Candidate
James Gailliard
SD 11
Nash, Franklin, Vance
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.
Pastor Gailliard made history as the first person of color elected to represent North Carolina House District 25, serving two terms with distinction. His legislative work focused on the issues that matter most to working families: criminal justice reform, educational equity, and economic opportunity. He brought both pastoral wisdom and policy expertise to Raleigh, serving on critical commissions including the Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice and the DRIVE Task Force for educational inclusion.
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
Principal of Impact
As an inductee of the Morehouse College Board of Preachers and sought-after speaker, Pastor Gailliard brings prophetic clarity to today's challenges. His work has been featured in Facts & Trends, Church Executive, and Business North Carolina.
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
SD 11
NC Senate District 11 encompasses portions of Vance, Nash, and Franklin Counties in North Carolina. While agriculture is a large employer, many residents in these areas are also employed in the manufacturing and retail trades.
Rocky Mount, in Nash County, is one of the most populous towns in this district with over 54,000 residents. Franklin County is home to many small but growing towns such as Franklinton and Youngsville. Vance County, sharing a border with Virginia, is attracting residents and business owners alike to towns such as Henderson.
The counties that comprise Senate District 11 face challenges common to many traditionally rural areas, such as balancing growth with environmental concerns, infrastructure improvements, and healthcare accessibility.
