Richard Burr | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2015 | |
| Chair of theSenate Intelligence Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – May 15, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Dianne Feinstein |
| Succeeded by | Marco Rubio (acting) |
| United States Senator fromNorth Carolina | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | John Edwards |
| Succeeded by | Ted Budd |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen L. Neal |
| Succeeded by | Virginia Foxx |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Mauze Burr (1955-11-30)November 30, 1955 (age 69) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Wake Forest University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Richard Mauze Burr (born November 30, 1955) is an American businessman and politician who served as aUnited States senator fromNorth Carolina from 2005 to 2023. A member of theRepublican Party, Burr was previously a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2005.
Born inCharlottesville, Virginia, Burr is a graduate ofWake Forest University. Before seeking elected office, he was a sales manager for a lawn equipment company.[1] In 1994, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives forNorth Carolina's 5th congressional district as part of theRepublican Revolution.
Burr was first elected to theUnited States Senate in 2004. From 2015 to 2020, he chaired theSenate Intelligence Committee. In 2016, he announced that he would not seekreelection in 2022.[2] Burr temporarily stepped down as chair of the Intelligence Committee on May 15, 2020, amid an FBI investigation intoallegations of insider trading during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[3] On January 19, 2021, the Department of Justice announced that the investigation had been closed, with no charges against Burr.[4]
Burr was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convictDonald Trump ofincitement of insurrection in hissecond impeachment trial.[5]
Burr was born on November 30, 1955, inCharlottesville, Virginia, the son of Martha (Gillum) and Rev. David Horace White Burr. In 1963, He moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina[6][7][8] He graduated fromRichard J. Reynolds High School inWinston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1974 and earned aBachelor of Arts degree in communications fromWake Forest University in 1978.[9] In college, Burr playeddefensive back for theWake Forest Demon Deacons football team.[10] He is a member ofKappa Sigma fraternity.[11]
Before running forCongress, Burr worked for 17 years as a sales manager for Carswell Distributing Company, a distributor of lawn equipment.[1]
In 1992, Burr ran against incumbent RepresentativeStephen L. Neal for the seat in theWinston-Salem-based 5th District and lost.[10] He ran again in1994 after Neal chose not to seek reelection, and was elected in a landslide year for Republicans.[10]
In the House, Burr authored theFDA Modernization Act of 1997.[12] He also helped create the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. In the aftermath of the9/11 attacks, he successfully sponsored amendments to improve defenses againstbioterrorism.[12]
As a representative, Burr co-sponsored, with SenatorKit Bond, an amendment to theEnergy Policy Act of 2003 relaxing restrictions on the export of specific types ofenriched uranium that were first enacted in the Schumer Amendment to theEnergy Policy Act of 1992.[13] The original Schumer amendment placed increased controls on U.S. civilian exports of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium (HEU) to encourage foreign users to switch to reactor-grade low-enriched uranium (LEU) for isotope production. HEU is attractive to terrorists because it can be used to create a simple nuclear weapon, while LEU cannot be used directly to make nuclear weapons. Burr's amendment allowed exports of HEU to five countries for creating medical isotopes.[14][15]
Burr was reelected four times with no substantial opposition.[12]
In July 2004, Burr won the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat vacated byJohn Edwards, who chose to not seek reelection while running forvice president asDemocratic presidential nomineeJohn Kerry'srunning mate in the2004 presidential election.[16]
Burr faced Democratic nomineeErskine Bowles andLibertarian Tom Bailey; he won the election with 52% of the vote.[17] Burr was sworn in to the Senate on January 4, 2005.[18]
