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 by	Timothy Folk Rogers
Succeeded by	Seth Rose
Personal details
Born	James Emerson Smith Jr. (1967-09-09) September 9, 1967 (age 56) 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.