James Roderick O'Neill

James "Jim" Roderick O'Neill is the incumbent District Attorney for North Carolina’s 31st Prosecutorial District, a post he has held since 2009 and for which he is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election ³. The district covers Forsyth County, and his current term is scheduled to end on December 31, 2026 ³.

O'Neill earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University and received a Juris Doctor from New York Law School ³⁷. He began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Forsyth County before becoming the county’s district attorney, a role he has maintained for more than two decades ³⁷. In addition to his prosecutorial duties, he serves on several community boards, including the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, the board of Exchange/Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), and the board of Industries for the Blind. He is also an active lay member of Holy Family Catholic Church and coaches boys’ lacrosse at R.J. Reynolds High School ⁷¹².

Beyond his work as DA, O'Neill has pursued higher office. He was a Republican candidate for North Carolina Attorney General in 2016 and again in 2020, and he entered the 2024 race for Lieutenant Governor, advancing to the Republican primary runoff where he was defeated by Hal Weatherman, receiving 25.7 % of the vote ³¹²¹⁰. His campaigns have emphasized a “tough on crime” stance, leveraging his prosecutorial experience to argue for stronger law‑enforcement resources and policies such as expanded school security and opposition to casino expansion ¹⁰.

As district attorney, O'Neill has championed innovative programs aimed at reducing substance‑abuse‑related offenses. He launched the DATA (District Attorney’s Treatment Alternatives) pilot in 2018, which directs non‑violent drug offenders to treatment rather than incarceration, a model he cites as a cost‑effective way to address the opioid crisis ¹⁰¹². He has also advocated for faster processing of sexual‑assault kits and for stronger support of ICE immigration enforcement, positioning himself as a defender of victims and public safety ¹⁰¹².

O'Neill resides in Winston‑Salem with his wife Oona and their three children. His long tenure, community involvement, and repeated bids for statewide office have made him a recognizable figure in North Carolina politics, and his 2026 re‑election campaign will focus on continuing his existing initiatives while highlighting his record of public safety and victim advocacy.

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