James David Gailliard

James David Gailliard is the Democratic nominee for North Carolina State Senate District 11 in the November 3, 2026 general election. The race pits Gailliard against incumbent Republican Senator Lisa Barnes and Libertarian Gavin Bell, with the Democratic primary having been cancelled, allowing Gailliard to advance automatically to the ballot ¹.

Born on January 9, 1965 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gailliard earned a Bachelor of Science from Morehouse College and also attended St. Joseph’s University before moving to Rocky Mount, North Carolina ³. He is the senior pastor and chief executive officer of Word Tabernacle Church, a historic Black congregation in Rocky Mount, where he has served for more than two decades ¹⁴⁸.

Gailliard entered elected office in 2018, winning the North Carolina House of Representatives District 25 seat—covering most of Nash County—with 51 % of the vote, becoming the first African‑American to hold that seat ³. He was re‑elected in 2020, but lost his third term in the 2022 general election to Republican Allen Chesser ³¹. During his two terms (January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2023) he served on several key committees, including Appropriations, Appropriations‑Capital, Education‑Community Colleges, Education‑K‑12, and Health ¹³. He sponsored legislation on education, health care, and appropriations, though the full list of bills is extensive ¹.

After his House service, Gailliard announced his Senate bid in early 2024, emphasizing a faith‑driven approach to public policy. His campaign platform focuses on expanding economic opportunity, improving public safety, achieving educational equity, increasing broadband access, and making affordable health care a reality for working families ¹²¹⁵⁸. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee describes him as a “pastor from Rocky Mount” ready to “fight on behalf of his constituents for access to affordable health care, strong public schools, and a lower cost of living” ¹⁰. Endorsements include former U.S. Representative G.K. Butterfield and State Senate Democratic Caucus Leader Sydney Batch, who cite his character, legislative experience, and community ties ¹².

If elected, Gailliard says he will leverage his experience as a legislator and community leader to address the district’s priorities—economic development, housing affordability, health equity, and infrastructure—while working to break the Republican supermajority in the North Carolina Senate ¹⁵¹².

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