{"biography":"Lisa Loftis is the incumbent Republican member of the Swain County Board of Education and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election for one of the two at\u2011large seats on the board. The Swain County Board of Education is a partisan\u2011elected body that governs the county\u2019s public schools, with voters selecting the two candidates who receive the most votes to fill the seats\u30104\u3011.\n\nLoftis serves as the director of the State of Franklin, a private nonprofit health\u2011planning agency, and is a mother of five children who attend Swain County schools\u30107\u3011\u30109\u3011. She has said that her motivation for running is to be more involved in the education of her children and to improve communication between teachers and parents\u30107\u3011.\n\nBefore her current term, Loftis held a seat on the board and drew on that experience during her campaign. She highlighted her prior board service and her work with the Community Eligibility Provision child\u2011nutrition program as evidence of her qualifications\u30108\u3011. In the March\u202f3 Republican primary she received 983 votes, defeating challengers Jason Lambert and Josh Oliver and securing the party\u2019s nomination for the general election\u30108\u3011. In the subsequent general election, Loftis was one of two Republicans\u2014along with R.L. Taylor\u2014to win seats on the board, defeating Democratic opponents Jamie Fisher and incumbent Travis Hyatt\u30109\u3011.\n\nLoftis\u2019s platform emphasizes parental rights, bridging the gap between faculty and families, and supporting child\u2011nutrition initiatives. She has described herself as a \u201cmom\u201d who wants to advocate for Swain County children and let her faith guide her decision\u2011making on the board\u30108\u3011. Her campaign positions reflect a focus on community involvement and ensuring that the school system meets the needs of its families.\n\n## Sources\n- [4] [On March 3, incumbent Lisa Loftis and Republican challengers Jason Lambert and Josh Oliver will compete in the Republican primaries for the Swain County Board of Education. The candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the General Election](https://www.facebook.com/smnews/posts/on-march-3-incumbent-lisa-loftis-and-republican-challengers-jason-lambert-and-jo/1375907754547174/)\n- [7] [Four candidates left in race for Swain County School Board](https://smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/34427-four-candidates-left-in-race-for-swain-county-school-board)\n- [8] [Republicans Loftis, Lambert secure Primary for Swain Board of Education](https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/40978-republicans-loftis-lambert-secure-primary-for-swain-board-of-education)\n- [9] [Republicans sweep Swain County School Board](https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/34635-republicans-sweep-swain-county-school-board)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board","county":"swain","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Swain County Board Of Education"},{"contest":"county_school_board","county":"swain","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Swain County Board Of Education"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Lisa","fullname":"Lisa Marie Loftis","lastname":"Loftis","middlename":"Marie","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board","contest_title":"Swain County Board Of Education","county":"swain","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"swain","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_school_board","contest_title":"Swain County Board Of Education","county":"swain","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"swain","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"swain","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board","contest_title":"Swain County Board Of Education","county":"swain","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"swain","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Incumbent Republican Lisa Loftis, director of the State of Franklin, is running for re\u2011election to the Swain County Board of Education.","terms":[],"token":"8cd38a2764de95e5"}