Joshua Bradley is running for Raleigh City Council At-Large in 2022 because he believes that working class people should have a seat at the table. He believes in the power of a city government that is focused on meeting the needs of all of its residents, particularly working people who deserve access to well paying jobs, affordable housing, and a voice in their city government. Join our campaign as we strive for a Raleigh for all, one that is community driven and committed to its workers.

Joshua Bradley grew up in Brevard, NC and moved to Raleigh in 1992. He has worked in the hospitality industry for over twenty years. Joshua has been happily married to his wife, Caren, for 20 years. He is a proud cat dad to Karl, Lisa, and Wendy.Joshua was an activist with Occupy Raleigh, formed to resist the burden of excessive debt, the spread of widening financial inequality, and the planned indifference of government to public well-being. Joshua served on the Political Education Working Group of the Triangle People’s Assembly, investigating how these problems might be addressed from the perspective of workers. He is the current secretary/treasurer of the Northern Piedmont Local and a member of the Ecosocialist working group of the Socialist Party-USA, as well as Assistant Membership Chair of the NC Green Party.

We believe that every member of our collective is an essential part of our campaign. Our platform, campaign goals, and outreach are all decided on collectively. If you are interested in learning more and potentially becoming a member of our campaign collective, check out our Get Involved page.

Our platform and campaign is built on five fundamental policy goals and commitments that we will make to the people of Raleigh:

Housing Justice

Housing is a human right. This is an international principle, agreed upon by the US in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights treaty of 1966. Fifty-five years later, this right is not recognized in much of the US, and remains unfulfilled in Raleigh, NC. As a member of the City Council, Josh will address the problems and issues underpinning the lack of housing:

Racial Justice and Equity

Racial injustice and economic inequality are real. Historically and in the present, development (gentrification), economic conditions and policing practices all impact Black and brown communities negatively when compared to white communities. Transportation, public health, access to food, safe law enforcement and economic opportunity are less available in communities of color, and the lack of these services create an economic negative feedback mechanism in those communities. As a city council member, Josh will propose structures and actions for:

Worker's Rights

The world is made by workers, not financiers, landlords and development moguls. The people that build the houses and high-end luxury condominiums, drive the delivery trucks, repair the streets, and work in the grocery stores and other services, and whose labor makes Raleigh attractive to the upscale and well-to-do immigrants from other parts of the US, should be seen as equals in the life of the city, not just a faceless underclass in service of making money for bankers and developers. To make certain the inclusion of an economically equal working class in governance and future development, Josh will propose that Raleigh change its attitude toward labor. Among other things, Josh will support:

Environmental Justice

Man-made global climate change is real, and no longer a topic of reasonable debate. In the face of global warming, history shows that its impacts will fall disproportionately on the working class and the poor. The federal and state governments have relegated response to climate change to preparedness planning instead of mitigation. Josh believes Raleigh, along with other municipalities, should lead in mitigation of the city’s impact on carbon and greenhouse gas production, and on the reduction of harm to already marginalized communities. To achieve this, Josh will propose that:

Non-Discrimination

Discrimination among people due to race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and religious preference has not been eliminated. The City of Raleigh cannot be a partner, even by omission, in contributing to the continuation of bias and bigotry. As a city council member, Josh will propose that the following actions be taken to eject bias and bigotry of all types, both in city actions and in the regulation of our shared public spaces:

We believe that grassroots campaigns are powered by the people. Do you have a special skill that you want to share with us? Do you need a way to fill some free time? We want to work with you! All skill levels are welcome, and we will provide training for any new volunteers.We are looking for the following volunteer roles in particular:

If you want to support our campaign by volunteering, send us a contact form here:

We know that for many people, donating to campaigns is not always feasible. Still, we believe in the power of grassroots campaigns and believe that any amount of effort makes a big impact. Can you pitch in an hour's wage or volunteer with our campaign for a similar amount of time?

Donor Information Requirements:
State law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the full name, mailing address, job title or profession, and employer's name or employer's specified field of business activity of individuals whose contributions exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) in an election cycle.

We are currently endorsed by the following groups:

We believe that working as a collective strengthens our campaign. Are you interested in volunteering? Do you want to schedule a meeting with our campaign? Have some policy ideas? Submit a contact form below and a member of our collective will get in touch with you: