RALEIGH — State Rep. Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin) will finish out the remainder of his term but will not be seeking reelection in 2026.
“Serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” wrote Winslow in a letter to N.C. House members. “For a kid raised by a single mom in northeastern North Carolina, the opportunity to stand in the North Carolina General Assembly and work on your behalf was something I never imagined growing up. I will forever be grateful for the trust you placed in me.”
Winslow is in his third term in the House and is the vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He also serves as chair for the Energy and Public Utilities Committee as well as the Appropriations, Capital and Information Technology Committee.
“After much prayer and reflection earlier this year, I decided not to run for re-election so that I can focus on my family and my future endeavors as a small business owner,” wrote Winslow. “Although I will not be seeking another term, my commitment to Franklin County and North Carolina will remain unchanged. I will always fight for what is right, good, and true, and that does not matter if I’m elected to office or a private citizen.”
Winslow is the owner/operator of Winslow Homes, a homebuilding company located in his hometown of Youngsville.
In his letter, Winslow also gave his “full support” to Cory Thornton, who has already filed to run for Winslow’s seat.
“He’s a Christian, husband, father (of five girls!), and a Marine,” Winslow wrote about Thornton. “As a local business owner, he will serve our district well, and I’m excited to see what he accomplishes once elected to office.”
Democrat Mark Speed, a Franklin County commissioner from Louisburg, has also filed to run for the seat which spans Franklin and Vance counties. In 2022, Speed unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Lisa Barnes (R-Nash) for her Senate District 11 seat.
According to the Civitas Partisan Index ratings, Winslow’s District 7 seat is designated as a +4 lean Republican.
In closing, Winslow thanked his family for their support and his research assistant, Michelle Kenny.
Winslow earned a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from East Carolina University. He was the first person in his family to go to college.
