Brian Turner (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = Representative

| image = Brian Turner (politician).jpeg

| name = Brian Turner

| caption =

| state_house = North Carolina

| state = North Carolina

| district = 116th

| term_start = January 1, 2025

| term_end =

| predecessor = Caleb Rudow

| successor =

| term_start1 = January 1, 2015

| term_end1 = January 1, 2023

| predecessor1 = Tim Moffitt

| successor1 = Lindsey Prather (Redistricting)

| party = Democratic

| birth_name = Brian Mills Turner

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Hope Turpin Turner

| profession = Realtor

| residence = Asheville, North Carolina

| website = [https://turnerfornc.com/ Campaign website]

| education = {{ubl|Northwestern University (BA)|Wake Forest University (MBA)}}

}}

Brian Mills Turner is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Turner represented the 116th district (including constituents in western Buncombe County) from 2015 to 2023 and again since 2025.

In November 2021, Turner announced that he wouldn't seek re-election in the 2022 election.{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2021/11/30/nc-house-rep-susan-fisher-brian-turner-wont-seek-reelection/8805894002/|title=Western NC Democratic Reps. Susan Fisher, Brian Turner leaving their House seats|author=Katie Bailey|publisher=www.citizen-times.com|date=November 30, 2021|accessdate=February 5, 2022}}

In 2023, following redistricting, Turner announced he would be seeking election to the newly drawn 116th district.{{cite web | url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2023/11/30/ex-dem-nc-house-rep-runs-again-for-new-asheville-biltmore-district/71733885007/ | title=Ex-NC House member, a Democrat, runs again for new Asheville, Woodfin, Biltmore district }} He was elected to serve in the position again in 2024, facing no primary or general election opposition.{{cite web |last1=Hofmann |first1=Will |title=Buncombe NC House, Senate: Mayfield and 3 Democrats win; State Sen. Daniel beats Ager |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/buncombe-nc-house-senate-races-4-democrats-win-state-sen-daniel-wins/75997397007/ |website=Asheville Citizen Times |publisher=USA Today Network |access-date=21 November 2024}}

Education and professional career

Turner earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Northwestern University in 1996 and a Master of Business Administration from the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}

Before his election to public office, Turner worked as a television producer at MTV, as an executive at his family's manufacturing company, and as vice chancellor at University of North Carolina at Asheville.{{Cite web|url=http://mountainx.com/news/community-news/turner_announces_nc_statehouse_bid_against_moffitt/|title=Turner announces NC Statehouse bid against Moffitt|last=Frankel|first=Jake|date=December 10, 2013|website=Mountain Xpress|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-12}} He currently works as a commercial real estate agent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/696|title=Representative Brian Turner - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly|website=www.ncleg.gov|access-date=2019-02-12}}

Political career

In his first run for elected office in 2014, Turner defeated incumbent representative Tim Moffitt in a hotly contested race.{{Cite web|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2014/11/04/turner-leading-moffitt-partial-returns/18496857/|title=Turner defeats Moffitt for House seat|last=Barret|first=Mark|date=November 4, 2014|website=Citizen Times|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}} He has been re-elected a total of 3 times, most recently in 2020. On November 29, 2021, Turner announced that he would not seek re-election.

In March of 2023, Audubon North Carolina announced Turner would be joining as policy director.{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Ben |title=Former House Rep Brian Turner to Lead Audubon North Carolina’s Policy Work |url=https://nc.audubon.org/press-release/former-house-rep-brian-turner-lead-audubon-north-carolina%E2%80%99s-policy-work |website=Audubon |publisher=National Audubon Society |access-date=21 November 2024}}

In late 2023, following redistricting, Turner announced he would run for the newly drawn 116th district. He was elected in 2024, facing no opposition.

Electoral history

=2024=

{{Election box begin no change

|title = North Carolina House of Representatives 116th district general election, 2024[https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=0&contest_id=1296] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Brian Turner

| votes = 42,815

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 42,815

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

=2020=

{{Election box begin no change

|title = North Carolina House of Representatives 116th district general election, 2020[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/03/2020&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1285] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Brian Turner (incumbent)

| votes = 33,024

| percentage = 61.90%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Eric Burns

| votes = 20,324

| percentage = 38.10%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 55,348

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

=2018=

{{Election box begin no change

|title = North Carolina House of Representatives 116th district general election, 2018[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/06/2018&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1119] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Brian Turner (incumbent)

| votes = 19,571

| percentage = 54.88%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Marilyn A. Brown

| votes = 16,091

| percentage = 45.12%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 35,662

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

=2016=

{{Election box begin no change

|title = North Carolina House of Representatives 116th district general election, 2016[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2016&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1191] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Brian Turner (incumbent)

| votes = 28,014

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 28,014

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

=2014=

{{Election box begin no change

|title = North Carolina House of Representatives 116th district general election, 2014[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/04/2014&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1036] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Brian Turner

| votes = 13,298

| percentage = 51.91%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Tim Moffitt (incumbent)

| votes = 12,321

| percentage = 48.09%