James E. Smith Jr.

James E. Smith Jr.
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
In office
June 20, 1996 – January 9, 2019
Preceded byTimothy Folk Rogers
Succeeded bySeth Rose
Personal details
Born
James Emerson Smith Jr.

(1967-09-09) September 9, 1967 (age 57)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mary Kirkland
(m. 1991)
Children4
RelativesJulian Adams II (first cousin)
Elizabeth Nelson Adams (aunt)
Patrick Henry Nelson III (grandfather)
Patrick Henry Nelson II (great-great grandfather)
EducationUniversity of South Carolina,
Columbia
(BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1996–1998 (reserve)
1998–present (national guard)
Rank Major
UnitUnited States Army Reserve
South Carolina Army National Guard
Battles/warsWar 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.