Raymond Smith Jr.

Raymond Smith Jr. was born and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and graduated from Goldsboro High School.[1][3] According to his campaign website, his father served in the U.S. Marines and his mother served 18 years on the Wayne County School Board.[3] He served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, and his campaign website describes him as a decorated Gulf War combat veteran and former military policeman.[1][3] He earned a bachelor's degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1992, a master's degree from North Carolina Central University in 1998, and a Ph.D. from Fayetteville State University in 2020. His campaign website lists the fields as supply chain management, public administration, and education leadership.[1][3]

Smith worked as a teacher and football coach.[1][3] According to his campaign website, he oversaw Wayne County's transition of paratransit service from private to local management and later worked as a statewide transportation planner for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.[3] He was elected in 2016 as the first African American at-large member of the Wayne County Board of Education, serving as vice chairman until 2019.[1][3] He then served two terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 21 (2019-2023), succeeding Larry Bell, with committee work that included Education, Local Government, Finance, Military and Veterans Affairs, Appropriations, and Transportation.[1][3] In 2024 he was the Democratic candidate for North Carolina State Senate District 4, losing the general election to incumbent Eldon Newton III.[1]

Smith is a trustee of St. James AME Zion Church and active in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons.[1][3] According to his campaign website, he lives in Goldsboro with his wife and family.[3]