Erica D. Smith

Erica Danette Smith[1] (born November 24, 1969) is an American engineer and politician who represented District 3 in the North Carolina Senate from 2015 to 2021.[2][3] She was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2020.[4] She finished second in the Democratic primaries on March 3, 2020. She is currently a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2022.[5]

Erica D. Smith
Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 3rd district
In office January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2021
Preceded by	Clark Jenkins
Succeeded by	Ernestine Bazemore
Personal details
Born	Erica Danette Smith November 24, 1969 Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Maud Ingram (Divorced) Kirkland Hicks (Divorced)
Education	North Carolina A&T State University (BS) Howard University (MA)

Early life and education

A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Smith graduated from high school at the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University, and a master's degree in religious studies from Howard University. Smith began her career as a Senior Engineering Specialist for the Boeing Co. Prior to her retirement from the engineering field, she also served as a patent examiner in the Chemical Engineering Technology Center of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.[4]

Political career

North Carolina Senate

A Democrat who was first elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2014,[4] Smith has represented Senate District Three since 2015.[6] Senate District Three includes Beaufort, Bertie, Martin, Northampton, Vance, and Warren Counties.[7] Smith was re-elected without opposition in 2016[8] and defeated Republican Chuck Early in 2018.[9] Smith has co-chaired the Joint Legislative Women's Caucus, served as Chair and Second Vice-Chair of the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus, and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Tech Caucus, Democratic Women's Caucus, Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus Rural Working Group and the NCLBC Agriculture Working Group. Smith served for six years on the Northampton County Board of Education 2008-2014 and in grassroots organizing and community leadership as Democratic Party Chair and First Vice-Chair for Northampton County from 2001 to 2015.[10]

In 2020, Smith published a complaint alleging harassment from other North Carolina state senators.[11] She did not press charges, but argued for a change to the culture of the NC Senate to stop harassment.[12]

2020 United States Senate race

Smith began mapping out her path to the United States Senate at a Congressional Black Caucus “boot camp” Political Training Institute in 2005. She briefly put her plans on hold in 2012 following the death of her 5-year-old son.[13]

In January 2019, Smith announced her candidacy for the United States Senate seat currently held by Thom Tillis. Smith, who currently works as a math instructional specialist, has likened her platform to a six-point lesson plan.[10]

In the Democratic primary, Smith finished second to the winner Cal Cunningham.

2022 United States Senate race

Smith is a candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2022 United States Senate election in North Carolina.[14] She says her campaign will not accept donations from the fossil fuel industry or large corporate PACs.[12]

Other work

Smith is a curriculum and instructional specialist for Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School in Hollister, North Carolina.[12] She was formerly associate pastor at a Missionary Baptist Church.[12]

References

1. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
2. "Smith-Ingram's already notable journey sends her to N.C. Senate". rrdailyherald.com. 2014-05-11. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
3. "North Carolina General Assembly - Senator Erica D. Smith (Democrat, 2017-2018 Session)". Ncleg.net. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
4. Grubb, Tammy (2019-01-17). "Teacher Becomes Third Democrat to Seek Thom Tillis' U.S. Senate Seat in 2020". The Raleigh News and Observer. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
5. EST, Jeffery Martin On 1/27/21 at 9:03 PM (2021-01-27). "Wave of GOP Senate retirements complicates party's path back to a majority". Newsweek. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
6. Matsuoka, Sayaka (December 12, 2019). "UPDATED: NC Democrats moving in on Tillis' Senate seat, new Congressional district". Triad City Beat. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
7. "Senator Erica D. Smith - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly". ncleg.gov.
8. "North Carolina 3rd District State Senate Results: Erica Smith-Ingram Wins". August 1, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2020 – via The New York Times.
9. "Hunter retains district court judge seat". The Warren Record. November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
10. Wiggins, Lori (2019-05-23). "NC senator Erica Smith challenges Thom Tillis' seat in Washington". TheCharlottePost.com. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
11. "NC State Senator Erica Smith accuses fellow lawmakers of harassment, assault, bullying". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
12. "U.S. Senate candidate Erica Smith, a Democrat, running again in 2022". 21 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
13. Yokley, Eli (2019-06-06). "Smith Says She Can Beat Tillis, but Several Democrats are Unsure". Morning Consult. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
14. "Retirements shake up 2022 map as Republican senators eye exits". www.kten.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

External links

• 2020 US Senate campaign website