Rachel Hunt

Last updated

Rachel Hunt
Senator Rachel Hunt 2023-25 Legislative Portrait.jpg
Official portrait, 2023
36th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2025
Education University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA)
University of South Carolina (JD)

Rachel Henderson Hunt (born May 19, 1965) is an American politician who has served as the 36th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina since 2025. She previously was a member of the North Carolina State Senate. [1] A Democrat, Hunt was elected in November 2022 to represent the 42nd district based in Mecklenburg County. Before that, Hunt served two terms in the North Carolina House, twice beating Republican Bill Brawley. [2]

Contents

Upon being sworn in on January 1, 2025, Hunt became the first Democrat to hold the lieutenant governor’s office since Walter Dalton left office in 2013. Hunt is the first daughter of a previous lieutenant governor of North Carolina to hold the same position (her father, Jim Hunt, served from 1973-1977). She is also the second female lieutenant governor of North Carolina, after Bev Perdue.

Early life and education

Hunt, the daughter of governor Jim Hunt and Carolyn Hunt, was born on May 19, 1965, in Kathmandu, Nepal, where her father was working for the Ford Foundation at the time. [3] [4] [5] She grew up in rural Wilson County, North Carolina, until her father was elected governor in 1976. [4] An attorney and certified college counselor, she is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of South Carolina School of Law. [6]

Legislative career

Elections

Hunt was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2018, after defeating the incumbent Republican incumbent William M. Brawley. The 2018 race was decided by only 68 votes after being one of the most expensive legislative races in the state that year. [7] Hunt was re-elected in 2020 by 9.86% in a rematch against Brawley. [8] In 2022, Hunt was elected to the North Carolina Senate to replace Jeff Jackson who vacated the seat to run for the United States House of Representatives. [2] On November 8, 2022, Hunt defeated Cheryl Russo in the race to represent the 42nd State district. [8]

Tenure

Despite serving in the minority, Hunt helped pass several pieces of bipartisan legislation including clean energy legislation to cut carbon emissions by 70%. Hunt has also co-sponsored bills to codify Roe v. Wade and expand Medicaid. [3] [9]

Committee assignments

2023–2024 session [8] [10]
2021–2022 session
2019–2020 session

Personal life

Hunt lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is married since August 1, 1994 to Olav Nilender, a physician. [11] Together they have two children. [12] [13]

Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina

Hunt was officially sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina on January 1, 2025. With this position, Hunt is currently the only elected official in North Carolina to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government. [14]

Elections

2024

In 2024, Hunt ran as the Democratic nominee for the office of Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. Endorsed by Governor Roy Cooper, she ran on a platform of expanded funding for public education, increased healthcare access, and assistance to small businesses. In the general election she faced Republican political operative Hal Weatherman. She cast Weatherman as an extremist and opposed more restrictions on abortion, of which Weatherman was in favor. Hunt won the election, becoming the first Democrat to win a North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial race since 2008. [15]

Electoral history

2024

North Carolina Lieutenant Governor general election, 2024 [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rachel Hunt 2,737,528 49.44%
Republican Hal Weatherman2,643,94347.75%
Libertarian Shannon W. Bray102,4681.85%
Constitution Wayne Jones53,0570.96%
Total votes5,536,996 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

2022

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2022 [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rachel Hunt 47,621 54.96%
Republican Cheryl Russo39,02445.04%
Total votes86,645 100%
Democratic hold

2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 103rd district general election, 2020 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rachel Hunt (incumbent) 26,818 54.93%
Republican Bill Brawley 22,00845.07%
Total votes48,826 100%
Democratic hold

2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 103rd district general election, 2018 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rachel Hunt 19,133 50.09%
Republican Bill Brawley (incumbent)19,06549.91%
Total votes38,198 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Hunt</span> American politician

James Baxter Hunt Jr. is an American politician and retired attorney who was the 69th and 71st governor of North Carolina. He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina</span> Second-highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina

The lieutenant governor of North Carolina is the second-highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government. A member of the North Carolina Council of State, the lieutenant governor serves a four-year term with a two consecutive term limit. The current lieutenant governor is Rachel Hunt, a Democrat, who has held the office since 2025. The Constitution of North Carolina designates the lieutenant governor the ex officio president of the State Senate and a member of the State Board of Education. They are also required to serve as acting governor of the state in the event of the governor's absence, and assume the governorship in the event it becomes vacant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Democratic Party</span> Political party in North Carolina

The North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) is the North Carolina affiliate of the Democratic Party. It is headquartered in the historic Goodwin House, located in Raleigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tricia Cotham</span> American politician from North Carolina

Patricia Ann Cotham is an American politician, lobbyist and former schoolteacher. She is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 105th district, based in Mecklenburg County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcia Morey</span> American politician and Olympic swimmer

Marcia Helen Morey is an American politician, former judge and former competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. She competed in the preliminary heats of the women's 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter breaststroke events, recording times of 1:17.30 and 2:41.85, respectively. Morey has represented the 30th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives since her initial appointment in 2017. She has been re-elected to the seat twice, most recently in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Jackson (politician)</span> American politician and attorney (born 1982)