Burr defeated the Democratic nominee,North Carolina Secretary of StateElaine Marshall, 55% to 43%.[17] He was the first Republican sinceJesse Helms to be reelected to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina and the first incumbent senator from North Carolina receive a double-digit margin of victory sinceSam Ervin's1968 reelection.[19][20] Burr's win also represented the first time that North Carolina reelected a senator to this seat since Ervin’s 1968 victory, leading Burr to declare "the curse has been broken" on election night; Democrats and Republicans swapped control of the seat five times between 1968 and 2010.[20]
Burr defeated Democratic nomineeDeborah K. Ross, 51% to 45%.[21] Burr was an advisor forDonald Trump's successful2016 presidential campaign.[22]
On July 20, 2016, while campaigning for a third Senate term, Burr announced that he would not seek a fourth term in 2022.[23] He did not seek reelection in 2022.[9]
Burr delivered a farewell address on the Senate floor on December 14, 2022, and his final term expired on January 3, 2023.[24][9] He was succeeded byTed Budd.[25]
In 2007, Burr ran forchair of theSenate Republican Conference, but lost to SenatorLamar Alexander of Tennessee by a vote of 31 to 16.[26][27] In 2009, SenatorJon Kyl of Arizona, the Senate Republican Whip, appointed Burr Chief Deputy Whip in the 111th Congress.[28] In 2007, Burr was named a deputy whip.[12] In 2011, he announced his intention to seek the post ofminority whip, the number two Republican position in the Senate,[29] but he dropped out of the race in 2012.[30]
As of January 2021, Burr's votes aligned with President Trump's positions about 89% of the time.[31] He voted against the majority of his party in about 1.5% of votes.[32] TheAmerican Conservative Union's Center for Legislative Accountability gave Burr a lifetime rating of 84.22.[33]
Burr served as a member of the board ofBrenner Children's Hospital and theWest Point Board of Visitors.[34]
Burr opposed theDISCLOSE Act, which would have required political ads include information about who funded the ad. He supported theU.S. Supreme Court decisionCitizens United, which allowed political action committees to spend an unlimited amount of money during elections so long as they were not in direct coordination with candidates.[35]
During his time in office, Burr was critical offinancial regulations; he strongly opposed, and voted against, theDodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the creation of theConsumer Financial Protection Bureau.[36] In 2018, he voted forlegislation that partly repealed the Dodd–Frank reforms.[31]
In fall 2008, during theGreat Recession, Burr said he was going to an ATM every day and taking out cash because he thought the financial system would soon collapse.[37][38] In 2009, in response to press about his experience, Burr said that he would do the same thing again next time.[39]
Burr was a signatory of theTaxpayer Protection Pledge, vowing to oppose to tax increases for any reason.[40] He opposed raising taxes on businesses or high-income people to fund public services.[35]
In 2013, Burr criticized SenatorTed Cruz and other Republican colleagues for filibustering the passage of the fiscal year 2014 federal budget (thereby precipitating afederal government shutdown) in an effort to defund theAffordable Care Act.[41][42] Burr called the approach of Cruz and allies "the height of hypocrisy" and the "dumbest idea I've ever heard."[41]
Burr opposed ratification of theTrans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)[43] and supported the adoption of theUnited States–Mexico–Canada Agreement.[31]
In March 2015, Burr voted for an amendment to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow employees to earn paid sick time.[44] He opposed raising thefederal minimum wage.[43]
In 2016, Burr supported the privatization ofSocial Security.[35]
Burr was one of 20 senators to vote against theOmnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, a public land management and conservation bill.[45] He supported renewal of the 1965Land and Water Conservation Fund.[46][47]
During his time in office, Burr did not accept thescientific consensus on climate change; he acknowledged thatclimate change is occurring, but expressed doubt that it is caused by human activity.[35][48][49] He opposed regulations to limitgreenhouse gas emissions, and opposed federal grants or subsidies to encourage the productions of renewable energy.[35] In 2015, he voted against a measure declaring that climate change is real and that human activity significantly contributes to it.[50][51] In 2013, Burr voted for a measure expressing opposition to a federaltax or fee on carbon emissions.[52] He voted in favor of theKeystone XL pipeline.[53]
