{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Shelly Willingham","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nShelly Willingham is the outgoing Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 23, covering Bertie, Edgecombe, and Martin counties, a seat he has held since 2015 [1]. Willingham lost the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary to Patricia Smith and will not appear on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot; his current term runs through January 1, 2027 [1].\n\n## Office history\nWillingham was first elected to House District 23 in November 2014 and won re-election in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, most recently defeating Republican Brent Roberson in the November 2024 general election [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nDuring the 2023\u20132024 session, Willingham chaired the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee and served as vice chair of the Insurance Committee, along with seats on Appropriations, Appropriations on Transportation, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs, Rules Calendar and Operations of the House, and State Personnel [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Shelly Willingham - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shelly_Willingham) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-21\n\n[2] [North Carolina State Board of Elections, 2026 Candidate Filing List](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/Candidate_Listing_2026.csv) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-21","firstname":"Shelly","lastname":"Willingham","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"4d0438183390ae68"},"token":"YaHqsJeDkOh-oka0"},{"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":"HLPxnBJyZl-xJis4"}],"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"}