J.A. Moore - South Carolina State Representative

J.A. Moore is a Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 15, which encompasses Berkeley and Charleston Counties. Born on March 6 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Moore is the son of Ernestine S. and the late James Alexander Moore, Sr., both of whom were active in the civil rights movement in the Lowcountry. He has one child, Mariah Rae.

Moore is a chef and business owner, making history in 2018 as the first chef ever elected to the South Carolina General Assembly. He initially became the first Democrat to represent District 15 when he won his election in 2018 with 52.4% of the vote, defeating incumbent Samuel Rivers Jr. He has been re-elected and currently serves his third term, having assumed office on November 12, 2018.

Education

Moore earned a Culinary Arts Degree from Johnson & Wales University in 2005, which forms the foundation of his unique professional background before entering public service.

Political Experience

Moore serves in several key committee roles, including 1st Vice Chair of the Interstate Cooperation Committee and membership in the Medical, Military, Public, and Municipal Affairs Committee, as well as the Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee.

His legislative priorities include education reform, predatory lending prevention, clean drinking water, veteran's rights, affordable housing, gun control, and reproductive rights. Notably, he passed a bill during his first term to improve mental health resources in schools, earning recognition from "Run for Something" with their 2019 "Getting it Done" award for groundbreaking candidates making a difference in their communities. Moore has gained national visibility through appearances on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, and C-SPAN.