{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"John J. Kirkpatrick IV","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"John J. Kirkpatrick\u202fIV is a Democratic candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District\u202f55, on the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general ballot. The Democratic primary for the seat was cancelled, and Kirkpatrick advanced without appearing on the primary ballot [1].\n\nKirkpatrick has served on the Union County Public Schools Board of Education, representing District\u202f1. He was first appointed to the board on March\u202f2,\u202f2021, and his current term runs through 2028. He was elected to a full term in the 2022 special general election, defeating Republican Colleen\u202fKamolnik with 51.7% of the vote, and was re\u2011elected unopposed in the 2024 general election, receiving 100% of the vote (8,941 votes) [1].\n\nIn his role on the school board, Kirkpatrick has participated in governance of Union County\u2019s public schools, overseeing policy decisions, budgeting, and district administration. His experience on the board is a central element of his public service record as he seeks higher office.\n\nThe North Carolina House of Representatives seat he is pursuing will represent the constituents of District\u202f55 in the state legislature. Kirkpatrick\u2019s candidacy reflects a continuation of his involvement in local education issues and a move toward broader legislative responsibilities at the state level [1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [John Kirkpatrick IV - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Kirkpatrick_IV)\n- [9] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [10] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [11] [Board of Elections | Johnston County, North Carolina](https://www.johnstonnc.gov/joconcelections/)\n- [12] [Summary Report for the March 03, 2026 Primary Election | Johnston County, North Carolina](https://www.johnstonnc.gov/joconcelections/March_2026/JCMarch2026summary.cfm)\n- [17] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)","firstname":"John","lastname":"Kirkpatrick","middlename":"Jemalle","suffix":"IV","token":"4e91a2cd6f59f69d"},"token":"dkeX4lS0X6"},{"candidatename":"Clancy Baucom","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Clancy Cleveland Baucom is a Republican candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District\u202f55, seeking election on November\u202f3,\u202f2026. The office is a seat in the state\u2019s lower legislative chamber, where members introduce, debate, and vote on state laws that affect North Carolina residents [18][20].\n\nBaucom is a lifelong resident of Union County. He graduated from Piedmont High School and earned an associate\u2019s degree from North Carolina State University, as noted on his campaign website [18]. He has been married to his wife Kim for 35\u202fyears and they have three adult daughters.\n\nFor more than three decades Baucom operated a wholesale nursery business in Marshville, giving him deep ties to the agricultural community and a reputation as a farmer and businessman [18]. His professional background informs his emphasis on protecting farmland, limiting foreign ownership of agricultural land, and reducing regulatory burdens on growers.\n\nBaucom entered elected office as a Union County Commissioner. He first appeared on the ballot in a special general election for an at\u2011large seat on the Union County Board of Commissioners on November\u202f5,\u202f2024, running as a Republican [1]. While serving on the board, he has championed tax incentives to attract businesses, supported projects to improve the county\u2019s water supply, and worked to preserve farmland. He also helped limit new residential development, with the board approving only 159 new houses in unincorporated Union County over three years, a record of growth management highlighted in a local news post [20].\n\nIn his campaign for the state House, Baucom outlines priorities that mirror his county\u2011level work: religious freedom, election integrity, pro\u2011life policies, reduced business regulation, and protection of Second Amendment rights. He advocates for voter\u2011ID laws, signature verification, and transparent election processes [18]. He also stresses fiscal responsibility, arguing that tax dollars belong to taxpayers and should be spent wisely to foster economic growth [18].\n\nBaucom\u2019s platform emphasizes protecting North Carolina\u2019s agricultural heritage, opposing foreign ownership of farmland, and resisting over\u2011development that strains infrastructure and schools. He positions himself as a \u201cfamily man, farmer, and Sunday\u2011school teacher\u201d who will bring a limited\u2011government, America\u2011First perspective to the General Assembly [18].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Clancy Baucom (Union County Board of Commissioners At-large, North Carolina, candidate 2024) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Clancy_Baucom_(Union_County_Board_of_Commissioners_At-large,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2024))\n- [8] [elect clancy baucom [sta-evccm1-c-001]](https://cf.ncsbe.gov/CFOrgLkup/DocumentGeneralResult/?SID=STA-EVCCM1-C-001&OGID=56402)\n- [18] [Clancy Baucom for NC House | Clancy Baucom for NC House](https://electclancybaucom.com/)\n- [19] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [20] [Clancy Baucom, John Powell and Richard Miller face off in ...](https://www.facebook.com/thecharlotteobserver/posts/clancy-baucom-john-powell-and-richard-miller-face-off-in-nc-house-district-55-re/1352163190282980/)","firstname":"Clancy","lastname":"Baucom","middlename":"Cleveland","suffix":null,"token":"f6b0aa459401ca84"},"token":"RHdAm2tT2S"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house","office":"state_house","officedescription":"The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and \u2014 with the Senate \u2014 confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments.","officequalities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"State Representative","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 055"}