{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Zack Hawkins","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Zack Anthony\u2011Forde Hawkins is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f31, covering eastern Durham County. He is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election for the same seat, which carries a two\u2011year term and has no term limits. To hold the office a candidate must be at least 21\u202fyears old, a qualified voter, and have resided in the district for one year prior to the election\u202f[2]. Representatives earn a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per\u2011day per diem\u202f[2].\n\nBorn May\u202f8,\u202f1979, Hawkins earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Elizabeth City State University and a Master of Science in biology from North Carolina Central University\u202f[6][7]. He began his professional career as a science teacher in Durham Public Schools (2004\u20112009)\u202f[7] and later worked as a research technician at the National Institute of Environmental Health Services\u202f[7]. Hawkins transitioned to nonprofit development, serving as Director of Development for Student Affairs at East Carolina University (2013\u20112017) and later at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2017\u2011present)\u202f[7]. He also held leadership roles with United Way of the Greater Triangle and as State Deputy Field Director for Organizing for America\u202f[7].\n\nHawkins entered elected office in 2018, winning 81\u202f% of the vote for the District\u202f31 House seat and assuming office on January\u202f1,\u202f2019\u202f[6][1]. He has been re\u2011elected in 2020, 2022, and 2024, most recently securing 43,291 votes (100\u202f% of the ballot) in the 2024 general election\u202f[1][6]. Within the General Assembly he has served on several key committees, including Appropriations, Appropriations\u2011Education, Energy and Public Utilities, Redistricting, and Transportation across multiple sessions\u202f[1][6]. His legislative activity includes sponsoring bills on fair maps (HB\u202f20, the Fair Maps Act)\u202f[4], driver\u2019s\u2011license designations for autism (HB\u202f21)\u202f[4], and the CROWN Act (HB\u202f168)\u202f[4], among others.\n\nBeyond the legislature, Hawkins has held prominent party positions: 1st Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party and President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina (2007\u20112009)\u202f[7]. He is a member of the Progressive House Caucus\u202f[6] and participates in community organizations such as 100 Black Men of America and the Genesis Home Development Committee\u202f[7]. Hawkins lives in Durham with his wife Tracey and their three children\u202f[7][14].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Zack Hawkins - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Zack_Hawkins)\n- [2] [North Carolina House of Representatives District 31 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_District_31)\n- [3] [Representative Zack Hawkins - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/742)\n- [4] [Representative Zack Hawkins's Introduced Bills - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/IntroducedBills/H/742)\n- [6] [Zack Forde-Hawkins - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zack_Forde-Hawkins)\n- [7] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/183383/zack-hawkins)\n- [13] [State Representative Zack Hawkins | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/23978)\n- [14] [Zack Hawkins - American Flood Coalition](https://floodcoalition.org/members/zack-hawkins/)\n- [15] [North Carolina State Rep. Zack Hawkins - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/309763/Zack_Anthony_Forde_Hawkins.html)\n- [16] [Zack Hawkins for North Carolina](https://zackhawkinsnc.com/)\n- [17] [About Zack - Zack Hawkins for North Carolina](https://zackhawkinsnc.com/about-zack/)\n- [18] [Zack Hawkins | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/zack-hawkins)\n- [20] [Legislator Detail - Zack Hawkins](https://www.billtrack50.com/public/scorecard/legislator/f8AXUm0eb0C8dF3-cN37Hw/23978/embed)","firstname":"Zack","lastname":"Hawkins","middlename":"Anthony-Forde","suffix":null,"token":"63af759f909f14c1"},"token":"3OiEbRxBjU8ALBnf"}],"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 031"}