Rachel Hunt | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| 36thLieutenant Governor of North Carolina | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2025 | |
| Governor | Josh Stein |
| Preceded by | Mark Robinson |
| Member of theNorth Carolina Senate from the42nd district | |
| In office January 1, 2023 – January 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jeff Jackson (redistricted) |
| Succeeded by | Woodson Bradley |
| Member of theNorth Carolina House of Representatives from the103rd district | |
| In office January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Brawley |
| Succeeded by | Laura Budd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1965-05-19)May 19, 1965 (age 59) Kathmandu,Nepal |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Olav Nilender |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Education | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA) University of South Carolina (JD) |
Rachel Henderson Hunt (born May 19, 1965) is an American politician who has served as the 36thLieutenant Governor of North Carolina since 2025. She previously was a member of theNorth Carolina State Senate.[1] ADemocrat, Hunt was elected in November 2022 to represent the42nd district based inMecklenburg County. Before that, Hunt served two terms in theNorth Carolina House, twice defeatingRepublicanBill Brawley.[2]
Upon being sworn in on January 1, 2025, Hunt became the first Democrat to hold the lieutenant governor’s office sinceWalter Dalton left office in 2013. Hunt is the first daughter of a previous lieutenant governor of North Carolina to hold the same position (her father,Jim Hunt, served from 1973–1977). She is also the second female lieutenant governor of North Carolina, afterBev Perdue.
Hunt, the daughter of governorJim Hunt andCarolyn Hunt, was born on May 19, 1965, inKathmandu,Nepal, where her father was working for theFord Foundation at the time.[3][4][5] She grew up in ruralWilson County, North Carolina, until her father was elected governor in1976.[4] An attorney and certified college counselor, she is a graduate of theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and theUniversity of South Carolina School of Law.[6]
Hunt was first elected to theNorth Carolina House of Representatives in 2018, after defeating the incumbent Republican incumbentWilliam 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.[7] Hunt was re-elected in 2020 by 9.86% in a rematch against Brawley.[8] In 2022, Hunt was elected to theNorth Carolina Senate to replaceJeff Jackson who vacated the seat to run for theUnited States House of Representatives.[2] On November 8, 2022, Hunt defeated Cheryl Russo in the race to represent the 42nd State district.[8]
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 codifyRoe v. Wade and expandMedicaid.[3][9]
Hunt served on several committees during her time in theNorth Carolina General Assembly.
During the 2019–2020 state house session, Hunt served on the Appropriations (Capital subcommittee), as well as the Education (Community Colleges subcommittee); Agriculture; Families, Children, and Aging Policy; and Judiciary committees.
During the 2021–2022 state house session, Hunt was on the Appropriations Committee (Education subcommittee). She also served as vice chair of the Education Committee (Community Colleges subcommittee), and was a member of the Education (K–12 subcommittee); Families, Children, and Aging Policy; and Judiciary I committees.[8]
During the 2023–2024 state senate session, she was a member of the Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee; the Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology Committee; the Judiciary Committee; and the Pensions, Retirement, and Aging Committee.[10]
In 2024, Hunt ran as the Democratic nominee for the office ofLieutenant Governor of North Carolina. Endorsed by GovernorRoy 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 consultantHal 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.[11]
Hunt was officially sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina on January 1, 2025. With this position, Hunt is currently the only elected official in North Carolina to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government.[12]
GovernorJosh Stein appointed Hunt to co-chair a new Task Force for Child Care and Early Education in 2025.[13]
Hunt lives inCharlotte, North Carolina. She has been married, since August 1, 1994, to Olav Nilender, a physician.[14] Together they have two children.[15][16]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt | 19,133 | 50.09% | |
| Republican | Bill Brawley (incumbent) | 19,065 | 49.91% | |
| Total votes | 38,198 | 100% | ||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt (incumbent) | 26,818 | 54.93% | |
| Republican | Bill Brawley | 22,008 | 45.07% | |
| Total votes | 48,826 | 100% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Hunt | 47,621 | 54.96% | |
| Republican | Cheryl Russo | 39,024 | 45.04% | |
| Total votes | 86,645 | 100% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| 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% | ||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | ||||
| North Carolina House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theNorth Carolina House of Representatives from the103rd district 2019–2023 | Succeeded by |
| North Carolina Senate | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theNorth Carolina Senate from the42nd district 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of North Carolina 2024 | Most recent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina 2025–present | Incumbent |
Statewide political officials ofNorth Carolina | ||
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| U.S. senators |  | |
| State government | ||
| Senate |
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| House |
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| Supreme Court (elected) | ||