Husband, father, grandfather, and servant-leader—James D. Gailliard continues to lead with the same compassion, conviction, and courage that built a thriving church and delivered results in the legislature. Because when all may thrive, our communities are stronger.

About James | James D. Gailliard

His commitment to systemic change extends through multiple leadership roles:

Commissioner of MyFutureNC, co-developing North Carolina’s statewide educational attainment goals.
Founder and Chairman of The REACH Center, Inc.
Trustee of Elizabeth City State University.

James D. Gailliard is a husband, father, and grandfather. He is a commissioner of MyFutureNC and a trustee of Elizabeth City State University.

For over 25 years, Pastor James D. Gailliard has answered the call to shepherd and serve—first as the organizing Senior Pastor of Word Tabernacle Church in Rocky Mount, and then as your voice in the North Carolina General Assembly.

His journey from planting a 14-person congregation to building one of America's 100 fastest-growing churches mirrors his commitment to turning vision into reality for working families across our district.

James D. Gailliard is the organizing senior pastor of Word Tabernacle Church in Rocky Mount. He is also the founder and chairman of The REACH Center, Inc.

James is the organizing senior pastor of Word Tabernacle Church in Rocky Mount. He is also the founder and chairman of The REACH Center, Inc.

Gailliard (Democratic Party) was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 25. He assumed office on January 1, 2019. He left office on January 1, 2023.

James Gailliard

James D. Gailliard
(Angela)
(Pastor, Word Tabernacle Church)
Nash/D
25th
2 terms

MM-House-AlphabeticalList

James Gailliard campaign contribution history
YEAR OFFICE STATUS CONTRIBUTIONS EXPENDITURES
2022 North Carolina House of Representatives District 25 Lost general $379,869 $181,239
2022 U.S. House North Carolina District 2 Withdrew primary $43,004 $44,669
2020 North Carolina House of Representatives District 25 Won general $60,116 N/A

James served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 25 from 2019 to 2023, completing two terms. He withdrew from the 2022 primary for U.S. House District 2.

James Gailliard - Ballotpedia

2026 North Carolina General Election

Policy Solutions:
Create the “Second Chance Workforce Initiative” combining faith-based mentorship with skills training.
Partner with Nash Community College and Louisburg College to offer debt-free certification programs in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and IT.

Economics & Workforce | James D. Gailliard

Policy Solutions:
Create the “Second Chance Workforce Initiative” combining faith-based mentorship with skills training.
Partner with Nash Community College and Louisburg College to offer debt-free certification programs in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and IT.
Push for tuition-free technical training in high-demand fields (HVAC, CDL, healthcare tech, IT).

Partner with Nash Community College and Louisburg College to offer debt-free certification programs in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and IT.
Push for tuition-free technical training in high-demand fields (HVAC, CDL, healthcare tech, IT).
Provide state-level tax incentives for small businesses that hire locally and offer apprenticeships.

Push for tuition-free technical training in high-demand fields (HVAC, CDL, healthcare tech, IT).
Provide state-level tax incentives for small businesses that hire locally and offer apprenticeships.
Support regional efforts to revitalize historic business corridors in Rocky Mount, Henderson, and Louisburg.

Policy Solutions:
Create an initiative providing down payment assistance, home ownership counseling, and support for first-time buyers.
Advocate for state funding to match federal community development block grants.
Support affordable housing development through public-private partnerships with faith communities.

Housing & Community Development | James D. Gailliard

Advocate for state funding to match federal community development block grants.
Support affordable housing development through public-private partnerships with faith communities.
Champion fair housing enforcement and anti-discrimination measures.

Support affordable housing development through public-private partnerships with faith communities.
Champion fair housing enforcement and anti-discrimination measures.
Create emergency rental assistance programs and eviction prevention services.
Partner with local churches and nonprofits to provide financial literacy education and home ownership preparation programs.

Proposes a Second Chance Workforce Initiative combining faith-based mentorship and skills training.

Plans debt-free certification programs and tuition-free technical training in high-demand fields.

Proposes state tax incentives for small businesses that hire locally and offer apprenticeships.

Supports revitalizing historic business corridors in Rocky Mount, Henderson, and Louisburg.

Proposes first-time homebuyer assistance, affordable-housing partnerships, and emergency rental and eviction-prevention services.

- Proposes a Second Chance Workforce Initiative combining faith-based mentorship and skills training.
- Plans debt-free certification programs and tuition-free technical training in high-demand fields.
- Proposes state tax incentives for small businesses that hire locally and offer apprenticeships.
- Supports revitalizing historic business corridors in Rocky Mount, Henderson, and Louisburg.
- Proposes first-time homebuyer assistance, affordable-housing partnerships, and emergency rental and eviction-prevention services.