In 2017, Burr voted torepeal theStream Protection Rule as well as rules requiring energy companies to reduce waste, reduce emissions, and disclose payments from foreign governments.[31] In 2019, he voted to repeal anEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule regarding emissions.[31] He supported lowering federal taxes on alternative fuels and the initiation of ahydropower project on theYadkin River inWilkes County, North Carolina.[46] In 2011, Burr voted to abolish the EPA and merge it with theU.S. Department of Energy.[54]
In 2019, Burr and nine Republican colleagues founded the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus, which advocates "market-based approaches" to environmental problems; the caucus is supported by theAmerican Conservation Coalition.[55][56]
In 2017, Burr voted to confirmBetsy DeVos asEducation Secretary; she was confirmed by vote of 51–50, with Vice PresidentMike Pence casting a tie-breaking vote after the Senate deadlocked.[57] DeVos's family donated $43,200 to Burr's 2016 reelection campaign.[58]
Burr typically voted against any increased funding for federal education projects,[59] and in 2016 said he opposed increasingPell Grants and other forms of student financial aid, including new subsidies aimed at helping students refinance their loans.[35] He supported the goals of charter schools and supported legislation requiring public schools to allowschool prayer.[59] He voted for theNo Child Left Behind Act of 2001.[59]
Burr has been described as a foreign policyhawk.[60] In 2002, he voted for theAuthorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution, which authorized theU.S. invasion of Iraq.[61] Burr supported President Bush'stroop surge in Iraq in January 2007, saying that theeffort to counter theinsurgency would increase "security and stability" in Iraq.[12] In February 2019, he voted for a measure disapproving of the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan and Syria.[31] In February 2020, Burr voted against a measure restricting Trump from initiating military action against Iran without congressional approval.[31]
In 2017, Burr co-sponsored theIsrael Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which would have made it a federal crime for Americans toencourage or participate in boycotts againstIsrael andIsraeli settlements in theWest Bank to protest actions of the Israeli government.[62][63]
In 2018 and 2019, Burr opposed legislation to prohibit U.S. arms sales toSaudi Arabia and theUnited Arab Emirates, and to end U.S. military assistance to theSaudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.[31][64]
In 2016, theNational Rifle AssociationPolitical Victory Fund gave Burr an "A+" grade and endorsed him for reelection for backing pro-gun legislation.[65][66] The NRA extensively supported Burr's election campaigns.[67] In the 2016 election, the NRA spent nearly $7 million to support Burr against his Democratic rival Deborah Ross; over his career, Burr received more monetary support from the NRA than almost any other member of Congress[67] Burr used the same media consultant as the NRA for his political ads.[68]
In 2013, Burr voted againstgun control measures, includingextended background checks to internet and gun show weapons purchases[69][70] and anassault weapons ban.[71] He sponsored legislation to stop theDepartment of Veterans Affairs from adding the names of veterans to theNational Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) if the department had assigned a financial fiduciary to take care of the veteran's finances due to mental incompetence, unless a judge or magistrate deemed them a danger. People added to the NICS system are normally barred from purchasing or owning a firearm.[72] Burr voted against SenatorDianne Feinstein's "no fly no buy" bill,[69][73][74] but supported a Republican alternative measure written by SenatorJohn Cornyn (R-Texas) which proposed a 72-hour delay on gun sales to people whose names have been on a federal terror watch list within the past five years."[69]
Speaking privately on the topic of guns to a group of Republican volunteers inMooresville, North Carolina, Burr joked that a magazine cover ofHillary Clinton ought to have had a bullseye on it.[75] He quickly apologized for the comment.[76]
In 2022, Burr was one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which involved a red flag provision, a support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, stronger background checks for buyers under the age of 21, and penalties for straw purchases.[77]
Burr voted against theAffordable Care Act (ACA) in December 2009,[78] and against theHealth Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.[79] In 2014, Burr and SenatorOrrin Hatch sponsored the Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility and Empowerment Act, which would have repealed and replaced the ACA.[80] In 2017, Burr voted for theRepublican legislation to replace major parts of the ACA; the legislation failed in the Senate on a 50–49 vote.[31]
