{"biography":"James Roberson is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f39 and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election\u202f[1][19]. The North Carolina House has 120 members who serve two\u2011year terms; District\u202f39 covers parts of Wake County, including Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon and southeast Raleigh\u202f[16].\n\nRoberson was born on May\u202f3,\u202f1971, in Wilson, North\u202fCarolina, and grew up in the state\u202f[10]. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Shaw University and a Master of Legal Studies from North\u202fCarolina Central University\u202f[10][8]. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated\u202f[8].\n\nBefore entering state politics, Roberson spent more than three decades at Wake Technical Community College, retiring in 2021 as Senior Dean and Chief Campus Officer of the Western Wake Campus\u202f[5][7][10][18]. His work there focused on expanding access to higher education and workforce development, and he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for his service in 2021\u202f[8].\n\nRoberson\u2019s elected public\u2011service career began on the Knightdale Town Council, where he served from 2007 to 2015\u202f[7][10]. He was then elected mayor of Knightdale in 2015 and re\u2011elected in 2019, serving until his appointment to the state House in January\u202f2021\u202f[1][7][8]. Governor Roy\u202fCooper appointed him to fill the vacancy left by Rep.\u202fDarren\u202fJackson; the appointment became effective on January\u202f13,\u202f2021\u202f[1][5].\n\nIn the General Assembly, Rep.\u202fRoberson has served on several key committees. In the 2021\u20112022 session he sat on Appropriations, Appropriations\u2011Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, Insurance, Pensions and Retirement, and State Personnel\u202f[1][7]. For the 2023\u20112024 session his assignments expanded to include Education\u2011Community Colleges, Local Government, Transportation, and the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery, among others\u202f[1][8][11]. He has also been a member of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Environmental Review Commission\u202f[10][11].\n\nRoberson has sponsored legislation on a range of issues, from education funding to public\u2011safety initiatives, and has been recognized with several awards, including the Disabled American Veterans \u201cLegislator of the Year\u201d (2025) and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters \u201cGreen Tie\u201d Rising Star award (2022)\u202f[11].\n\nHis campaign emphasizes support for public\u2011school funding, affordable housing, workforce development, and economic growth for his Wake County constituents\u202f[19][16]. As the 2026 election approaches, the Democratic primary was cancelled, leaving Roberson on the ballot alongside Republican Jorge\u202fCordova and Libertarian Wayne\u202fCockrell\u202f[1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [James Roberson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Roberson)\n- [3] [Brent Roberson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brent_Roberson)\n- [4] [North Carolina elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2026)\n- [5] [Representative James Roberson - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/786)\n- [6] [Representative James Roberson - Biography](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/DistrictRepresentation/H/39)\n- [7] [James Roberson (politician) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Roberson_(politician))\n- [8] [About James - Roberson for NC House](https://robersonforhouse.com/james-roberson/)\n- [9] [James Roberson for NC House](https://robersonforhouse.com/)\n- [10] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/195787)\n- [11] [Rep. Roberson News - Roberson for NC House](https://robersonforhouse.com/rep-roberson-news/)\n- [12] [Representative James Roberson | Raleigh NC | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/repjamesroberson/)\n- [14] [State Representative James Roberson | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/26008)\n- [15] [North Carolina State Rep. James Roberson - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/391997/James_Roberson.html)\n- [16] [Candidate Info - James Roberson - Wake County Democratic Party](https://www.wakedems.org/election-central-2024/candidate-info-james-roberson/)\n- [17] [James Roberson- House District 39](https://nchousedems.com/our-members/james-roberson-house-district-39/)\n- [18] [James Roberson - National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship](https://www.nacce.com/contacts/james-roberson)\n- [19] [James Roberson | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/james-roberson-c7e2c26f-5d35-4abc-830b-c78b3bb1fb7e)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_039","county":"nash","county_count":2,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 039"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"James","fullname":"James Aubrey Roberson","lastname":"Roberson","middlename":"Aubrey","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_039","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 039","county":"nash","county_count":2,"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_039","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 039","county":"nash","county_count":2,"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":"James Roberson, Democrat incumbent for NC House District\u202f39, is running for re\u2011election in 2026 after a career in education and local government.","terms":[],"token":"ac60dcbde475a851"}