Luke Farley
{{short description|American politician from North Carolina}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Luke Farley
| image =
| caption =
| office = 20th Labor Commissioner of North Carolina
| governor = Josh Stein
| term_start = January 1, 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Josh Dobson
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1985}}
| birth_place = Jacksonville, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| children = 3
| residence = Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
| party = Republican
| education = University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA)
Wake Forest University (JD)
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|lawyer}}
}}
Luke Farley (born 1985) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 19th and current North Carolina Commissioner of Labor since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he supports right-to-work laws, vocational education and apprenticeship programs, while opposing vaccination mandates for workers.{{cite news |date=2024-09-17 |title=Labor candidate: North Carolina faces challenges keeping workers safe |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/article292610649.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |newspaper=The Charlotte Observer}}
Early life and career
Farley was born in 1986 in Jacksonville, North Carolina and was raised in Onslow County. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law.{{cite web |title=Meet Luke Farley |url=https://www.luke4labor.com/about |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=luke4labor.com}}
Before running for office, Farley worked as an OSHA attorney in private practice for over 14 years.{{cite web |last=Matsuoka |first=Sayaka |title=NC Commissioner of Labor Race |url=https://triad-city-beat.com/2024-elections-your-guide-to-the-nc-commissioner-of-labor-candidates/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |newspaper=Triad City Beat |date=2024}}
North Carolina Labor Commissioner
{{main|2024 North Carolina Council of State elections}}
In October 2023, Farley declared his candidacy for North Carolina commissioner of labor after incumbent commissioner Josh Dobson announced he wouldn't seek re-election.{{cite web |title=Farley formally enters that GOP race for Labor Commissioner |url=https://www.ncpoliticalnews.com/news/farley-formally-enters-that-gop-race-for-labor-commissioner |publisher=NC Political News |access-date=2023-10-19 |date=2023-07-24}} In March 2024, he defeated several candidates in the Republican primary, including state representative Jon Hardister.{{cite news |title=Two NC House Republicans look to succeed Dobson |url=https://nsjonline.com/article/2022/12/two-nc-house-republicans-look-to-succeed-dobson/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |newspaper=North State Journal |date=2022-12-21}} Farley was endorsed during the primary by former Labor commissioner Cherie Berry, while Hardister was endorsed by commissioner Josh Dobson.{{cite web |title=Current and recent North Carolina labor commissioners back rival GOP candidates for the job |url=https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-election-labor-commissioner-endorsements-be11a2c10e36e3340374f1d20275098c |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=2025-01-12 |date=2023-08-02}}{{cite web |title=North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson endorses state Rep. Hardister to succeed him |url=https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-election-labor-commissioner-endorsement-cb2b6ce3edc179be315c61faebaa73b2 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=2023-10-19 |date=2023-07-26}}
Farley went on to face former Charlotte city councilman Braxton Winston in the 2024 North Carolina commissioner of labor election.{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Steve |title=Braxton Winston to run for NC labor commissioner in 2024; won't seek another City Council term |url=https://www.wfae.org/politics/2023-04-29/braxton-winston-to-run-for-nc-commissioner-of-labor-in-2024-wont-seek-another-city-council-term |publisher=WFAE |access-date=2023-10-19 |date=2023-04-29}} Winston campaigned on progressive issues and increasing the minimum wage while Farley supported increasing occupational safety and health as well as his "Make Elevators Great Again" program.{{cite news |last=Gleason |first=Sarah |date=2024-09-17 |title=North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson endorses state Rep. Hardister to succeed him |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/elections/2024/09/17/north-carolina-labor-commissioner-candidates/73983267007/ |newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times |access-date=2025-01-12}}{{cite web |last=Sands |first=Alexandria |date=2024-03-13 |title=Braxton Winston faces Luke Farley in election to protect NC workers and business |url=https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2024/03/13/braxton-winston-faces-luke-farley-in-election-to-protect-nc-workers-and-business |publisher=Axios |access-date=2025-01-12}} Farley received the endorsement of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce during the race{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Ames |date=2024-06-27 |title=How can NC protect worker lives? Labor commissioner candidates offer different answers. |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article289578912.html |newspaper=The Charlotte Observer |access-date=2025-01-12}} and defeated Winston in the general election by over 300,000 votes.{{cite news |last=Ablon |first=Matthew |date=2024-11-06 |title=Republican Luke Farley projected winner of North Carolina Labor Commissioner race |url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/elections/elections-2024-candidates-nc-labor-commissioner/275-29928f99-ca1c-4c44-ac56-467a2757d1b5 |publisher=WCNC-TV |access-date=2025-01-12}}{{cite web |date=2024-11-06 |title=Republican Luke Farley is NC’s new commissioner of labor |url=https://nsjonline.com/article/2024/11/republican-luke-farley-is-ncs-new-commissioner-of-labor/ |newspaper=North State Journal |access-date=2025-01-12}}{{cite web |last=Zehnder |first=Katherine |date=2024-11-12 |title=Farley announces key staff, Cooper appoints interim Labor Commissioner |url=https://www.carolinajournal.com/farley-announces-key-staff-cooper-appoints-interim-labor-commissioner/ |publisher=The Carolina Journal |access-date=2025-01-12}}
On January 1, 2025, Farley was sworn in as the 19th Labor commissioner of North Carolina.{{cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=New NC Commissioner of Labor sworn in |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/new-nc-commissioner-of-labor-sworn-in/vi-AA1wS90y |publisher=MSN |access-date=2025-01-12}}{{cite press release |last=Haigwood |first=Jennifer |date=2024-12-11 |title=Labor Commissioner-elect Farley Announces Government Affairs Team |url=https://www.labor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/12/11/labor-commissioner-elect-farley-announces-government-affairs-team |access-date=2025-01-12 |publisher=North Carolina Department of Labor}}
Personal life
Farley is a religious Christian. He is married to his wife; they have three sons and live in Raleigh, North Carolina.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Current North Carolina statewide political officials}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farley, Luke}}
Category:People from North Carolina
Category:21st-century American politicians