On Thursday, August 7, 2025, Bob Hall, former director of the nonpartisan watchdog group Democracy North Carolina, filed a complaint with the North Carolina State Board of Elections concerning a $6,800 donation to Rep. Sarah Stevens’ judicial campaign. The donation, made by lobbyist Harold Brubaker, has raised questions regarding its legality under state law.
Hall’s formal complaint, submitted on Friday, follows an article by NC Newsline that reported on Brubaker’s contribution to Stevens’ newly established campaign committee, “Stevens for Justice.” The donation was made on June 23, during the General Assembly’s session, which is crucial to the complaint since North Carolina law prohibits registered lobbyists from making contributions to sitting legislators’ campaigns.
In his complaint, Hall requests the Board to declare the contribution illegal and insists that the funds should be forfeited to the state’s Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund, which is dedicated to supporting public education. Hall emphasizes that the law in question applies regardless of whether the General Assembly is in session, citing a ruling by the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that supports this interpretation as a necessary measure against potential corruption.
North Carolina law explicitly forbids lobbyists from contributing to campaigns of current legislators, regardless of the office they are pursuing. Hall argues that the law focuses on the status of the individual at the time of the contribution, rather than the specific office being sought. He asserts, “It prohibits any state-regulated contribution from a lobbyist to any candidate campaign committee when the candidate is a member of the General Assembly.”
Sarah Stevens, a Republican representative from Surry County and chair of the House Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform Committee, transitioned her legislative campaign committee into a bid for the Supreme Court earlier this year. Her upcoming race is anticipated to be one of the most closely monitored in the 2026 elections.
Both Stevens and Brubaker have acknowledged the contribution but maintain that it complies with the law since it was earmarked for a judicial campaign rather than a legislative one. However, Hall contends that this interpretation misinterprets the law. He also cites a separate $1,500 contribution made by lobbyist Andy Munn to Stevens’ judicial campaign in June, calling for similar forfeiture of those funds.
Hall recognizes that Stevens and Brubaker likely believed the donation was permissible, stating, “They did not intend to break state law.” However, he insists that the contribution should be deemed illegal and forfeited, along with any other donations from registered lobbyists made between early May and August.
The complaint highlights ongoing confusion surrounding lobbyist donations, particularly following a surge of contributions to then Speaker Tim Moore’s congressional campaign last year, which were not subject to state restrictions due to being directed towards a federal race. Brubaker, for instance, contributed the federal maximum of $6,600 to Moore’s campaign for 2024.
As of now, the State Board of Elections has not indicated whether it will investigate Hall’s complaint. According to the Board’s website, all campaign finance investigations are confidential, leaving the matter unresolved for the time being.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
