Jul 30, 2020
Jessica Holmes' mother worked in a meatpacking plant, initially earning $7.25 an hour as she raised five children. Now, the Raleigh lawyer is running for Labor Commissioner, where she would be involved in enforcing safe working conditions in the state's business, including pork and poultry production factories. Holmes grew up near Burgaw in Pender County, then earned bachelor's and law degrees at UNC Chapel Hill. She was elected to the Wake County Commission in 2014 at age 29, the youngest person elected to the board in the state's biggest county.