{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Patricia Smith","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Patricia Smith is the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District 23 in the 2026 general election.  The North Carolina House is the lower chamber of the state legislature; members serve two\u2011year terms, introduce and vote on state laws, approve the state budget, and represent the interests of their district\u2019s constituents.  Smith will face Republican Brent Roberson on November 3, 2026 if she wins the general election [1].\n\nSmith earned a high school diploma from Williamston High School and has worked as an entrepreneur, running her own business prior to seeking office [1].  She resides in Williamston, a community within the district she seeks to represent.  In the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary, Smith challenged incumbent Representative Shelly Willingham and won with 55.7% of the vote, receiving 5,209 votes to Willingham\u2019s 4,147, thereby securing the party\u2019s nomination for the seat [1].  Local reporting confirmed her filing to oppose Willingham and her status as a Williamston resident seeking the House seat [20].\n\nDuring the campaign, Smith highlighted three primary policy priorities.  She emphasized improving public education and increasing teacher pay, arguing that the state\u2019s schools are \u201cat the bottom\u201d and need better funding and support for educators.  She also advocated for affordable health\u2011care access for North Carolinians.  Finally, drawing on her experience as a small\u2011business owner, she pledged to support small\u2011business owners through policies that mitigate economic challenges such as tariffs and high operating costs [1].\n\nSmith\u2019s campaign has not yet released a dedicated website or public contact information such as an email address or phone number, and no campaign finance data are available at this time.  The Ballotpedia page includes a portrait of Smith that can be used for identification purposes [1].\n\nIf elected, Smith would join the 120\u2011member House, where she would be expected to vote on legislation, serve on committees, and work with fellow legislators to address issues affecting District 23, which includes parts of Martin and Edgecombe counties.  Her background as a local entrepreneur and her stated focus on education, health care, and small\u2011business support suggest the areas she may prioritize while in office.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Patricia Smith (North Carolina) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Patricia_Smith_(North_Carolina))\n- [10] [North Carolina elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2026)\n- [14] [2026 North Carolina House of Representatives election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_election)\n- [15] [2026 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_North_Carolina)\n- [16] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/35452/patricia-smith)\n- [20] [Williamston residents seek N.C. House seat | News | reflector.com](https://www.reflector.com/enterprise/news/local/williamston-residents-seek-n-c-house-seat/article_a573d232-c3ca-41cb-af93-100074a9ed59.html)","firstname":"Patricia","lastname":"Smith","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"6471c6d38eb4ae9e"},"token":"JHUOr9QVfa"},{"candidatename":"Brent Roberson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"The North Carolina House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature. Members serve two\u2011year terms, draft and vote on state laws, approve the state budget, and serve on committees that oversee policy areas such as education, health, and public safety. Representatives also assist constituents with navigating state agencies and advocate for local interests in Raleigh. Brent Roberson is a Republican candidate seeking election to represent House District 23 in the 2026 general election on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nRoberson was born in Williamston, North Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from North Carolina State University in 1995 [1][13]. After college he entered the private sector, becoming a business owner and later serving as managing partner of Health View Capital Partners, a firm that provides capital and advisory services to health\u2011care companies [2]. He is also an active member of his community, belonging to the Williamston Memorial Baptist Church and the local Gideon organization [13].\n\nIn 2019 Roberson entered municipal politics, winning the nonpartisan runoff for mayor of Rocky Mount with 60.2% of the vote, defeating Bronson\u202fWilliams. As mayor he emphasized fiscal responsibility, public\u2011safety support, and delivering results for residents [2]. He later pursued higher office, filing to run in the Republican primary for North Carolina\u2019s 1st Congressional District in 2022. Although he did not win the primary, his campaign highlighted priorities such as defending the Second Amendment, protecting the sanctity of life, and ensuring law\u2011enforcement agencies have the resources they need [2].\n\nRoberson first sought a seat in the state legislature in 2024, running for House District\u202f23. He was unopposed in the Republican primary after the party cancelled the March\u202f3,\u202f2026 primary, and faced Democrat Shelly\u202fWillingham in the November\u202f5,\u202f2024 general election, where he received 43.5% of the vote (19,390 votes) to Willingham\u2019s 56.5% (25,140 votes) [1]. Undeterred, he is again on the ballot for the 2026 race, this time opposed by Democrat Patricia\u202fSmith [1].\n\nRoberson\u2019s campaign finances are reported through the Federal Election Commission under the committee \u201cBRENT\u202fROBERSON\u202fFOR\u202fCONGRESS.\u201d The committee, based at a PO\u202fBox in Williamston, NC, has raised $91,985, primarily from individual contributions and a $59,000 personal loan from the candidate, and has spent the same amount on operating expenditures, reflecting a modest fundraising operation for a congressional bid [9].\n\nWhile his prior electoral outcomes have not yet resulted in elected office at the state or federal level, Roberson\u2019s experience as a mayor, business leader, and repeat legislative candidate demonstrates a continued focus on fiscal conservatism, public\u2011safety support, and community\u2011oriented governance. Should he win the 2026 race, he would join the 2027\u20112028 North Carolina General Assembly, where he would be expected to serve on committees, sponsor legislation, and represent the interests of constituents in District\u202f23, which includes parts of Bertie, Edgecombe, and surrounding counties.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Brent Roberson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brent_Roberson)\n- [2] [Eight candidates running in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District Republican primary - Ballotpedia News](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2022/04/18/eight-candidates-running-in-north-carolinas-1st-congressional-district-republican-primary/)\n- [9] [BRENT ROBERSON FOR CONGRESS - committee overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00797704/)\n- [13] [iVoterGuide - Brent Roberson iVoterGuide Profile](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/60700/race/17548/election/1206)\n- [16] [Brent for NC House - District 23 | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BrentforCongress2022/)\n- [19] [Brent Roberson | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/brent-roberson)\n- [20] [Brent Roberson - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/brent-roberson/)","firstname":"Brent","lastname":"Roberson","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"dbc04c269cc3b6eb"},"token":"WI5ubLgAy5"}],"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 023"}