| State house | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| District | 21st |
| Term start | January 1, 2019 |
| Term end | January 1, 2023 |
| Predecessor | Larry Bell |
| Successor | John Bell (redistricted) |
| Birth date | October 15, 1961 (age 64) |
| Birth place | Goldsboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Cortrina |
| Education | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (BA) North Carolina Central University (MPA) Fayetteville State University (EdD) |
| Website | State House website |
Raymond Edward Smith Jr. (born October 15, 1961) is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, who represented the 21st district (including portions of Wayne and Sampson counties) from 2019 to 2023.[1][2] He is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House from North Carolina's 3rd congressional district in the 2026 election. [3]
Career
Smith served in the United States Army during the Persian Gulf War, and then worked in local and state government, and served on the Wayne County Board of Education before he won the election to the state legislature on November 6, 2018 as the nominee of the Democratic Party. [4] He secured fifty-three percent of the vote while Republican Robert Freeman Sr. secured forty-seven percent.[5] He was re-elected in 2020.
In 2022, Smith challenged incumbent state senator Toby Fitch in the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 4th Senate district. Smith lost the primary, winning 45.5% of the vote to Fitch's 54.5%.[6][7]
Committee assignments
2021-2022 session
- Education - Community Colleges
- Local Government
- Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs
- Finance
- Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs
- LGBTQ+ Rights and Restrictions
2019–2020 session
- House Appropriations on Health and Human Services
- Appropriations
- Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs
- Transportation
References
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
- ^ "Raymond Smith Jr.". Retrieved 2021-10-19.
- ^ ABC 11
- ^ About Raymond Smith
- ^ "North Carolina Election Results - Election Results 2018 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ "Several incumbents lose N.C. legislative primaries". Spectrum News 1 North Carolina. Associated Press. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "NC SBE Election Contest Details". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved 10 August 2022.