{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nColton \"Cole\" Brice Johnson (Republican) ran for NC State Senate District 1 (northeastern NC) in the 2026 primary.\n\n## Background and education\n\nA first-generation farmer from Shiloh, NC.\n\n## Career\n\nJohnson served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Expeditionary Firefighting and Rescue Specialist, reaching the rank of Sergeant. After his service, he and his wife Sarah established Yesteryear Farm in Shiloh, a small family dairy operating through a herd-share program, and organized the NC Food Freedom Festival on the property. He entered the 2026 race after discovering last-minute provisions in the state Farm Act threatened to shut down his herd-share operation.\n\n## Family\n\nMarried to Sarah Johnson; they operate Yesteryear Farm together.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [1] [Cole Johnson Announces Bid for NC Senate District 1 \u2013 Outer Banks Voice](https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2025/11/25/cole-johnson-announces-bid-for-district-1-seat-in-nc-senate/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_001","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 01"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Colton","fullname":"Colton Brice Johnson","lastname":"Johnson","middlename":"Brice","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_001","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 01","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_senate_001","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 01","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","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":[]}],"terms":[],"token":"44505540c77c1152"}