Economy

Support police-community partnerships while maintaining accountability through civilian oversight.
Champion debt-based driver’s license reform (HB 722) and eliminate barriers to employment from unpaid court debt (HB 980).

Criminal Justice | James D. Gailliard

Advance the “Restoration and Reconciliation Act” building on recent NC criminal justice reforms (SB 300).
Support expansion of problem-solving courts, including drug courts and mental health courts.
Advocate for eliminating probation supervision fees and community service fees (currently pending in SB 529).

Support expansion of problem-solving courts, including drug courts and mental health courts.
Advocate for eliminating probation supervision fees and community service fees (currently pending in SB 529).
Create faith-based reentry programs partnering churches with formerly incarcerated individuals, providing mentorship, job placement, and housing assistance.

Advocate for eliminating probation supervision fees and community service fees (currently pending in SB 529).
Create faith-based reentry programs partnering churches with formerly incarcerated individuals, providing mentorship, job placement, and housing assistance.
Support police-community partnerships while maintaining accountability through civilian oversight.

Create faith-based reentry programs partnering churches with formerly incarcerated individuals, providing mentorship, job placement, and housing assistance.
Support police-community partnerships while maintaining accountability through civilian oversight.
Champion debt-based driver’s license reform (HB 722) and eliminate barriers to employment from unpaid court debt (HB 980).

Advocates reforming driver’s-license policies tied to debt and reducing employment barriers from unpaid court debt.

Supports expanding drug courts and mental health courts.

Advocates eliminating probation supervision and community-service fees.

Proposes faith-based reentry programs offering mentorship, job placement, and housing assistance to formerly incarcerated people.

Supports police-community partnerships with civilian oversight.

- Advocates reforming driver’s-license policies tied to debt and reducing employment barriers from unpaid court debt.
- Supports expanding drug courts and mental health courts.
- Advocates eliminating probation supervision and community-service fees.
- Proposes faith-based reentry programs offering mentorship, job placement, and housing assistance to formerly incarcerated people.
- Supports police-community partnerships with civilian oversight.

Public Safety

Push for statewide coverage of mental health counselors in every public school.
Expand access to dental care through Medicaid transformation.
Increase funding for health navigators to help residents access care.

Healthcare Access & Maternal Health | James D. Gailliard

Expand access to dental care through Medicaid transformation.
Increase funding for health navigators to help residents access care.
Defend against proposed federal cuts to SNAP (affecting 1.4 million North Carolinians) and Medicaid that would cost NC $420–700 million annually.

Policy Solutions:
Protect and expand Medicaid expansion that has already enrolled 650,000 North Carolinians.
Advocate for community health centers in underserved areas of District 11.
Support the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative,” expanding doula services and midwifery care covered by Medicaid.

Protect and expand Medicaid expansion that has already enrolled 650,000 North Carolinians.
Advocate for community health centers in underserved areas of District 11.
Support the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative,” expanding doula services and midwifery care covered by Medicaid.

Champion mental health parity and culturally competent care.
Increase investment in mobile health units to serve rural and elderly populations.
Push for statewide coverage of mental health counselors in every public school.

Advocate for community health centers in underserved areas of District 11.
Support the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative,” expanding doula services and midwifery care covered by Medicaid.
Champion mental health parity and culturally competent care.

Support the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative,” expanding doula services and midwifery care covered by Medicaid.
Champion mental health parity and culturally competent care.
Increase investment in mobile health units to serve rural and elderly populations.

Increase funding for health navigators to help residents access care.
Defend against proposed federal cuts to SNAP (affecting 1.4 million North Carolinians) and Medicaid that would cost NC $420–700 million annually.
Partner with churches to provide health education and preventive care outreach, recognizing that caring for the sick is a fundamental Christian calling.

Support mobile food markets serving rural areas, community gardens on church and school grounds, and nutrition education programs.
Advocate for state funding to protect SNAP benefits if federal cuts occur.
Launch a regional food equity task force to combat food deserts.

Food & Nutrition | James D. Gailliard

Establish the “Abundant Life Nutrition Program” combining policy advocacy with community-based solutions.
Support mobile food markets serving rural areas, community gardens on church and school grounds, and nutrition education programs.
Advocate for state funding to protect SNAP benefits if federal cuts occur.

Advocate for state funding to protect SNAP benefits if federal cuts occur.
Launch a regional food equity task force to combat food deserts.
Champion policies supporting local food systems and farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits.

Advocates expanded dental care through Medicaid transformation and more funding for health navigators.

Supports protecting Medicaid expansion and expanding coverage.

Advocates community health centers in underserved District 11 areas and mobile health units for rural and elderly residents.

