Buck Newton
Buck Newton | |
|---|---|
| Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 4th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Toby Fitch |
| Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 11th district | |
| In office January 5, 2011 – January 11, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | A. B. Swindell |
| Succeeded by | Rick Horner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eldon Sharpe Newton III July 5, 1968 Wilson, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Hope |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Appalachian State University (BS) Campbell University (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Eldon Sharpe "Buck" Newton III (born July 5, 1968) is an American lawyer and politician who serves as a Republican state senator in the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's legislature) representing N.C. Senate District 4 (Wilson, Greene, and Wayne counties).[1] Newton originally won a seat in the North Carolina Senate in the 2010 election by defeating the Democratic incumbent, Albin B. Swindell.[2][3]
In 2016, Newton was the Republican nominee for North Carolina Attorney General, losing to Democrat Josh Stein[4] by 25,000 votes, a 0.5% margin.
In 2022, Newton won a seat in North Carolina Senate District 4, defeating incumbent Democrat Toby Fitch by a 16 point margin.[5]
Early life and education
A native of Wilson, North Carolina, Newton graduated from Hunt High School. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Appalachian State University.[6] After college, Newton was an aide to Senator Jesse Helms on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[7]
Newton is a graduate of the Campbell University School of Law. He has practiced law for 16 years at his firm, Newton and Lee, in Wilson.[8]
State office
From 2007-2011, Newton served as the chairman for the Wilson County Republican Party before taking office in the state capital in early 2011, replacing State Senator Albin B. Swindell.[9]
In response to the state's law on LGBT issues Newton, at a conservative rally supporting North Carolina's House Bill 2 (a.k.a. "HB2"),[10] said “Go home, tell your friends and family who had to work today what this is all about and how hard we must fight to keep our state straight.” [11] In a later interview, Newton said his remarks at the rally were intended to mean “keep men out of the ladies’ room.” [12] Newton has also said that "folks that wave the rainbow flags” need to get used to “the way things have always been in this state.” [13]
Newton ran as the Republican candidate for the North Carolina Attorney General election in 2016,[14] but lost to Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee.
He was elected to the State Senate again in 2022, defeating incumbent Senator Toby Fitch.[15]
In 2024, Newton sponsored legislation to prohibit the wearing of masks in public. His legislation made no exception for wearing masks for health reasons.[16]
References
- ^ "North Carolina Senators: 2023-2024 Session". ncleg.gov. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ^ Cooper, Geoffrey (November 3, 2010). "Newton ousts longtime legislator Swindell". Rocky Mount Telegram. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ "2011–2012 Report for Sen. E. S. (Buck) Newton". North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research. Archived from the original on 2013-07-22.
- ^ Campbell, Colin (June 1, 2015). "NC Sen. Buck Newton launches run for attorney general". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ "North Carolina Election Results". The New York Times. 8 November 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ^ "Meet Buck Newton". Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Clifton, Brant (May 31, 2015). "Buck Newton: Our next AG?". The Daily Haymaker. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Johnson, Joe (March 1, 2016). "Legislator Faces Prosecutor in GOP Attorney General Primary". Carolina Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Binker, Mark (June 1, 2015). "State Sen. Buck Newton to run for attorney general". WRAL. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Binker, Mark (April 26, 2016). "Newton says Dems 'a little sensitive' in reaction to HB2 comment". WRAL. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Terkel, Amanda (April 26, 2016). "North Carolina Republican Urges People To 'Keep Our State Straight'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ Bonner, Lynn (April 26, 2016). "GOP candidate criticized for 'keep our state straight' rally comment explains". The News & Observer. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Tesfaye, Sophia (26 April 2016). "North Carolina Republican rallies support for anti-transgender bathroom ban: "Keep our state straight"". Salon. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ Campbell, Colin (June 1, 2015). "NC Sen. Buck Newton launches run for attorney general". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 04 Race - Nov 08, 2022".
- ^ Jallow, Ahmed (2024-05-15). "NC Senate panel approves controversial bill that targets protests, bans masks in public". NC Newsline.