Rachel Henderson Hunt (born May 19, 1965) is an American politician. She is a member of the North Carolina State Senate and the lieutenant governor-elect of North Carolina.[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] When she is sworn in on January 1, 2025, Hunt will become the first Democrat elected to the lieutenant governor’s office since Walter Dalton in 2012, The first child of a previous lieutenant governor to hold the same position since Jim Hunt in 1973 and the second female lieutenant governor of North Carolina, after Bev Perdue.
Rachel Hunt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lieutenant Governor-elect of North Carolina | |
| Assuming office January 1, 2025 | |
| Governor | Josh Stein (elect) |
| Succeeding | Mark Robinson |
| Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 42nd district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Jeff Jackson (redistricted) |
| Succeeded by | Woodson Bradley (elect) |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 103rd district | |
| In office January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Brawley |
| Succeeded by | Laura Budd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 19, 1965 Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Olav Nilender |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | |
| Education | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA) University of South Carolina (JD) |
| Website | State Senate website |
Early life and education
editHunt, the daughter of governor Jim Hunt and his wife Carolyn, 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
editElections
editHunt 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
editDespite 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
edit- Agriculture, Energy, and Environment
- Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology
- Judiciary
- Pensions and Retirement and Aging
- 2021–2022 session
- Appropriations
- Appropriations - Education
- Education - Community Colleges (Vice Chair)
- Education - K–12
- Families, Children, and Aging Policy
- Judiciary I
- 2019–2020 session
- Appropriations
- Appropriations - Capital
- Education - Community Colleges
- Agriculture Committee
- Families, Children, and Aging Policy
- Judiciary
Personal life
editHunt 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 gubernatorial campaign
editIn 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.[14]
Electoral history
edit2024
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt | 2,737,528 | 49.44% | |
| Republican | Hal Weatherman | 2,643,943 | 47.75% | |
| Libertarian | Shannon W. Bray | 102,468 | 1.85% | |
| Constitution | Wayne Jones | 53,057 | 0.96% | |
| Total votes | 5,536,996 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
2022
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt | 47,621 | 54.96% | |
| Republican | Cheryl Russo | 39,024 | 45.04% | |
| Total votes | 86,645 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt (incumbent) | 26,818 | 54.93% | |
| Republican | Bill Brawley | 22,008 | 45.07% | |
| Total votes | 48,826 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt | 19,133 | 50.09% | |
| Republican | Bill Brawley (incumbent) | 19,065 | 49.91% | |
| Total votes | 38,198 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
References
edit- ^ "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "NC House Democrats Adcock, Hunt aim to switch to Senate". wcnc.com. November 16, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Morrill, Jim (April 10, 2024). "Jim Hunt's Daughter Tries to Win In a New North Carolina". The Assembly. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ @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.
- ^ "Voter Guide: Rachel Hunt, candidate for NC Senate District 42". News and Observer. October 8, 2022.
- ^ After Recount, Rachel Hunt Wins Mecklenburg NC House Seat
- ^ a b c "Rachel Hunt". Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ "Finances for medical marijuana bill finds approval in North Carolina Senate committee". FOX8 WGHP. February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ "Committees - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ https://x.com/HuntforNC/status/1819106861423251802
- ^ "Education Advocate, Community Leader Rachel Hunt Announces Candidacy for House District 103". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
- ^ "Rachel Hunt's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- ^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- ^ [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
External links
edit
- Senator Rachel Hunt legislative website
- Rachel Hunt for North Carolina campaign website
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