Paul Barringer

Paul Barringer is the Democratic nominee for North Carolina's 13th Congressional District. An attorney and health care consultant who grew up in Lee County, he describes more than 20 years working with state governments on Medicaid and other public programs and also manages family timberland. In his Ballotpedia survey he says he is running for independent representation, fiscal responsibility, and practical problem-solving.[1][2][3]

Paul Barringer grew up in Lee County, North Carolina, in the Deep River area near Sanford, and worked for his family's fertilizer company, Sapona Mills, in the 1980s, according to The Rant.[3] His campaign website says he grew up on a farm.[4] He graduated from Episcopal High School, then earned a bachelor's degree in American studies from Davidson College, a law degree from the University of North Carolina, and a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University.[1][4]

Barringer describes himself as an attorney and health care consultant with more than 20 years of experience working with state governments to improve Medicaid and other public programs.[1][2] He has managed his family's tree farming operation (timberland), practiced as a lawyer, and developed a clothing brand called Mill & Mountain.[1][2][4] He says he provides pro bono legal services, and his campaign website says he represents individuals with disabilities pro bono in Social Security benefit cases.[1][2][4] He also says he worked for years in the prison system teaching literacy and helping formerly incarcerated people find employment after release.[2]

According to The Rant, Barringer moved back from the Washington, D.C., area to Lee County in 2025 to be closer to his mother, and decided to run for Congress after becoming concerned about executive orders issued by President Trump in 2025. He said he was registered as a Republican at one point in his life, not long ago.[3] He won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 59.1% of the vote over Frank Pierce and Alexander Nicholi.[1][3] The Rant reported he is the first major-party congressional nominee from Sanford in recent memory.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.