In 2012, Burr co-sponsored a plan to overhaul Medicare; his bill would have raised the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 over time and shifted more seniors to private insurance.[81][82] The proposal would have begun "a transition to a system dominated by private insurance plans."[83]
Burr opposed legislation to allow theFood and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate thetobacco industry, which is economically important in North Carolina,[84] and unsuccessfully tried tofilibuster theFamily Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009.[60] In 2010, he introduced the National Uniformity for Food Act, a unsuccessful piece of legislation that would have banned states from forcing manufacturers to include labels other than those required by the FDA on consumables and health and beauty products.[85]
In 2018, Burr voted in favor oflegislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.[31] He supported parental notification laws and efforts to restrict federal funding ofPlanned Parenthood.[86] He voted to define a pregnancy as carrying an "unborn child" from the moment of conception.[87] He voted to prevent minors who have crossed state lines from getting an abortion, as well as to ensure parents are notified if their child does get an abortion.[88][89] He voted to extend the federal prohibition on tax dollars being used for abortions by preventing theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services from giving grants to any organization that performs abortions at any of its locations.[90]
Burr opposed the legalization of cannabis for bothmedical andrecreational use. He stated that there should be greater enforcement of current anti-cannabis federal laws in all states, even when cannabis is legal as a matter of state law.[35][91]
Burr voted for theDon't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, the only Southern Republican senator to do so.[92][93][94][95][96][97] The bill repealed the Defense Department'sdon't ask, don't tell policy of employment discrimination against openly gay individuals. Burr andJohn Ensign were the only senators who voted against cloture but for passage;[98] Burr said he opposed taking up the issue of DADT repeal amid wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but voted in favor of the bill anyway, becoming one of eight Republicans who backed the final repeal bill.[95]
Burr supported aconstitutional ban on same-sex marriage,[99] but in 2013 said that he believedthe law on same-sex marriage should be left to the states.[100] In 2013, he voted against theEmployment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill to extendfederal employment discrimination protections to LGBT persons.[99][101] In 2015, Burr was one of 11 Senate Republicans to vote in favor of allowing same-sex spouses to have access to federal Social Security and veterans' benefits.[102][103]
Burr supported policies to regulate bathroom access according tosex listed on birth certificates, but sought to distance himself fromH.B. 2, North Carolina's controversial "bathroom legislation".[43][104][105]
Burr voted to reauthorize theViolence Against Women Act in 2013.[106]
Burr voted against earmarking money for programs aimed at reducing teen pregnancy[107] He has stated he supports giving employers the right to restrict access to birth control coverage of employees if it is for moral reasons.[35]
In December 2018, Burr was one of 12 Republican senators to vote against thecloture motion on theFirst Step Act, a criminal justice reform measure altering federal sentencing laws,[108][109] but ultimately voted for the law.[31]
In 2022, Burr was one of 12 Republican senators to vote in support of theRespect for Marriage Act.[110]
In 2016, Burr and other Republican senators opposed holding a nomination hearing for JudgeMerrick Garland, whomPresident Obama nominated to fill a vacancy on theSupreme Court of the United States; he also refused to have a customary meeting with Garland.[111] In 2016, Burr blocked consideration of Obama's nomination ofPatricia Timmons-Goodson to fill an 11-year vacancy onU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.[112][111] He expressed pride that his actions preventing Timmons-Goodson's confirmation created the longest federal court bench vacancy in U.S. history.[75]
In 2016, Burr said he would attempt to block any future Supreme Court nominations made bythen-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton if she won the presidency in 2016, adding, "I am going to do everything I can do to make sure four years from now, we still got an opening on the Supreme Court."[75][113]
