Phillip Ray Pickett JR

Phillip Ray Pickett Jr. is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 93, which covers Ashe and Watauga counties. He has held the seat since the start of the 2021 legislative session after defeating Democratic incumbent Carl Ray Russell in the 2020 general election ¹³. The 2026 election on November 3 will determine whether he retains this position.

Pickett’s public biographical details are limited in the available sources; no specific information about his education or early career is provided in the cited references. His official legislative profile lists his party affiliation as Republican and notes his residence in the district he represents.

Since taking office, Representative Pickett has served on several key committees. In the 2021‑2022 session he was a member of the Appropriations Committee and its Capital subcommittee, served as Vice Chair of the Education: Universities Committee, and held Vice Chairmanship of the Transportation Committee. He also sat on the Families, Children, and Aging Committee and the Appropriations Committee more broadly ¹³. These assignments indicate his involvement in budgeting, higher‑education policy, transportation infrastructure, and social‑service issues.

Pickett’s electoral history shows he won his first term with 24,680 votes (53.01 %) against Russell’s 21,875 votes (46.99 %) in a total of 46,555 ballots cast, representing a Republican gain of the seat ¹³. While specific policy positions for the upcoming 2026 race are not detailed in the sources, his committee work suggests a focus on fiscal responsibility, university funding, and transportation improvements.

Outside of the legislature, Pickett is referenced on a Change.org petition page that describes him as a public figure committed to public service and community‑focused legislation, emphasizing economic development, education, and inclusive governance. However, these characterizations are general and not tied to specific legislative actions in the cited material ¹⁸.

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