Rachel Hunt
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 42nd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Preceded byJeff Jackson (redistricted)
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 103rd district
In office
January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2023
Preceded byBill Brawley
Succeeded byLaura Budd
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseOlav Nilender
Children2
RelativesJim Hunt (father)
Carolyn Hunt (mother)
EducationUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA)
University of South Carolina (JD)
WebsiteState Senate website

Rachel H. Hunt is a member of the North Carolina State Senate. A Democrat, Hunt was elected in November 2022 to represent Senate District 42 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Prior to that, Hunt served two terms in the North Carolina House, twice beating Republican Bill Brawley.[1] She is the Democratic Nominee in the 2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election.

Biography

Hunt is the daughter of former Governor and First Lady Jim and Carolyn Hunt.[2] 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.[3] Hunt is a mother of two children, and is married to a physician.[4]

Legislative history

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.[2][5]

Committee assignments

[6]

2023–2024 session

2021–2022 session

2019–2020 session

Electoral history

Hunt was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2018, after defeating the incumbent Republican Representative Bill Brawley. The 2018 race was decided by only 68 votes after being one of the most expensive legislative races in the state that year.[8] Hunt was re-elected in 2020 by 9.86% in a rematch against Brawley.[6] In 2022 Hunt was elected to the North Carolina State Senate to replace Senator Jeff Jackson who vacated the seat to run for the United States Senate.[1] On November 8, 2022, Hunt defeated Cheryl Russo in the race to represent the 42nd State Senate district.[6]

2022

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2022[9]
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

North Carolina House of Representatives 103rd district general election, 2020[10]
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

North Carolina House of Representatives 103rd district general election, 2018[11]
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

  1. ^ a b "NC House Democrats Adcock, Hunt aim to switch to Senate". wcnc.com. November 16, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Voter Guide: Rachel Hunt, candidate for NC Senate District 42". News and Observer. October 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Education Advocate, Community Leader Rachel Hunt Announces Candidacy for House District 103". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "Finances for medical marijuana bill finds approval in North Carolina Senate committee". FOX8 WGHP. February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Rachel Hunt". Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "Committees - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. ^ After Recount, Rachel Hunt Wins Mecklenburg NC House Seat
  9. ^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  10. ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  11. ^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
North Carolina House of Representatives Preceded byBill Brawley Member of the North Carolina House of Representativesfrom the 103rd district 2019–2023 Succeeded byLaura Budd North Carolina Senate Preceded byDean Proctor Member of the North Carolina Senatefrom the 42nd district 2023–present Incumbent
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