Burr voted to confirm Trump's Supreme Court nomineesNeil Gorsuch andBrett Kavanaugh.[31] Two days beforeChristine Blasey Ford was scheduled to testify before the Senate, Burr issued a statement supporting Kavanaugh's nomination despite her testimony. Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were high-school students.[114][115]
In 2015, as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr proposed a five-year extension of thePatriot Act, which was set to expire in May 2015.[116] Though he originally supported legislation which would reauthorize Patriot Act programs without any reforms,[116] he later softened his position in light of House opposition.[117] Burr was a prominent advocate of retaining language in any reauthorizing legislation to allow theNational Security Agency to continue bulk collection of metadata of private telephone records.[117] Ultimately, the Senate rejected controversial amendments in line with Burr's proposals introduced by then-Senate Majority LeaderMitch McConnell,[118] and Congress passed theUSA Freedom Act, signed into law in June 2015, which instead allowed the NSA to subpoena the data from telephone companies.[119][120][121]
In 2016, after theFBI–Apple encryption dispute, Burr and SenatorDianne Feinstein circulated a draft bill (which was subsequently leaked) that would create a "backdoor" mandate, requiring technology companies to design encryption so as to provide law enforcement with user data in an "intelligible format" when required to do so by court order.[122][123][124][125]
Burr was a national security adviser to the Trump campaign.[60] He stated that Trump "aligns perfectly" with the Republican Party. When asked on the campaign trail about Trump's offensive remarks about women, Burr said Trump should be forgiven a few mistakes and given time to change.[75]
In 2017, Burr said of Trump'sfiring of FBI DirectorJames Comey, "I have found Director Comey to be a public servant of the highest order."[126]
As chair of theUnited States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Burr led that chamber's investigation intoRussian interference in the 2016 United States elections.[60] In March 2017, Comey briefed congressional leaders and Intelligence Committee heads on the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the election. That briefing included "an identification of the principal U.S. subjects of the investigation." TheMueller report found that Burr had then corresponded with the Trump White House a week later about the Russia probes, with theWhite House Counsel's office, led byDon McGahn, apparently receiving "information about the status of the FBI investigation."[127]
In December 2019, amid animpeachment inquiry into Trump over theTrump–Ukraine scandal (Trump's request that Ukraine announce an investigation into his political rivalJoe Biden), Burr pushed thedebunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election. Burr said, "There's no difference in the way Russia put their feet, early on, on the scale—being for one candidate and everybody called it meddling—and how the Ukrainian officials did it."[128] DuringTrump's first impeachment trial, Burr said he would oppose removing Trump from office even if aquid pro quo was confirmed.[129] He opposed calling Trump's former National Security AdviserJohn Bolton as a witness at the Senate trial; Bolton had written that Trump had tied U.S. security aid to Ukraine to the country's taking action against Biden.[129] Burr voted to acquit Trump on the two charges ofobstruction of Congress andabuse of power.[31]
On February 9, 2021, Burr voted against the constitutionality ofTrump's second impeachment trial.[130] Nevertheless, on February 13, Burr was one of seven Republicans to vote to convict. On February 16, theNorth Carolina Republican Partycensured him for the vote.[131]
On August 13, 2024, despite having voted to impeach him, Burr said he plans to vote for Trump for president in November.[132]
In early February 2020, just before theCOVID-19 market crash, Burr sold more than $1.6 million of stock in 33 transactions during a period when, as head of theSenate Intelligence Committee, he was being briefed daily regarding potential health threats from COVID-19.[133][134][135] He sold 95% of the holdings in his Individual Retirement Account (IRA).[136] According to the FBI, Burr's sales six days before "a dramatic and substantial" downturn in the stock market allowed him to profit more than $164,000 and avoid $87,000 in losses.[136] The stocks sold included several considered vulnerable to economic downturns, such as hotel chains.[134] Burr's brother-in-law Gerald Fauth also subsequently sold stocks; according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Burr had a 50-second phone conversation with Fauth in February 2020, immediately after which Fauth sold shares.[137][133]
