Raymond Smith Jr.

Raymond Smith Jr. is the Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Gregory Murphy in North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District. A Gulf War Army veteran, former educator, and transportation planner, he served on the Wayne County Board of Education and for two terms in the North Carolina House. His campaign website emphasizes rural healthcare, public education, and infrastructure.[1][2][3]

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]

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