{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nWilliam Wilson Barbour ran as a Republican candidate for the North Carolina State Senate in District 9, which encompasses Bladen, Duplin, Jones, Pender, and Sampson counties [1][2]. He was defeated by longtime incumbent Sen. Brent Jackson in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026 [1].\n\nBarbour's campaign emphasized parental rights and educational freedom, arguing that families should be able to choose the educational environment that aligns with their values [2]. On public safety, he called for stronger enforcement of existing firearms laws and more vigorous prosecution of violent offenders [2].\n\n## Background and education\nBarbour was born on July 28, 1961, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin [2]. His father, the Reverend James F. Barbour, was a Lutheran minister, and his mother, Barbara, was a registered nurse [2]. The family later moved to Los Angeles and then to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Barbour attended Albuquerque Academy [2]. He enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder, earning degrees in Political Science and Psychology in 1983, and while there played NCAA Division I football as a linebacker [2]. He subsequently earned graduate degrees from the Air War College in 2010 and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2015 [1][2].\n\n## Career\nBarbour served in the United States Air Force from 1985 to 2013, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after approximately 28 years [1]. During his service, he flew C-130 Hercules transport aircraft based in North Carolina and directed global airlift operations [2]. After retirement, he settled in NC Senate District 9 and launched his 2026 senate campaign [2].\n\n## Family\nBarbour is a devoted husband and father [2].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [William W Barbour for NC Senate 9 \u2013 votebarbour.com](https://votebarbour.com/)\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_009","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 09"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"William","fullname":"William Wilson Barbour","lastname":"Barbour","middlename":"Wilson","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_009","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 09","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_009","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 09","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":"82c3e157a53b2df6"}