{"biography":"Garland Edward Pierce is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f48, covering Hoke and Scotland counties, and is on the ballot for re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 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\u202f1,\u202f2005 [1][7].\n\nBorn on July\u202f9,\u202f1953 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Pierce earned a Bachelor of Science from Fayetteville State University and a Master of Divinity from Shaw University\u2019s Divinity School [1][8]. He served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1974, an experience he cites as shaping his public\u2011service ethic [1][6]. 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\u2011focused legislative agenda [8][10].\n\nPierce entered elective politics in 2004, winning the Democratic primary and general election for the 48th House district. He has been re\u2011elected eleven times, most recently in 2024, and his current term runs until January\u202f1,\u202f2027 [1][7]. 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\u2011chairing 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 [1][7].\n\nLegislatively, Pierce has been active on issues ranging from economic development to public safety. He co\u2011sponsored HB\u202f960, 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\u2019s veto of HB\u202f808, a bill restricting gender\u2011transition procedures for minors [9]. He also voted against SB\u202f20, which would have banned abortions after 12\u202fweeks, reflecting a nuanced stance on reproductive policy [9]. Earlier, during the 2016 session, he was among the minority of Democrats who supported House Bill\u202f2, the controversial \u201cbathroom bill\u201d [7].\n\nBeyond the chamber, Pierce is recognized for community service. He has received the North Carolina Governor\u2019s Award for Outstanding Community Service, the Jefferson Award, and multiple honors from civil\u2011rights and humanitarian organizations, including the NAACP\u2019s Minister of the Year (2000) and the Martin\u202fLuther\u202fKing\u202fJr. 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\u2019 coalitions [8].\n\nPierce\u2019s campaign for 2026 emphasizes \u201ccommon\u2011sense, energetic leadership\u201d for all residents of Hoke and Scotland counties, promising continued advocacy for higher teacher pay, direct funding for local government, and bipartisan problem\u2011solving rather than partisan gridlock [10][17]. His official campaign website, reelectpierce.com, provides further details on his platform and fundraising efforts.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Garland Pierce - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Garland_Pierce)\n- [6] [Representative Garland E. Pierce - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/497)\n- [7] [Garland E. Pierce - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garland_E._Pierce)\n- [8] [Garland Pierce's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/40990/garland-pierce)\n- [9] [iVoterGuide - Garland E. Pierce iVoterGuide Profile](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/2087/race/11433/election/1206)\n- [10] [Reelect Garland Pierce | House District 48 | North Carolina](https://www.reelectpierce.com)\n- [11] [Garland Pierce's Political Summary](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/40990/garland-pierce)\n- [17] [Vote to Re-elect Rep. Garland Pierce for NC House! This ...](https://www.facebook.com/PierceforNCHouse/videos/vote-to-re-elect-rep-garland-pierce-for-nc-house-this-election-is-about-deliveri/1263915781067920/)\n- [19] [State Representative Garland Pierce | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/3210)\n- [20] [North Carolina State Rep. Garland Pierce - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/192889/Garland_E_Pierce.html)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_048","county":"cumberland","county_count":6,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 048"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Garland","fullname":"Garland Edward Pierce","lastname":"Pierce","middlename":"Edward","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_048","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 048","county":"cumberland","county_count":6,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_house_048","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 048","county":"cumberland","county_count":6,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Garland Edward Pierce, Democratic incumbent for NC House District\u202f48, seeks re\u2011election in 2026 after over two decades of legislative service.","terms":[],"token":"59d692b9c2746c08"}