Josh Dobson

Dobson was born on July 19, 1981 in North Carolina. He went to McDowell Technical Community College, where he completed an associate’s degree; Gardner-Webb University, where he got a bachelor’s degree; and Appalachian State University, where he earned a master’s degree in public administration.[1] He was appointed to the North Carolina House of Representatives on January 29, 2013, after Mitch Gillespie resigned.[2] Before becoming a State Representative, Dobson was a county commissioner for McDowell County.[1]

Dobson was unopposed in the Republican primary, and he defeated JR Edwards in the general election.[3]

Dobson was unopposed in both the Republican primary and the general election.[3]

Dobson was unopposed in the Republican primary, and he defeated Howard Larsen in the general election.[3][4]

In May 2019, Dobson decided to run for North Carolina Commissioner of Labor.[5] He defeated Democrat Jessica Holmes in the November 2020 general election.[3][6]

In October 2020, Dobson was accused[7] of embezzlement of North Carolina taxpayer funds through the means of "double-dipping" reimbursements. Since 2017, Dobson had reimbursed himself twice for housing and travel expenses, once from the state and then from his campaign committee funds. In this way, he personally profited from every such expense. The complaint documented over $100,000 in such improper reimbursement expenses that Dobson pocketed.

On Oct. 23,2020, Dobson received notification from the Legislative Ethics Committee that the complaint filed against him was dismissed, though its content was not contested.[8]

Dismissal Letter from Legislative Ethics Committee at the NCGA