James E. Smith Jr. | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 72nd district | |
| In office June 20, 1996 – January 9, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Timothy Folk Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Seth Rose |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Emerson Smith Jr. September 9, 1967 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Mary Kirkland (m. 1991) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Julian Adams II (first cousin) Elizabeth Nelson Adams (aunt) Patrick Henry Nelson III (grandfather) Patrick Henry Nelson II (great-great grandfather) |
| Education | University of South Carolina, Columbia (BA, JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1996–1998 (reserve) 1998–present (national guard) |
| Rank |  Major |
| Unit | United States Army Reserve South Carolina Army National Guard |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards |  Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart |
James Emerson Smith Jr. (born September 9, 1967) is an American politician who served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1996 to 2019. Smith is a combat veteran and a serving officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard, a small business owner, and a practicing attorney in Columbia, South Carolina.
Smith was the Democratic nominee for Governor of South Carolina in 2018, which he lost to incumbent governor Henry McMaster.