{"biography":"Hugh Allen Blackwell is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f86, seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. He has served continuously since his first term began on January\u202f28,\u202f2009 and his current term is set to end on January\u202f1,\u202f2027\u30101\u2020L1-L4\u3011\u301016\u2020L1-L4\u3011.\n\nBlackwell was born July\u202f14,\u202f1944 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill followed by a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School\u301013\u2020L22-L24\u3011. He practiced law as a partner at Mitchell, Blackwell & Mitchell in Valdese, North\u202fCarolina, and also taught business ethics and business law as an adjunct professor at Lenoir\u2011Rhyne College\u301013\u2020L31-L33\u3011. His public service includes time in the United States Army Reserve and extensive involvement in local civic organizations, such as the Burke County Board of Education, the Western Piedmont Community College board of trustees, and the Valdese General Hospital board\u301013\u2020L35-L38\u3011.\n\nIn the legislature, Blackwell has held numerous leadership positions. During the 2023\u20112024 session he served as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee on Education, Chair of the Judiciary\u202fIII Committee, and Chair of the Education\u2011K\u201112 Committee, among other assignments\u30101\u2020L9-L16\u3011. He has previously chaired the Appropriations Committee on Education, the Judiciary\u202fIV Committee, and the Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform Committee, and has been a member of Health, Regulatory Reform, and Transportation committees across multiple sessions\u30101\u2020L17-L45\u3011. His committee work reflects a focus on education funding, judicial matters, and fiscal policy.\n\nBlackwell\u2019s legislative record includes sponsorship of bills on a range of issues, though specific bills are not listed in the provided sources. Election results show he has won re\u2011election repeatedly, most recently securing 69.9% of the vote in 2020 and previously winning with margins ranging from 60% to 64% in elections from 2010 through 2018\u30109\u2020L57-L84\u3011. He was recognized in 2018 as a \u201cChampion of the Family\u201d by the NC Values Coalition Scorecard\u30109\u2020L9-L10\u3011.\n\nOutside the Capitol, Blackwell remains active in his community. He serves as a Sunday school teacher and choir member at Faith Community Church, and holds leadership roles with local health and educational institutions\u301013\u2020L35-L38\u3011. His stated reasons for seeking continued public office emphasize addressing healthcare costs, job loss, tax policy, and educational challenges in Burke County and the state\u301013\u2020L45-L48\u3011.\n\nContact information for constituents includes a Raleigh office at 300\u202fN. Salisbury Street, Room\u202f541, and a district mailing address at 321 Mountain View Avenue SE, Valdese, NC\u202f28690. The North Carolina General Assembly lists his email as [email\u00a0protected] and his office phone as 919\u2011733\u20115805\u30107\u2020L9-L13\u3011\u301016\u2020L5-L7\u3011.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Hugh Blackwell - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Hugh_Blackwell)\n- [7] [Representative Hugh Blackwell - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/580)\n- [9] [Hugh Blackwell - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Blackwell)\n- [11] [Hugh Blackwell's Political Summary](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/57758/hugh-blackwell)\n- [12] [iVoterGuide - Hugh Blackwell iVoterGuide Profile](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/2148/race/1698/election/246)\n- [13] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/57758/hugh-blackwell)\n- [14] [Rep. Hugh Blackwell - Burke County (@RepHughBlackwell)](https://www.facebook.com/RepHughBlackwell/)\n- [16] [State Representative Hugh Blackwell | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/4985)\n- [17] [North Carolina State Rep. Hugh Blackwell - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/192805/Hugh_Allen_Blackwell.html)\n- [18] [Hugh Blackwell | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/hugh-blackwell)\n- [20] [North Carolina Representative Hugh Blackwell - FastDemocracy](https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/nc/legislators/NCL000180/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_086","county":"burke","county_count":2,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 086"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Hugh","fullname":"Hugh Allen Blackwell","lastname":"Blackwell","middlename":"Allen","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_086","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 086","county":"burke","county_count":2,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_house_086","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 086","county":"burke","county_count":2,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Hugh Allen Blackwell, a Republican, is the incumbent NC House Representative for District\u202f86 seeking re\u2011election in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"c64d00273ffba0fc"}