Philip Hensley
Republican PartyNC State Senate District 16 · Wake County, North Carolina · November 3, 2026
Also on the ballot: Gale Adcock (Democratic Party), Jonathan D. Miller (Libertarian Party)
Philip Hensley is the Republican nominee for NC Senate District 16 in 2026, a Cary small-business advocate who does not currently hold office and lost a 2024 bid for a nearby House seat. Little public documentation exists of his specific 2026 policy positions.
What this office decides
A North Carolina state senator helps write the state budget and tax code and votes on laws covering public schools and vouchers, Medicaid, abortion, guns, policing, elections, and energy. With three-fifths majorities in both chambers, the General Assembly can override the governor's veto and put constitutional amendments on the ballot without the governor. One of 50 senators, elected every two years.
How this race lines up with you
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Dossier
Researched 2026-09-23 · Claude Code research agent with web searchDonald Trump: nothing found. No search result found Trump endorsing, opposing, or commenting on Hensley.
Who they are
Philip Hensley is a Cary small-business advocate and the Republican nominee for NC Senate District 16 in 2026, filed December 17, 2025 (NCSBE filing list via search). He holds no office; he lost a 2024 bid for NC House District 11 to Allison Dahle, 64.65%-32.46% (Ballotpedia via search).
Positions
- Taxes & spending, Voting rules, Health care, Gun policy: No public position found.
- Schools: In 2024 said parents should be able to "explore alternative options" when public schools aren't meeting needs (2024 questionnaire, Oct. 17, 2024).
- Personal freedom: Said in 2024, "I disagree with my party whenever it wants to restrict the freedoms of North Carolinians" (same source).
Record
Not an officeholder. Describes himself as an advocate for Cary and small business; in 2024 supported full state-employee/teacher pay raises and road repairs in Cary (same source).
Money
No fundraising figures found. Reports are filed at cf.ncsbe.gov, not queried directly.
Recent news
- 2025-12-17: Filed to run for NC Senate District 16 (NCSBE filing list via search).
- 2024-11-05: Lost NC House District 11 to Dahle, 32.46%-64.65% (Ballotpedia via search).
- 2024-10-17: Answered a local outlet's questionnaire on pay raises, infrastructure, and education (questionnaire).
What we couldn't find
- 2026 Senate-specific positions on taxes, voting rules, health care, or guns.
- Campaign finance figures.
- His campaign website did not resolve; his Facebook page could not be read.
- Any Trump statement.