Garland Edward Pierce

Garland Edward Pierce is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 48, covering Hoke and Scotland counties, and is on the ballot for re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election ¹. The North Carolina House requires members to be at least 21 years old, a resident of the state for two years and of the district for one year, and to take an oath of office; Pierce meets all these qualifications, having served continuously since his first term began on January 1, 2005 ¹⁷.

Born on July 9, 1953 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Pierce earned a Bachelor of Science from Fayetteville State University and a Master of Divinity from Shaw University’s Divinity School ¹⁸. He served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1974, an experience he cites as shaping his public‑service ethic ¹⁶. After his military service he worked for United Parcel Service, eventually retiring, and has been the pastor of Bright Hopewell Baptist Church for more than four decades, a role that informs his community‑focused legislative agenda ⁸¹⁰.

Pierce entered elective politics in 2004, winning the Democratic primary and general election for the 48th House district. He has been re‑elected eleven times, most recently in 2024, and his current term runs until January 1, 2027 ¹⁷. During his tenure he has held leadership positions, including Minority Whip from 2017 to 2021 ⁸. He has served on a wide array of committees, most recently chairing the Families, Children, and Aging Policy Committee and vice‑chairing the Commerce Committee, while also sitting on Appropriations, Energy and Public Utilities, Health, Insurance, Military and Veterans Affairs, and several subcommittees focused on justice and public safety ¹⁷.

Legislatively, Pierce has been active on issues ranging from economic development to public safety. He co‑sponsored HB 960, which added diversity, equity, and inclusion provisions to teacher hiring and training, and was one of only two Democrats to vote to override the governor’s veto of HB 808, a bill restricting gender‑transition procedures for minors ⁹. He also voted against SB 20, which would have banned abortions after 12 weeks, reflecting a nuanced stance on reproductive policy ⁹. Earlier, during the 2016 session, he was among the minority of Democrats who supported House Bill 2, the controversial “bathroom bill” ⁷.

Beyond the chamber, Pierce is recognized for community service. He has received the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Outstanding Community Service, the Jefferson Award, and multiple honors from civil‑rights and humanitarian organizations, including the NAACP’s Minister of the Year (2000) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Presidential Award (2005) ⁸. He is active in numerous civic groups, such as Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the Fayetteville State University Alumni Association, and local health and veterans’ coalitions ⁸.

Pierce’s campaign for 2026 emphasizes “common‑sense, energetic leadership” for all residents of Hoke and Scotland counties, promising continued advocacy for higher teacher pay, direct funding for local government, and bipartisan problem‑solving rather than partisan gridlock ¹⁰¹⁷. His official campaign website, reelectpierce.com, provides further details on his platform and fundraising efforts.

Sources