{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Elma Hairston","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Elma Joyce Hairston is the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District 59. She won the June 2026 Democratic primary with 59.3% of the vote (4,643 votes) against C. Bradley Hunt II and will face incumbent Republican Alan Branson in the November 3, 2026 general election [1].\n\nThe office she seeks is a seat in the North Carolina House, the lower chamber of the state legislature. Members draft, debate, and vote on state laws, approve the state budget, and represent the interests of their district\u2019s residents [1].\n\nHairston holds a B.S. in Organizational Management from Regis University, an M.A. in Integrated Marketing and Communication from Marist College, and an honorary doctorate in public service from the Denver Institute of Urban Studies. She also earned a corporate etiquette certification from the American School of Protocol [13].\n\nProfessionally, she is the founder and managing director of Dynamic Images International, LLC, a firm that mentors young women for corporate careers and provides training in customer service, professional development, and career advancement. She is a national speaker and author on business growth, personal development, and maximizing potential [13].\n\nHer community service record is extensive. Hairston serves on the board of GuilfordWorks, a workforce\u2011development organization, and sits on the boards of the Friends of John Coltrane, the Southwest Renewal Foundation, the High Point Police Department Community Advisory Committee, and the Triad Minority Women\u2019s Business Expo Advisory Committee. She previously held leadership roles as Immediate Past President of the NAACP High Point chapter, board member of the YWCA High Point, and member of the Guilford County Citizens Academy, among others [13, 11].\n\nThe campaign platform emphasizes affordable, accessible health care; strong public schools that prepare students for college, apprenticeships, and skilled trades; fair wages that move families from surviving to thriving; safe, affordable housing supported by mortgage assistance and rent stabilization; responsible budgeting; and corporate accountability that reinvests in people and local ecosystems. These priorities are outlined on her official campaign website and reiterated in her social\u2011media posts [11, 16].\n\nHairston has earned endorsements from a range of local leaders and organizations, including Senator Gladys Robinson, High Point City Council members Tyrone Johnson and Michael Holmes, the George Simpkins Jr. Community PAC, the Communication Workers of America\u2011NC, the Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party, the Progressive Caucus of Guilford County Democratic Party, Lillian\u2019s List, and the Black Business Inc. Magazine Power 100. Ballotpedia also lists endorsements from Bull City Anna and the Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party [1, 11].\n\nVoters can contact her campaign via email at contact@elmahairstonfornc.com, as listed on the Ballotpedia candidate page [1]. The official campaign website is https://www.elmahairstonfornc.com/, which provides further details on her background, policy positions, and ways to donate or volunteer [11].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Elma Hairston - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elma_Hairston)\n- [11] [Elma Hairston for North Carolina | Official Campaign Website](https://www.elmahairstonfornc.com/)\n- [13] [Board of Directors: Elma Hairston - guilfordworks.org](https://guilfordworks.org/about-us/board-of-directors-elma-hairston/)\n- [14] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [16] [Today is election day Vote Elma Hairston NC HD 59 ...](https://www.facebook.com/elma.hairston/posts/today-is-election-day-vote-elma-hairston-nc-hd-59we-need-policy-that-strengthens/25899860516379491/)\n- [19] [Campaign to Elect Dr. Elma Hairston We did it! Because of YOU ...](https://www.facebook.com/elma.hairston/posts/campaign-to-elect-dr-elma-hairston-we-did-it-because-of-you-we-are-officially-vi/25931615249870684/)","firstname":"Elma","lastname":"Hairston","middlename":"Joyce","suffix":null,"token":"b065d5f2cb0cbbd3"},"token":"WtCyRJaXV5vMDQbO"},{"candidatename":"Alan Branson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Jerry \"Alan\" Branson is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 59 and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election\u202f[1][3]. He was appointed by the Guilford County Republican Party on April\u202f10,\u202f2024 to fill the vacancy left by Jon Hardister and was sworn in on April\u202f24,\u202f2024\u202f[1][3]. The 2026 Republican primary for the seat was cancelled, allowing Branson to advance automatically to the November ballot\u202f[1].\n\nBranson was born on December\u202f9,\u202f1966\u202f[6] and resides in Greensboro, North Carolina\u202f[1][13]. He is a third\u2011generation owner of Stout Trucking, Inc., a family\u2011run trucking business that he lists as his occupation\u202f[3][6]. He is active in his local Methodist congregation, Tabernacle Methodist Church\u202f[1][13]. Prior to his state\u2011legislative service, Branson served eight years on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, representing District\u202f4, and previously ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner in 2020 and 2022\u202f[6].\n\nSince taking office, Branson has been assigned to several key committees, including Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, and memberships on Appropriations (Transportation), Judiciary\u202f3, Higher Education, Property Tax Reduction and Reform, and the State and Local Government Select Committee\u202f[19]. During the 2025\u20112026 session he introduced a range of bills covering public safety, veterans\u2019 benefits, election administration, and transportation policy, such as the \"Gun Violence Prevention Act\" (HB\u202f28), \"Make Election Day a State Holiday\" (HB\u202f31), \"Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act\" (HB\u202f38), and the \"Back the Blue Pay Act\" (HB\u202f42)\u202f[5]. While many of these measures remain in committee, they illustrate his legislative focus on law\u2011and\u2011order, veteran support, and infrastructure.\n\nBranson\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes job creation, economic development, public safety, government efficiency, and expanding educational opportunities for children\u202f[16]. He highlights his business background as a perspective that informs his advocacy for reduced regulation and tax relief for small businesses and working families\u202f[16]. In the 2024 election he defeated Democratic challenger Tanneshia Dukes with 55.2\u202f% of the vote, securing his first full term\u202f[1].\n\nBranson can be reached at his Capitol office (300\u202fN. Salisbury St., Rm.\u202f604, Raleigh, NC\u202f27603\u20115925) by phone at 919\u2011733\u20115191\u202f[9] or at his district office (3731 Old Julian Road, Julian, NC\u202f27283) at 336\u2011451\u20117169\u202f[9][13]. Email contact is available at Alan.Branson@ncleg.gov\u202f[13].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Alan Branson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Alan_Branson)\n- [3] [Representative Jerry \"Alan\" Branson - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/821)\n- [5] [Representative Jerry \"Alan\" Branson's Introduced Bills - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/IntroducedBills/H/821)\n- [6] [Alan Branson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Branson)\n- [8] [Branson for NC | Julian NC | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Branson4Us/)\n- [9] [State Representative Jerry Branson | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/29281)\n- [13] [Contact Representative Jerry Branson of North Carolina | Official Contact Information](https://sengov.com/states/north-carolina/jerry-branson/)\n- [16] [Jerry Alan Branson | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/jerry-alan-branson)\n- [18] [Rep. Jerry \"Alan\" Branson | North Carolina 2025-2026 | TrackBill](https://trackbill.com/legislator/north-carolina-representative-jerry-alan-branson/1063-27498/)\n- [19] [North Carolina Representative Jerry \"Alan\" Branson - FastDemocracy](https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/nc/legislators/NCL000395/)","firstname":"Jerry","lastname":"Branson","middlename":"Alan","suffix":null,"token":"841cea4400d92036"},"token":"Un8DWsYxc9qAb27F"}],"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 059"}