Supports Medicaid coverage for doula services and midwifery care through the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative.

Advocates mental-health parity and culturally competent care.

Opposes proposed federal cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and Medicaid, and advocates state funding to protect benefits if cuts occur.

Supports mobile food markets, community gardens, nutrition education, and a regional task force to address areas with limited access to healthy food.

- Advocates expanded dental care through Medicaid transformation and more funding for health navigators.
- Supports protecting Medicaid expansion and expanding coverage.
- Advocates community health centers in underserved District 11 areas and mobile health units for rural and elderly residents.
- Supports Medicaid coverage for doula services and midwifery care through the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative.
- Advocates mental-health parity and culturally competent care.
- Opposes proposed federal cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and Medicaid, and advocates state funding to protect benefits if cuts occur.
- Supports mobile food markets, community gardens, nutrition education, and a regional task force to address areas with limited access to healthy food.

Healthcare

Policy Solutions:
Support legislation ensuring full constitutional funding for public schools while maintaining quality school choice options.
Expand the NC Teaching Fellows Program.
Advocate for wraparound services including mental health support, nutrition programs, and after-school care.

Educational Attainment | James D. Gailliard

Support legislation ensuring full constitutional funding for public schools while maintaining quality school choice options.
Expand the NC Teaching Fellows Program.
Advocate for wraparound services including mental health support, nutrition programs, and after-school care.

Champion student debt relief and increased Pell Grant funding for families in District 11, where 86% of Black students take out loans compared to 68% of white students.
Advocate for trauma-informed teacher and counselor-to-student ratio reforms.
Support quality educational options while ensuring public school funding remains strong, recognizing that 64% of African-American voters support expanded Opportunity Scholarships.

Expand the NC Teaching Fellows Program.
Advocate for wraparound services including mental health support, nutrition programs, and after-school care.
Support universal pre-K expansion and community-based early childhood programs.

Advocate for wraparound services including mental health support, nutrition programs, and after-school care.
Support universal pre-K expansion and community-based early childhood programs.
Champion student debt relief and increased Pell Grant funding for families in District 11, where 86% of Black students take out loans compared to 68% of white students.

Support universal pre-K expansion and community-based early childhood programs.
Champion student debt relief and increased Pell Grant funding for families in District 11, where 86% of Black students take out loans compared to 68% of white students.
Advocate for trauma-informed teacher and counselor-to-student ratio reforms.

Supports fully funding public schools while maintaining school-choice options.

Supports expanding the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program and trauma-informed staffing reforms for teachers and counselors.

Advocates for comprehensive student support services and expanded universal pre-kindergarten and community-based early-childhood programs.

Advocates for student-debt relief and increased federal Pell Grant funding.

- Supports fully funding public schools while maintaining school-choice options.
- Supports expanding the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program and trauma-informed staffing reforms for teachers and counselors.
- Advocates for comprehensive student support services and expanded universal pre-kindergarten and community-based early-childhood programs.
- Advocates for student-debt relief and increased federal Pell Grant funding.

Education

As of January 5, 2026, James D. Gailliard’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Policy Solutions:
Make early voting more accessible by funding polling places in rural areas.
Establish automatic voter registration at state agencies.
Support legislation for nonpartisan redistricting.
Invest in civic education starting in middle school.

Civic Participation and Government Accountability | James D. Gailliard

L118: 				HB 743 	H 743 		Require Prepaid Envelope/Absentee Ballots.	
L118: 				House 04/16/2019 Ref to the Com on Elections and Ethics Law, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 	Yes Yes

Representative James D. Gailliard's Introduced Bills - North Carolina General Assembly

Plans to fund rural polling places to make early voting more accessible.

Supports automatic voter registration at state agencies and nonpartisan redistricting legislation.

As a state representative, introduced House Bill 743, requiring prepaid envelopes for absentee ballots.

- Plans to fund rural polling places to make early voting more accessible.
- Supports automatic voter registration at state agencies and nonpartisan redistricting legislation.
- As a state representative, introduced House Bill 743, requiring prepaid envelopes for absentee ballots.

Voting & Elections

YouTube

LinkedIn

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

James D. Gailliard

- Supports expanding drug courts and mental health courts.
- Advocates eliminating probation supervision and community-service fees.
- Proposes faith-based reentry programs offering mentorship, job placement, and housing assistance to formerly incarcerated people.
- Supports police-community partnerships with civilian oversight.