Jeffrey Neale Jackson is an American politician, attorney, and military officer who has served as the 52nd attorney general of North Carolina since 2025. A Southern Democrat, he previously served as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 14th congressional district from 2023 to 2025 and represented the 37th district in the North Carolina Senate from 2014 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosa Gill</span> American politician from North Carolina

Rosa U. Gill is a Democratic former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. She represented the 33rd district from her initial appointment in 2009 until 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William M. Brawley</span> American politician from North Carolina

William M. Brawley is a Republican former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He represented the 103rd district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Bishop</span> American politician (born 1964)

James Daniel Bishop is an American attorney and politician who served as a U.S. representative from North Carolina from 2019 to 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2015 to 2017 and the Mecklenburg County Commission from 2005 to 2009. He served in the North Carolina State Senate from 2017 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert T. Reives II</span> American politician from North Carolina

Robert Tyrone Reives II is an American politician from North Carolina. Originally an Attorney from Durham, North Carolina, Reives was first appointed to the North Carolina House of Representatives in January 2014 and he has subsequently been re-elected 6 times, most recently in 2024. A Democrat, he represents the 54th district which includes all of Chatham County and parts of Randolph County. In December 2020, Reives was elected by his peers as the House Democratic leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2020 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2020, to elect the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Primary elections were held on March 3, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Smith Jr.</span> American politician from North Carolina

Raymond Edward Smith Jr. is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, who represented the 21st district from 2019 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wesley Harris</span> American politician from North Carolina

Wesley Ryan Harris is an American economist, Democratic former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and was the 2024 Democratic nominee for North Carolina State Treasurer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Elmore</span> American politician from North Carolina

Jeffrey Elmore is an American politician and educator who is a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He represented the 94th district from 2013 to 2024. He ran in the 2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Turner (politician)</span> American politician from North Carolina

Brian Mills Turner is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Turner represented the 116th district from 2015 to 2023 and again since 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey Mills</span> American politician from North Carolina

Paul Grey Mills Jr. is an American politician who previously served as a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives representing the 95th district from 2009 to 2013 and again from 2021 to 2025. Mills defeated incumbent Karen Ray in the 2008 primary, and served for 2 terms in the NC House from 2009 until 2013. In 2012, Mills sought the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor, but he lost to eventual winner Dan Forest. Following then incumbent Republican John Fraley's decision not to seek re-election to the state house in 2020, Mills sought election to his old seat and won. Mills ran unsuccessfully for North Carolina's 10th congressional district in 2024, losing the Republican primary to eventual winner Pat Harrigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 North Carolina Council of State elections</span>

The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2024 were held on November 5, 2024, to select the ten officers of the North Carolina Council of State. These elections coincided with the presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the North Carolina General Assembly and top state courts. Primary elections took place on March 5, 2024, for offices for which more than one candidate filed per party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the lieutenant governor of North Carolina. Democratic state senator Rachel Hunt won her first term in office, defeating Republican state official Hal Weatherman. She will succeed Republican incumbent Mark Robinson, who did not seek re-election in order to unsuccessfully run for governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 North Carolina Senate election</span>

The 2024 North Carolina Senate election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect all 50 members to North Carolina's Senate. The election coincided with elections for other offices, including for the U.S. President, U.S. House of Representatives, Council of State, and state house. The primary election was held on March 5, 2024. Ahead of the election, districts were redrawn and passed the General Assembly in Senate Bill 758. Republicans had no change in seats, leaving their supermajority to 30 out of 50 seats. Despite winning a majority of the votes cast, the Democratic Party only won 20 of the 50 seats up for election, although this was likely skewed by the number of uncontested seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodson Bradley</span> American politician (born 1973)

Woodson Bradley is an American politician serving as a member of the North Carolina State Senate since 2025 representing the 42nd district.

References

  1. ↑ "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "NC House Democrats Adcock, Hunt aim to switch to Senate". wcnc.com. November 16, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Sands, Alexandria (October 24, 2022). "Political newcomer fed up with school systems faces House rep in Mecklenburg's tightest Senate race". Axios Charlotte. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Morrill, Jim (April 10, 2024). "Jim Hunt's Daughter Tries to Win In a New North Carolina". The Assembly. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ @huntfornc (May 19, 2024). "This is team Hunt jumping on to wish Rachel a very happy birthday! Celebrate with us and show your support at secure.actblue.com/donate/roedayo…. #ncpol" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ↑ "Voter Guide: Rachel Hunt, candidate for NC Senate District 42". News and Observer. October 8, 2022.
  7. ↑ After Recount, Rachel Hunt Wins Mecklenburg NC House Seat
  8. 1 2 3 "Rachel Hunt" . Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Finances for medical marijuana bill finds approval in North Carolina Senate committee". FOX8 WGHP. February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Committees - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ https://x.com/HuntforNC/status/1819106861423251802
  12. ↑ "Education Advocate, Community Leader Rachel Hunt Announces Candidacy for House District 103". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Rachel Hunt's Biography". Vote Smart . Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt". ltgov.nc.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ Specht, Paul (November 6, 2024). "Democrat Hunt to replace Robinson; new faces emerge in other Council of State races". WRAL-TV. Capitol Broadcasting Company. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  16. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  17. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  18. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  19. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 103rd district
2019–2023		Succeeded by
North Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 42nd district
2023–2025		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
2024 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
2025–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.