminating Diversity Visa, limiting family visas, capping refugees | Weakens NC industries that depend on immigrant labor; separates families; reduces diversity |
| Anti-Diversity / DEI | Aligned with NC’s anti-DEI state bills; criticized DEI as “woke bureaucracy” | Strips schools/universities of equity programs; harms inclusion and fair access |
Why REALTORS® Should Care: Article 10
The REALTOR® Code of Ethics, Article 10 states that REALTORS® must provide equal professional service regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Yet RPAC dollars continue to flow to candidates like Addison McDowell—politicians who work against these very principles.
It is disingenuous for REALTOR® associations to celebrate Pride Month, Black History Month, or Latinx heritage events while funding candidates who undermine LGBTQ families, immigrant communities, and diversity itself.
Call to Action
Ask your REALTOR® to stop donating to RPAC until it stops funding candidates like Addison McDowell.
Fair housing is not partisan. Equality is not optional. REALTORS® must match their political giving with their ethical commitments.
PACtUP 