{"biography":"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].\n\nThe 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\u2019s residents [1].\n\nHairston 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].\n\nProfessionally, 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].\n\nHer community service record is extensive. Hairston serves on the board of GuilfordWorks, a workforce\u2011development 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\u2019s 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].\n\nThe 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\u2011media posts [11, 16].\n\nHairston 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\u2011NC, the Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party, the Progressive Caucus of Guilford County Democratic Party, Lillian\u2019s 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].\n\nVoters can contact her campaign via email at contact@elmahairstonfornc.com, 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].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Elma Hairston - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elma_Hairston)\n- [11] [Elma Hairston for North Carolina | Official Campaign Website](https://www.elmahairstonfornc.com/)\n- [13] [Board of Directors: Elma Hairston - guilfordworks.org](https://guilfordworks.org/about-us/board-of-directors-elma-hairston/)\n- [14] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [16] [Today is election day Vote Elma Hairston NC HD 59 ...](https://www.facebook.com/elma.hairston/posts/today-is-election-day-vote-elma-hairston-nc-hd-59we-need-policy-that-strengthens/25899860516379491/)\n- [19] [Campaign to Elect Dr. Elma Hairston We did it! Because of YOU ...](https://www.facebook.com/elma.hairston/posts/campaign-to-elect-dr-elma-hairston-we-did-it-because-of-you-we-are-officially-vi/25931615249870684/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_059","county":"guilford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 059"},{"contest":"state_house_059","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 059"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Elma","fullname":"Elma Joyce Hairston","lastname":"Hairston","middlename":"Joyce","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_059","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 059","county":"guilford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"state_house_059","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 059","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_house_059","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 059","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","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":"Democratic candidate Elma Joyce Hairston is running for North Carolina House District 59, bringing business leadership, extensive community service, and a platform focused on health care, education, wages, housing, and fiscal responsibility.","terms":[],"token":"b065d5f2cb0cbbd3"}