Michael Anthony Lazzara

Michael Anthony Lazzara is the incumbent Republican State Senator for North Carolina’s District 6 and is on the ballot for re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election ¹. The North Carolina Senate is the upper chamber of the General Assembly; senators must be at least 25 years old, a resident of the district they represent, and a qualified voter in the state ¹. As a senator, Lazzara participates in the legislative process, including drafting, debating, and voting on bills, serving on committees, and representing constituent interests.

Lazzara was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, and raised in Chicago, Illinois ³¹⁴. He earned a GED from Harry S. Truman College in Chicago in 1981 ⁶. After high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1982 to 1986 and attaining the rank of corporal while stationed at Camp Lejeune ³¹⁵.

Following military service, Lazzara entered the private sector. He owns and operates a chain of pizza restaurants—including Michaelangelos Pizza and Lazzara Pizza & Subs— and previously owned a sign‑manufacturing business, Vital Signs, which grew to a 10,000‑square‑foot facility ¹⁴¹⁵. He also served as chairman of the Jacksonville Tourism Development Authority and held leadership roles with the Jacksonville‑Onslow Chamber of Commerce and the North Carolina League of Municipalities ⁶¹⁴.

His public‑service career began in 2005 when he was elected to the Jacksonville City Council, representing the 3rd ward, and later served as Mayor Pro Tem until his resignation in 2021 after winning election to the state Senate ³¹⁴. During his municipal tenure he chaired the Transportation Advisory Committee and worked on regional transportation funding formulas ¹⁴.

Lazzara was first elected to the North Carolina Senate on November 3, 2020, filling the seat vacated by Harry Brown, and was sworn in on January 1, 2021 ¹³. He was re‑elected in 2022 and again in 2024, winning 69.6 % of the vote (53,923 votes) against Democrat Andi Morrow ¹. In the 2025‑2026 session he chairs the Appropriations Committee on the Department of Transportation and the Senate Transportation Committee, and serves on the Finance, Judiciary, State and Local Government, and Rules and Operations committees ¹. In earlier sessions he chaired the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee and served on Education/Higher Education, among others ¹. He has sponsored legislation on transportation funding, school reopening options during the COVID‑19 pandemic, and other issues affecting his district ¹.

Lazzura’s background in business, military service, and local government informs his legislative priorities, which emphasize infrastructure development, fiscal responsibility, and support for law‑enforcement and public safety initiatives ¹⁵. He continues to reside in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and maintains active involvement in community organizations while seeking a fourth term in the Senate ⁵¹⁵.

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