Elma Joyce Hairston

Elma Joyce Hairston is the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District 59. She won the June 2026 Democratic primary with 59.3% of the vote (4,643 votes) against C. Bradley Hunt II and will face incumbent Republican Alan Branson in the November 3, 2026 general election ¹.

The office she seeks is a seat in the North Carolina House, the lower chamber of the state legislature. Members draft, debate, and vote on state laws, approve the state budget, and represent the interests of their district’s residents ¹.

Hairston holds a B.S. in Organizational Management from Regis University, an M.A. in Integrated Marketing and Communication from Marist College, and an honorary doctorate in public service from the Denver Institute of Urban Studies. She also earned a corporate etiquette certification from the American School of Protocol ¹³.

Professionally, she is the founder and managing director of Dynamic Images International, LLC, a firm that mentors young women for corporate careers and provides training in customer service, professional development, and career advancement. She is a national speaker and author on business growth, personal development, and maximizing potential ¹³.

Her community service record is extensive. Hairston serves on the board of GuilfordWorks, a workforce‑development organization, and sits on the boards of the Friends of John Coltrane, the Southwest Renewal Foundation, the High Point Police Department Community Advisory Committee, and the Triad Minority Women’s Business Expo Advisory Committee. She previously held leadership roles as Immediate Past President of the NAACP High Point chapter, board member of the YWCA High Point, and member of the Guilford County Citizens Academy, among others [13, 11].

The campaign platform emphasizes affordable, accessible health care; strong public schools that prepare students for college, apprenticeships, and skilled trades; fair wages that move families from surviving to thriving; safe, affordable housing supported by mortgage assistance and rent stabilization; responsible budgeting; and corporate accountability that reinvests in people and local ecosystems. These priorities are outlined on her official campaign website and reiterated in her social‑media posts [11, 16].

Hairston has earned endorsements from a range of local leaders and organizations, including Senator Gladys Robinson, High Point City Council members Tyrone Johnson and Michael Holmes, the George Simpkins Jr. Community PAC, the Communication Workers of America‑NC, the Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party, the Progressive Caucus of Guilford County Democratic Party, Lillian’s List, and the Black Business Inc. Magazine Power 100. Ballotpedia also lists endorsements from Bull City Anna and the Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party [1, 11].

Voters can contact her campaign via email at [email protected], as listed on the Ballotpedia candidate page ¹. The official campaign website is https://www.elmahairstonfornc.com/ which provides further details on her background, policy positions, and ways to donate or volunteer ¹¹.

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