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Rachel Hunt

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For the American bookbinder and book collector, see Rachel McMasters Miller Hunt.

Rachel Hunt
Lieutenant Governor-elect of North Carolina
Assuming office
January 2025
GovernorJosh Stein (elect)
SucceedingMark Robinson
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 42nd district
Incumbent
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
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Kathmandu, Kingdom of Nepal
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 (born 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. Prior to 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 in 12 years since Walter Dalton, and the second female lieutenant governor of North Carolina, after Bev Perdue.

Early life and education

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Hunt, the daughter of governor Jim Hunt and his wife Carolyn, was born in 1965 in Kathmandu, Nepal, where her father was working for the Ford Foundation at the time.[3][4] 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.[5]

Legislative career

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Elections

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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.[6] Hunt was re-elected in 2020 by 9.86% in a rematch against Brawley.[7] In 2022, Hunt was elected to the North Carolina Senate to replace Jeff Jackson who vacated the seat to run for the United States Senate.[2] On November 8, 2022, Hunt defeated Cheryl Russo in the race to represent the 42nd State district.[7]

Tenure

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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][8]

Committee assignments

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2023–2024 session[7][9]
  • 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

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Hunt lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is married to Olav Nilender, a physician. Together they have two children.[10][11]

Lieutenant gubernatorial campaign

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Main article: 2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election

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.[12]

Electoral history

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2024

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North Carolina Lieutenant Governor general election, 2024[13]
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

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North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2022[14]
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

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North Carolina House of Representatives 103rd district general election, 2020[15]
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

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North Carolina House of Representatives 103rd district general election, 2018[16]
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

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  1. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "NC House Democrats Adcock, Hunt aim to switch to Senate". wcnc.com. November 16, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Voter Guide: Rachel Hunt, candidate for NC Senate District 42". News and Observer. October 8, 2022.
  6. ^ After Recount, Rachel Hunt Wins Mecklenburg NC House Seat
  7. ^ a b c "Rachel Hunt". Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "Finances for medical marijuana bill finds approval in North Carolina Senate committee". FOX8 WGHP. February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  9. ^ "Committees - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  10. ^ "Education Advocate, Community Leader Rachel Hunt Announces Candidacy for House District 103". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rachel Hunt's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  14. ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  15. ^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  16. ^ [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rachel Hunt.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
2024 		Most recent
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–present 		Incumbent
Flag of North CarolinaPolitician icon

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