By Rep. Kevin Crutchfield

With the 2024 presidential election only six months away, the stage is set for North Carolina to play a critical role in deciding who the next president of the United States will be. While President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have both campaigned on a number of issues, as Election Day draws closer, hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians have Social Security on their minds, and they want to know that the candidate they plan to cast their ballot for in November will protect their essential retirement benefits.

Tens of millions of Americans rely on Social Security for financial security and stability. The program is a promise that generations have relied upon — a safety net that ensures retired Americans can afford gas, groceries and rent. Despite that fact, some members of Congress have put that promise in danger by pushing proposals that would cut Social Security.

As President Biden and former President Trump campaign in North Carolina ahead of the November elections, they must recognize that North Carolinians are deeply concerned about these harmful proposals that could jeopardize Social Security and pledge to protect the program.

Today, over 70 million people receive Social Security benefits, and more than 216,000 North Carolinians rely on the program. Importantly, these voters are ready to make their voices heard in November and put their support behind the candidate they believe will protect Social Security.

According to recent polling, 90% of Americans over the age of 50 want elected leaders in the nation’s capital to protect the Social Security benefits they’ve paid for over the decades. Ninety-one percent of respondents in the same poll report that Social Security is top of mind as they consider which candidate they’ll cast their ballot for in the 2024 presidential election. Here in North Carolina — a swing state that will play a pivotal role in deciding who wins the 2024 presidential race — that means it is imperative that President Biden and former President Trump reject any proposals that would reduce benefits, raise the retirement age, or privatize Social Security.

President Biden and former President Trump must prioritize protecting Social Security and reassure North Carolinians that they will stand firm against any changes that would undermine the benefits folks here have earned and rely upon. The people of North Carolina are counting on our leaders to respect hard-working Americans and advocate for those who are unable to. And ahead of Election Day in November, voters will be paying attention to which candidate will prioritize these essential benefits.