Jess RiveraJess Rivera

Jess Rivera, a Marine Corps veteran and business owner, is running for State Senate District 4 to fight for Eastern North Carolina. Owning and operating a barbershop in downtown Wilson while also working as a barber in Raleigh, Jess sees the economic gap between rural communities and urban centers daily. She is committed to closing that divide by strengthening public schools, expanding affordable health care, and revitalizing innovative infrastructure for Greene, Wayne, and Wilson counties.

EMILYs List recruits, trains and supports Democratic pro-choice women candidates at every level of the ballot. By helping to elect these women to office in 2025 and 2026, we’re not only building a foundation for the future, but we’re also putting strong women in charge of decisions that affect women and families every day — from the legislators who write laws to the attorneys general who defend and enforce them to the secretaries of state who ensure access to the ballot.

Jess Rivera is one of the competitive targets YALLvote has identified in the North Carolina State Senate, which is currently 30R-20D. Click here to donate to Jess Rivera.

Jess Rivera is a Marine Corps veteran and small business owner running for North Carolina State Senate District 4, representing Greene, Wayne, and Wilson Counties. The oldest of six kids in a working-class family, Jess helped support her household starting at 13 and lost her home to foreclosure at 15. At 17 she joined the Marine Corps, serving eight years, including two combat orientation deployments to Iraq. After the Corps, she earned her cosmetology license and, after the pandemic, came home to Eastern North Carolina to open The Garrison Barber & Parlor in downtown Wilson, later expanding with The Garrison Raleigh. She's running against Buck Newton, a career politician who has held his seat for over a decade, because Greene, Wayne, and Wilson Counties deserve a senator who shows up. She swore an oath at 17 to serve her country. She's swearing one now to serve her community.

Jess is an amazing candidate! This district is tricky but not impossible — she needs your help!

Down Home NC members endorse Jessica (Jess) Rivera for NC State Senate District 04 in Wilson County.