{"biography":"Safiyah Jackson is the incumbent Wake County Board of Commissioners member for District\u202f2 and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election as the Democratic candidate. She currently serves as vice chair of the Board, a role she assumed after her appointment to the seat in 2025, and chairs the Affordable Housing Committee while acting as liaison to the Wake County Housing Authority and Passage Home Boards\u30103\u2020L1-L8\u3011. The Democratic primary for the 2026 race was cancelled, so she advanced to the general ballot unopposed in the primary\u30101\u2020L13-L18\u3011.\n\nJackson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from Florida A&M University, followed by two master\u2019s degrees\u2014one in Early Childhood and another in School Psychology\u2014from National Louis University\u30104\u2020L31-L38\u3011. Her academic background underpins a career focused on early\u2011childhood advocacy and community development.\n\nProfessionally, Jackson has held senior nonprofit and strategic roles. She is the chief strategy officer for the North Carolina Partnership for Children/Smart Start Network, where she guides policy and program initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for the state\u2019s youngest residents\u30108\u2020L13-L18\u3011\u30109\u2020L1-L4\u3011. Earlier, she managed day\u2011to\u2011day operations for Ford Motor Company and has served on the board of Raleigh Little Theatre, reflecting a blend of corporate, nonprofit, and arts experience\u30104\u2020L45-L53\u3011. Her r\u00e9sum\u00e9 also includes leadership positions in museums, preschools, family child\u2011care homes, early elementary schools, and both public and private philanthropic organizations\u30104\u2020L45-L53\u3011.\n\nJackson first entered electoral politics in 2024, running for North Carolina House District\u202f37. She lost to incumbent Republican Erin\u202fPar\u00e9, receiving 45.3\u202f% of the vote\u30101\u2020L31-L38\u3011. Following that campaign, she was selected by the Wake County Democratic Party and unanimously appointed by the Board to fill the vacated District\u202f2 seat after Matt Calabria\u2019s resignation\u30109\u2020L1-L8\u3011. In her first year on the Board, she was elected vice chair and took on the Affordable Housing Committee, emphasizing her focus on housing stability for families.\n\nHer platform for the 2026 commissioner race centers on early\u2011childhood development, affordable housing, transportation infrastructure, and cost\u2011of\u2011living relief. She highlights continuity with the county\u2019s 2029 strategic plan, improvements to greenways and traffic congestion, and expanding access to health\u2011care and childcare services\u30105\u2020L1-L22\u3011. Jackson also stresses the importance of preserving democracy and voting rights, public safety, and balanced fiscal solutions as part of a broader \u201cStrong Foundations, Balanced Solutions\u201d agenda\u30105\u2020L23-L30\u3011.\n\nJackson\u2019s public statements consistently reference her personal background\u2014granddaughter of a domestic worker, daughter of middle\u2011class parents, and upbringing in a close\u2011knit church and community\u2014as shaping her commitment to nurturing environments for children and families\u30104\u2020L1-L9\u3011. She continues to write children\u2019s books on civic engagement and remains active in the local arts scene, reflecting a holistic approach to community building.\n\nIf elected to a full term, Jackson aims to build on her work as vice chair, advancing affordable housing initiatives, supporting early\u2011learning programs, and addressing transportation challenges to ensure Wake County remains a multi\u2011generational home for all residents.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Safiyah Jackson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Safiyah_Jackson)\n- [2] [North Carolina House of Representatives District 37 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_District_37)\n- [3] [Wake County Board of Commissioners elects new chair, vice chair | Wake County Government](https://www.wake.gov/news/wake-county-board-commissioners-elects-new-chair-vice-chair-0)\n- [4] [Home | Safiyah Jackson](https://www.teamjacksonfornc.com/)\n- [5] [Agenda | Safiyah Jackson](https://www.teamjacksonfornc.com/agenda)\n- [7] [Safiyah Jackson for NC (@TeamJacksonforNorthCarolina)](https://www.facebook.com/TeamJacksonforNorthCarolina/)\n- [8] [Candidate Info - Safiyah Jackson - Wake County Democratic Party](https://www.wakedems.org/election-central-2024/candidate-info-safiyah-jackson/)\n- [9] [Wake commissioners pick new member for county board](https://www.yahoo.com/news/wake-commissioners-pick-member-county-225743133.html)\n- [11] [Wake commissioners pick new member for county board](https://www.aol.com/wake-commissioners-pick-member-county-225743133.html)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_02","county":"wake","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Wake County Board Of Commissioners District 02"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Safiyah","fullname":"Safiyah Naeemah Jackson","lastname":"Jackson","middlename":"Naeemah","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_02","contest_title":"Wake County Board Of Commissioners District 02","county":"wake","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"wake","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"wake","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_02","contest_title":"Wake County Board Of Commissioners District 02","county":"wake","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"wake","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Incumbent Wake County Commissioner Safiyah Jackson seeks re\u2011election in 2026, emphasizing early\u2011childhood, affordable housing, and transportation priorities.","terms":[],"token":"4a88483c151c1ea5"}