{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"William W. Barbour","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nWilliam Wilson Barbour ran as a Republican candidate for the North Carolina State Senate in District 9, which encompasses Bladen, Duplin, Jones, Pender, and Sampson counties [1][2]. He was defeated by longtime incumbent Sen. Brent Jackson in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026 [1].\n\nBarbour's campaign emphasized parental rights and educational freedom, arguing that families should be able to choose the educational environment that aligns with their values [2]. On public safety, he called for stronger enforcement of existing firearms laws and more vigorous prosecution of violent offenders [2].\n\n## Background and education\nBarbour was born on July 28, 1961, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin [2]. His father, the Reverend James F. Barbour, was a Lutheran minister, and his mother, Barbara, was a registered nurse [2]. The family later moved to Los Angeles and then to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Barbour attended Albuquerque Academy [2]. He enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder, earning degrees in Political Science and Psychology in 1983, and while there played NCAA Division I football as a linebacker [2]. He subsequently earned graduate degrees from the Air War College in 2010 and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2015 [1][2].\n\n## Career\nBarbour served in the United States Air Force from 1985 to 2013, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after approximately 28 years [1]. During his service, he flew C-130 Hercules transport aircraft based in North Carolina and directed global airlift operations [2]. After retirement, he settled in NC Senate District 9 and launched his 2026 senate campaign [2].\n\n## Family\nBarbour is a devoted husband and father [2].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [William W Barbour for NC Senate 9 \u2013 votebarbour.com](https://votebarbour.com/)\n","firstname":"William","lastname":"Barbour","middlename":"Wilson","suffix":null,"token":"82c3e157a53b2df6"},"token":"pOqrDuBbXxTXUw7r"},{"candidatename":"Brent Jackson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"William Brent \"Wellie\" Jackson is the Republican nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives District\u202f22 in the 2026 general election. He secured the party\u2019s nomination by winning the March\u202f3,\u202f2026 Republican primary with 7,136 votes, or 77.2\u202f% of the total, defeating fellow Republican Jerol\u202fKivett, who received 2,107 votes (22.8\u202f%)\u30108\u3011. The primary victory was later reported as a projected win on a local Facebook post, confirming his status as the party\u2019s candidate for the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election\u301017\u3011.\n\nPublicly available sources do not provide details on Jackson\u2019s education, professional background, or prior public service. The Ballotpedia entry for \"Wellie Jackson\" lists only his candidacy information and does not include a biography or r\u00e9sum\u00e9, indicating that such personal data has not been disclosed in the referenced materials\u30108\u3011.\n\nJackson\u2019s campaign finance information and endorsements have not yet been published; Ballotpedia notes that finance data are not available at this time and that endorsements are being gathered\u30108\u3011. Consequently, voters currently have limited insight into his policy positions or legislative priorities beyond his affiliation with the Republican Party.\n\nThe 2026 North Carolina elections feature a November\u202f3 general election in which all 120 state House seats are contested, including District\u202f22. Primary elections were held on March\u202f3, with runoff primaries possible on May\u202f12, though Jackson secured his nomination outright in the initial primary\u30107\u3011. As the general election approaches, Jackson will appear on the ballot as the Republican candidate for District\u202f22, seeking to represent the constituents of that district in the state legislature.\n\n## Sources\n- [5] [Jackson County, North Carolina, elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jackson_County,_North_Carolina,_elections,_2026)\n- [7] [North Carolina elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2026)\n- [8] [Wellie Jackson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Wellie_Jackson)\n- [9] [North Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2026)\n- [11] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [14] [2026 North Carolina House of Representatives election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_election)\n- [15] [Jackson County Board of Elections](https://jcncelections.org/)\n- [17] [It is projected that Republican candidate Wellie Jackson ...](https://www.facebook.com/thesampsonweekly/posts/it-is-projected-that-republican-candidate-wellie-jackson-has-won-his-bid-for-nc-/1515916943474407/)","firstname":"William","lastname":"Jackson","middlename":"Brent","suffix":null,"token":"a83df58b581cc65b"},"token":"Q3BFDli7KIO0nV2I"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"state_senator","o.office":"state_senate","office":"state_senate","officedescription":"The Tennessee Senate is the upper chamber of the state legislature, with 33 members elected from single-member districts to four-year terms. Senators pass state laws, approve the state budget, confirm certain gubernatorial appointments, and \u2014 with the House \u2014 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 Senator","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Nc State Senate District 09"}