Charles Graham (American politician)
{{Short description|American politician from North Carolina}}
{{for|the Missouri state senator|Chuck Graham}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Charles Graham
| image = CGraham.jpg
| state_house = North Carolina
| district = 47th
| term_start = January 1, 2011
| term_end = January 1, 2023
| predecessor = Ronnie Sutton
| successor = Jarrod Lowery
| birth_name = Charles Vinson Graham Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|2|26}}
| birth_place = Pembroke, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = University of North Carolina, Pembroke (BS)
Appalachian State University (MEd)
Lehigh University (EdS)
}}
Charles Vinson Graham Jr. (born February 26, 1951) is an American politician who served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 47th district.{{Cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/103039/charles-graham|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|accessdate=August 18, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=http://ncchamber.capwiz.com/ncchamber/bio/id/21133|title = Capwiz is Unavailable}} Graham, a member of the state-recognized Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, was the only Native American who was serving in the General Assembly{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncpublicschools.org/americanindianed/advisory/members/|title=State Advisory Council on Indian Education Members|website=www.ncpublicschools.org|access-date=2019-02-12}} until the election of his successor Jarrod Lowery.{{cite news |last1=Nagem |first1=Sarah |title=Robeson County voters flip NC House seat to GOP; Lowery wins |url=https://borderbelt.org/jarrod-lowery-wins-nc-house-seat/ |access-date=19 April 2023 |work=Border Belt Independent |date=9 November 2022 |quote=Lowery and Graham are both Lumbees, the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River.}}
Career
Graham is a former member of the Election Law Committee in the North Carolina State House of Representatives, and of the Subcommittee on Business and Labor in the North Carolina State House of Representatives. He also now serves on seven legislative committees: he is Vice Chair of the Agriculture committee, he serves on the Appropriations committee, he serves as the vice chair of the committee for Commerce and Job Development, he is a member of the insurance committee, he serves in the Subcommittee on Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety, he serves in the Subcommittee on Education, K-12, and also in the Transportation committee.{{Cite web|title = The Voter's Self Defense System|url = http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/103039/charles-graham#.VniKu8CDGkq|website = Project Vote Smart|access-date = 2015-12-21|language = en-US}}
During the 2016 legislative session, Graham was one of 11 Democrats to vote in favor of the House Bill 2, the controversial "Bathroom Bill."{{Cite web |date=2016-03-30 |title=Eleven Dems Voted for House Bill 2. We Called to Ask Why. |url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/6bdc98dd-5fe8-5c51-afab-dae02fa7d724/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=INDY Week |language=en-us}} In October 2021, Graham issued an apology for voting in favor of the bill.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-07 |title=North Carolina Democratic congressional candidate apologizes for voting for anti-trans "bathroom bill" |url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/10/north-carolina-democratic-congressional-candidate-apologizes-for-voting-for-anti-trans-bathroom-bill/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Metro Weekly |language=en-US}}
=2022 congressional campaign=
On October 5, 2021, Graham announced he was running for Congress in North Carolina's 9th congressional district.{{Cite web |author=Staff report |date=2021-02-15 |title=Lumberton's Rep. Charles Graham announces candidacy for 9th Congressional District |url=https://www.robesonian.com/news/142560/lumbertons-rep-charles-graham-announces-candidacy-for-9th-congressional-district |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Robesonian |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-10-05|title=Home - Charles Graham for Congress|url=https://votecharlesgraham.com/|access-date=2021-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005010818/https://votecharlesgraham.com/|archive-date=2021-10-05}} His campaign video went viral on Twitter, where it received over 5 million views.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/10/06/north-carolina-congressional-campaign-ad-charles-graham-sot-dlt-vpx.cnn|title=North Carolina Congressional candidate's campaign ad goes viral|website=CNN|date=2021-10-06}}
Following redistricting, however, Graham switched to the 7th congressional district.[https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2022/03/10/redistricting-delays-scramble-state-elections Pew: Redistricting Delays Scramble State Elections]
Electoral history
=2022=
{{Election box begin no change|title=United States House of Representatives North Carolina's 7th congressional district Democratic primary election, 2022[https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=05/17/2022&county_id=0&contest_id=2108] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham
| votes = 13,054
| percentage = 31.23%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles E. Evans
| votes = 12,263
| percentage = 29.34%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Steve Miller
| votes = 9,744
| percentage = 23.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Yushonda Midgette
| votes = 6,738
| percentage = 16.12%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 41,799
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = United States House of Representatives North Carolina's 7th congressional district general election, 2022{{cite web |title=11/08/2022 OFFICIAL LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2022&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0|website=North Carolina State Board of Elections}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Rouzer (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 164,047
| percentage = 57.71
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Charles Graham
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 120,222
| percentage = 42.29
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 284,269
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2020=
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2020[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/03/2020&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1216] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham (incumbent)
| votes = 14,470
| percentage = 52.44%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Olivia Oxedine
| votes = 13,126
| percentage = 47.56%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 27,596
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2018=
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2018[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/06/2018&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1050] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham (incumbent)
| votes = 11,496
| percentage = 58.91%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Jarrod Lowery
| votes = 8,018
| percentage = 41.09%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 19,514
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2016=
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district Democratic primary election, 2016[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=03/15/2016&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1364] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham (incumbent)
| votes = 5,634
| percentage = 58.39%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Randall Jones
| votes = 4,015
| percentage = 41.61%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 9,649
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2016[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2016&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1122] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham (incumbent)
| votes = 17,366
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 17,366
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2014=
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2014[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/04/2014&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1199] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham (incumbent)
| votes = 9,978
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 9,978
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2012=
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2012[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/06/2012&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1230] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham (incumbent)
| votes = 18,322
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 18,322
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2010=
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district Democratic primary election, 2010[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/04/2010&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1047] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham
| votes = 4,544
| percentage = 51.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Ronnie Sutton (incumbent)
| votes = 4,358
| percentage = 48.96%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 8,902
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2010[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/02/2010&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1226] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham
| votes = 7,865
| percentage = 66.83%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Brawleigh Jason Graham
| votes = 3,903
| percentage = 33.17%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 11,768
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2008=
{{Election box begin no change|title=North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district Democratic primary election, 2008[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/06/2008&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1041] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Ronnie Sutton (incumbent)
| votes = 6,932
| percentage = 59.53%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Graham
| votes = 4,713
| percentage = 40.47%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 11,645
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://votecharlesgraham.com/ Charles Graham for Congress] campaign website
- [https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/615 Representative Charles Graham] official legislative website
{{CongLinks|votesmart=103039|fec=H2NC09183}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-nc-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Ronnie Sutton}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 47th district|years=2011–2023}}
{{s-aft|after=Jarrod Lowery}}
{{s-end}}
{{North Carolina House of Representatives}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Charles}}
Category:21st-century Native American politicians
Category:Appalachian State University alumni
Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Lehigh University alumni
Category:Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina politicians
Category:Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
Category:Native American state legislators
Category:University of North Carolina at Pembroke alumni
Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly
{{NorthCarolina-politician-stub}}