SPOTLIGHT RACE: James Gailliard for NC-SD11
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.
As Senior Pastor of Word Tabernacle Church, Pastor Gailliard has shepherded a ministry that now impacts thousands of families across 35 North Carolina counties and reaches internationally. Under his leadership, the church transformed a former 110,000 sq. ft. Home Depot into a thriving community hub—the largest building re-use project of its kind in North Carolina. This represents more than renovation; it’s community reclamation at its finest.
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.
https://jamesgailliard.com/