{"biography":"Michael Anthony Lazzara is the incumbent Republican State Senator for North Carolina\u2019s District\u202f6 and is on the ballot for re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election\u202f[1].  The North Carolina Senate is the upper chamber of the General Assembly; senators must be at least 25\u202fyears old, a resident of the district they represent, and a qualified voter in the state\u202f[1].  As a senator, Lazzara participates in the legislative process, including drafting, debating, and voting on bills, serving on committees, and representing constituent interests.\n\nLazzara was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, and raised in Chicago, Illinois\u202f[3][14].  He earned a GED from Harry S. Truman College in Chicago in 1981\u202f[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\u202fLejeune\u202f[3][15].\n\nFollowing military service, Lazzara entered the private sector.  He owns and operates a chain of pizza restaurants\u2014including Michaelangelos Pizza and Lazzara\u202fPizza\u202f&\u202fSubs\u2014 and previously owned a sign\u2011manufacturing business, Vital Signs, which grew to a 10,000\u2011square\u2011foot facility\u202f[14][15].  He also served as chairman of the Jacksonville Tourism Development Authority and held leadership roles with the Jacksonville\u2011Onslow Chamber of Commerce and the North Carolina League of Municipalities\u202f[6][14].\n\nHis public\u2011service career began in 2005 when he was elected to the Jacksonville City Council, representing the 3rd ward, and later served as Mayor Pro\u202fTem until his resignation in 2021 after winning election to the state Senate\u202f[3][14].  During his municipal tenure he chaired the Transportation Advisory Committee and worked on regional transportation funding formulas\u202f[14].\n\nLazzara was first elected to the North Carolina Senate on November\u202f3,\u202f2020, filling the seat vacated by Harry\u202fBrown, and was sworn in on January\u202f1,\u202f2021\u202f[1][3].  He was re\u2011elected in 2022 and again in 2024, winning 69.6\u202f% of the vote (53,923 votes) against Democrat Andi\u202fMorrow\u202f[1].  In the 2025\u20112026 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\u202f[1].  In earlier sessions he chaired the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee and served on Education/Higher Education, among others\u202f[1].  He has sponsored legislation on transportation funding, school reopening options during the COVID\u201119 pandemic, and other issues affecting his district\u202f[1].\n\nLazzura\u2019s background in business, military service, and local government informs his legislative priorities, which emphasize infrastructure development, fiscal responsibility, and support for law\u2011enforcement and public safety initiatives\u202f[15].  He continues to reside in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and maintains active involvement in community organizations while seeking a fourth term in the Senate\u202f[5][15].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Michael Lazzara - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Lazzara)\n- [2] [Senator Michael A. Lazzara - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/426)\n- [3] [Michael Lazzara - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lazzara)\n- [5] [Michael Lazzara's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/73981/michael-lazzara)\n- [6] [Candidate Profile for Michael Lazzara](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate?elecK=763&raceK=8459&primarypartyk=-&canK=52072)\n- [11] [North Carolina State Sen. Michael Lazzara - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/387457/Michael_Lazzara.html)\n- [12] [State Senator Michael Lazzara | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/25691)\n- [14] [Michael Lazzara - North Carolina Republican Senate Caucus](https://ncstatesenate.com/members/michael-lazzara/)\n- [15] [contact Senator Michael Lazzara](https://sengov.com/states/north-carolina/michael-lazzara/)\n- [16] [Michael Lazzara - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/michael-lazzara)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_006","county":"carteret","county_count":5,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 06"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Michael","fullname":"Michael Anthony Lazzara","lastname":"Lazzara","middlename":"Anthony","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_006","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 06","county":"carteret","county_count":5,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_senate_006","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 06","county":"carteret","county_count":5,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican Michael Anthony Lazzura, incumbent NC State Senator for District\u202f6, is running for re\u2011election in 2026 after a career in the Marine Corps, business, and local government.","terms":[],"token":"0043a71abc7f4518"}