Legality of Cannabis by U.S. Jurisdiction

For the comedian and actor, see Jessica Holmes. For the American television presenter and journalist, see Jessica Holmes (television presenter).

Jessica Holmes
Holmes in 2015
18th Auditor of North Carolina
Assumed office
December 16, 2023
GovernorRoy Cooper
Preceded byBeth Wood
Member of the Wake County Board of Commissioners
from the 3rd district
In office
December 1, 2014 – December 1, 2020
Preceded byTony Gurley
Succeeded byMaria Cervania
Personal details
Born1983 or 1984 (age 39–40)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA, JD)

Jessica Holmes (born 1983/1984)[1] is an American attorney and politician who has served as the 18th North Carolina State Auditor since December 16, 2023, having filled the vacancy caused by the resignation of Beth Wood.

Early life and education[edit]

Jessica Holmes grew up in Pender County, North Carolina[2] and was raised by her grandmother. She received her undergraduate and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[3]

Political career[edit]

Holmes was sworn in to her seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners on December 1, 2014.[4] She was unanimously elected chair of the board on December 4, 2017.[2] On December 6, 2017, she announced her intention to resign from the board to accept a job offer, but rescinded her announcement the following day, citing complaints from constituents.[1]

In 2020, Holmes ran for the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Labor as a Democrat, losing to Republican Josh Dobson.[5] In August 2021, she was appointed to the North Carolina Industrial Commission as a deputy commissioner.[6]

In November 2023, Governor Roy Cooper announced Holmes as his pick to finish the term of State Auditor Beth Wood, who resigned, effective mid-December.[7] She was sworn-in on December 16.[8] Holmes is the first Black woman to serve on the North Carolina Council of State.[9]

Electoral history[edit]

2020[edit]

North Carolina Commissioner of Labor general election, 2020[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Josh Dobson 2,726,619 50.83%
Democratic Jessica Holmes 2,637,528 49.17%
Total votes 5,364,147 100%
Republican hold

2018[edit]

Wake County Board of Commissioners 3rd district general election, 2018[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jessica Holmes (incumbent) 299,695 100%
Total votes 299,695 100%
Democratic hold

2014[edit]

Wake County Board of Commissioners 3rd district general election, 2014[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jessica Holmes 176,754 56.35%
Republican Rich Gianni 136,903 43.65%
Total votes 313,657 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Nagem, Sarah (December 7, 2016). "Wake County commissioner Holmes rescinds resignation". The News & Observer. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gargan, Henry (December 7, 2017). "Wake board elects new leader". The News & Observer. p. 3A.
  3. ^ Thomas, Aaron (November 4, 2014). "Local Candidate Spotlight: JESSICA HOLMES". The Nubian. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Kenney, Andrew (December 7, 2014). "Democrats take lead on Wake board". The News & Observer. p. 3N.
  5. ^ Travis, Kari (November 24, 2020). "State Leaders Learn at the Local Level". The McDowell News. Carolina Journal News Service. pp. A1, A4.
  6. ^ "Jessica N. Holmes". Office of the North Carolina State Auditor. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Governor Roy Cooper Appoints Jessica Holmes as North Carolina Auditor
  8. ^ Fain, Travis; Miller, Eric (December 16, 2023). "'Authentic and transparent:' New state auditor sworn in after Beth Wood's guilty plea, resignation". WRAL-TV. Capitol Broadcasting Company. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "The successor to North Carolina auditor Beth Wood is ex-county commission head Jessica Holmes". Associated Press. November 30, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  10. ^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  11. ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  12. ^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

External link[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by Auditor of North Carolina
2023–present 		Incumbent
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Holmes_(politician)