{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nWilliam Thomas Ward III, known as Bill Ward, is the Republican incumbent representing North Carolina House of Representatives District 5, which covers Camden, Gates, Hertford, and Pasquotank Counties in northeastern North Carolina. He assumed office in 2023 and is currently serving his second term. He is running for reelection in 2026 against Democratic candidate Sam Davis III.\n\nNot available from public sources.\n\n## Background and education\nWard was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He is a graduate of Central High School.\n\n## Career\nWard served in the United States Army from 1974 to 1985 and in the United States Army Reserves from 1985 to 1990. Following his military service, he had a 33-year career in law enforcement, from which he is retired.\n\nNot available from public sources.\n\n## Family\nNot available from public sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Biography \u2013 NC General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/816)\n- [2] [Elect Bill Ward \u2013 Campaign Website](https://electbillward.com/)\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_005","county":"camden","county_count":4,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 005"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"William","fullname":"William Thomas Ward III","lastname":"Ward","middlename":"Thomas","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_005","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 005","county":"camden","county_count":4,"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_005","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 005","county":"camden","county_count":4,"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":[]}],"suffix":"III","summary":"Bill Ward is a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 5.","terms":[],"token":"f324868f8b7ed278"}