Carson Henry Smith JR

Carson Henry Smith Jr. is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 16, covering all of Pender County and parts of Columbus County. He is on the ballot for re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election after winning the March 3, 2026 Republican primary with 76.5% of the vote ¹.

The North Carolina House requires members to be at least 21 years old, qualified voters, and residents of the district for one year preceding the election; terms are two years with no term limits ². Smith meets these qualifications, having served continuously since his first swearing‑in on January 1, 2019, with his current term set to end on January 1, 2027 ¹.

Born in 1966 or 1967 in Wilmington, NC, Smith earned a Basic Law Enforcement Training certificate from Cape Fear Community College in 1987 ⁹. He spent 16 years as the elected Sheriff of Pender County (2002‑2018) ⁶, during which he also served as the county’s Emergency Management Director before his sheriff tenure and again on an interim basis in 2020 during the COVID‑19 pandemic ⁶. After retiring as sheriff, he entered state politics and was first elected to the House in 2018, taking office in 2019 ⁶.

In the legislature, Smith has held several leadership roles. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Chair of the House Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety, as well as Chair of the Pensions and Retirement Committee and the Wildlife Resources Committee ¹. Earlier sessions saw him on the Judiciary II, Marine Resources and Aqua Culture, and Health committees ¹. His legislative focus includes public safety, veteran affairs, and fiscal responsibility. Notable bills he has sponsored include the "Back the Blue Pay Act" (HB 42) to provide additional compensation for law‑enforcement officers ⁵, the "Gun Violence Prevention Act" (HB 28) addressing firearm safety ⁵, and the "Disaster Recovery Act of 2025" (HB 47) aimed at improving emergency response funding ⁵.

Smith’s electoral record shows strong support in his district: he won re‑election in 2024 with 70.8% of the vote over Democratic challenger Frances Lakey ¹, and previously secured 64.3% in 2020 ⁶. His committee chairmanships and sponsorship of public‑safety‑related legislation reflect his background in law enforcement and emergency management. As a member of the North Carolina House Republican Caucus, he aligns with the party’s priorities on budgetary discipline and support for first responders ¹⁶.

Smith’s official Capitol office is located at 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 410, Raleigh, NC 27603‑5925 ⁴. While a campaign website is not directly provided in the sources, his legislative profile and public statements are available through the North Carolina General Assembly and Ballotpedia pages.

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