- Supports protecting Medicaid expansion and expanding coverage.
- Advocates community health centers in underserved District 11 areas and mobile health units for rural and elderly residents.
- Supports Medicaid coverage for doula services and midwifery care through the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative.
- Advocates mental-health parity and culturally competent care.
- Opposes proposed federal cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and Medicaid, and advocates state funding to protect benefits if cuts occur.
- Supports mobile food markets, community gardens, nutrition education, and a regional task force to address areas with limited access to healthy food.

James is a senior pastor at Word Tabernacle Church. He previously served as a principal at Impact, a consulting firm, and as a trustee of Elizabeth City State University. He is also the founder and chairman of The REACH Center, Inc. 

James previously served two terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 25. He was first elected in 2018 and served until 2022. He ran for re-election in 2022 but did not win. 

Supports providing state-level tax incentives for small businesses that hire locally and offer apprenticeships.

Supports establishing community-based job training centers in partnership with local churches, providing wraparound services including childcare, transportation, and financial literacy.

Supports advocating for state funding to match federal workforce development grants, ensuring District 11 receives its fair share of the $73 million allocated for community college programs.

Supports creating the “Second Chance Workforce Initiative” to provide skills training and mentorship.

Supports partnering with local colleges to offer debt-free certification programs in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and information technology.

Supports providing tuition-free technical training in high-demand fields such as healthcare and information technology.

Supports mobile food markets, community gardens, and nutrition education programs.

Supports fair housing enforcement and anti-discrimination measures.

Supports creating emergency rental assistance programs and eviction prevention services.

Supports partnering with local churches and nonprofits to provide financial literacy education and home ownership preparation programs.

Supports affordable housing development through public-private partnerships with faith communities.

Supports creating the “Homes and Hope Initiative” to provide down payment assistance.

Supports establishing the “Abundant Life Nutrition Program” to combine policy advocacy with community-based solutions.

Supports police-community partnerships while maintaining accountability through civilian oversight.

Supports eliminating barriers to employment from unpaid court debt.

Supports creating faith-based reentry programs that partner churches with formerly incarcerated individuals to provide mentorship, job placement, and housing assistance.

Supports expanding problem-solving courts, such as drug and mental health courts.

Supports eliminating probation supervision and community service fees.

Supports the establishment of community health centers in underserved areas of District 11.

Supports the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative,” expanding doula services and midwifery care covered by Medicaid.

Supports equal insurance coverage for mental and physical health.

Supports increasing investment in mobile health units to serve rural and elderly populations.

Supports statewide coverage of mental health counselors in every public school.

Supports expanding access to dental care through Medicaid.

Supports increasing funding for health navigators to assist residents in accessing healthcare.

Supports defending against federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.

Supports partnering with churches to provide health education and preventive care outreach.

Supports universal pre-kindergarten programs and community-based early childhood programs.

Supports expanding the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program.

Supports advocating for changes to the teacher and counselor-to-student ratio.

Supports ensuring "full constitutional funding for public schools while maintaining quality school choice options."

Supports student debt relief and increasing Pell Grant funding.

Supports providing additional services for students, such as mental health support, nutrition programs, and after-school care.

Supports quality educational options while ensuring strong public school funding, and recognizes that 64% of African-American voters support expanded Opportunity Scholarships.

Supports environmental justice, saying it is "a sacred responsibility given to us since the Garden of Eden."

Supports making early voting more accessible by funding polling places in rural areas.

Supports establishing automatic voter registration at state agencies.

Youtube

James is a senior pastor at Word Tabernacle Church. He previously served as a North Carolina state representative for House District 25. He is also the founder and chairman of The REACH Center, Inc., and a trustee of Elizabeth City State University. 

James previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 25. He served two terms from 2019 to 2023. He ran for re-election in 2022 but did not win.

Pastor James Gailliard to run for N.C. Senate District 11 | WNCT

Supports policies that endorse local food systems and farmers markets that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Supports partnering with churches to address food insecurity through expanded food pantries, community kitchens, and nutrition education programs.

Supports protecting and expanding Medicaid.

Supports the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Initiative,” which would expand doula services and midwifery care covered by Medicaid.

Wants to increase funding for health navigators to assist residents in accessing care.

Supports protecting North Carolina from federal reductions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.

Supports increasing Pell Grant funding and providing student debt relief.

Supports advocating for reforms in the ratio of teachers and counselors to students, ensuring they are trauma-informed.

Supports providing wraparound services for students, including mental health support, nutrition programs, and after-school care.

Supports ensuring full constitutional funding for public schools while maintaining quality school choice options.

Supports investing in civic education starting in middle school.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Gavin Bell

Lisa Stone Barnes

- Your State Senator participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 50 members of the North Carolina Senate. The North Carolina Senate is the upper house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Senator drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Senator can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Senator is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- The State Senator is elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.

Your representative and state lawmaker in North Carolina Senate.