On March 19, before Burr's stock trades were publicly known,NPR reported Burr had warned a private organization in North Carolina on February 27 about the dangers of the virus, likely containment steps, and their extreme economic impacts on stocks and businesses, just two weeks after the stock sale.[138] The advice contradicted his comments in aFox News op-ed withLamar Alexander on February 7. The organization he spoke to was Tar Heel Circle, a nonpartisan club of businesses and organizations that costs between $500 and $10,000 to join and assures members "enjoy interaction with top leaders and staff from Congress, the administration, and the private sector."[139]
Later on March 19, the nonprofit investigative organizationProPublica broke news of Burr's stock transactions.[140] When asked for comment, a spokesperson first "express[ed] displeasure with NPR's earlier characterizations” of the February 27 Tar Heel Circle event, and later added, "As the situation continues to evolve daily, he has been deeply concerned by the steep and sudden toll this pandemic is taking on our economy."[139] TheRaleigh News & Observer editorial board criticized Burr's conduct: "Burr had a clear grasp of the danger ahead. Why did he only share it with a group whose member companies… contributed more than $100,000… to Burr’s last re-election campaign? Why didn’t Burr provide his assessment to all the constituents he is supposed to serve, as well as the national media?"[141] Fox News punditTucker Carlson called for Burr's resignation in the face of the allegations.[142]
TheDepartment of Justice, in coordination with theSecurities and Exchange Commission, launched a formal probe into the stock sales made during the early days of the coronavirus epidemic by several legislators, including Burr.[143] Burr was also sued by a shareholder for alleged STOCK Act violations.[144][145]
On May 13, the FBI served a search warrant on Burr at his Washington residence and seized his cellphone.[146] He temporarily stepped down as chair of the Intelligence Committee the next day, taking effect on May 15.[3][147]
On January 19, 2021, the last full day of the Trump administration,[4] the Justice Department informed Burr that it would not pursue charges against him.[4]
The FBI's search warrant affidavit was partially unsealed in September 2022, after litigation by theLos Angeles Times and theReporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.[136]
Burr was one of only three senators to oppose theSTOCK Act of 2012, which prohibits members of Congress and congressional staff fromusing nonpublic information in securities trading.[134]
On May 28, 2021, Burr abstained from voting on the creation of an independent commission to investigate theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack.[148]
In 2025, Burr introducedTulsi Gabbard at her confirmation hearing to beDirector of National Intelligence, his first visit to the Capitol since his term ended.[150]
Burr's car, a 1973Volkswagen Thing, is "something of a local celebrity" on Capitol Hill.[151] Burr has a known aversion to reporters, once even climbing out of his office window while carrying his dry cleaning to avoid them.[60] Burr is a member of theUnited Methodist Church.[152]
Burr has been married to Brooke Fauth Burr, a real estate agent, since 1984, and they have two sons, Tyler and William.[153][6] Both work for tobacco companies.[154] He is a distant relative of 19th century vice-presidentAaron Burr, as a descendant of one of Aaron Burr's brothers.[155]
Post-Congressionalcareer
Upon leaving Congress, Burr took a job at law firmDLA Piper as a principal policy advisor and chair of the Health Policy Strategic Consulting Practice.[156]
| Year | Democratic | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Stephen L. Neal | 117,835 | 53% | Richard Burr | 102,086 | 46% | Gary Albrecht | Libertarian | 3,758 | 2% | |||||||
| 1994 | A. P. "Sandy" Sands | 63,194 | 43% | Richard Burr | 84,741 | 57% | |||||||||||
| 1996 | Neil Grist Cashion Jr. | 74,320 | 35% | Richard Burr | 130,177 | 62% | Barbara J. Howe | Libertarian | 4,193 | 2% | Craig Berg | Natural Law | 1,008 | <1% | |||
| 1998 | Mike Robinson | 55,806 | 32% | Richard Burr | 119,103 | 68% | Gene Paczelt | Libertarian | 1,382 | 1% | |||||||
| 2000 | (no candidate) | Richard Burr | 172,489 | 93% | Steven Francis LeBoeuf | Libertarian | 13,366 | 7% | |||||||||
| 2002 | David Crawford | 58,558 | 30% | Richard Burr | 137,879 | 70% |
| Year | Democratic | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd party | Party | Votes | Pct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Erskine Bowles | 1,632,527 | 47% | Richard Burr | 1,791,450 | 52% | Tom Bailey | Libertarian | 47,743 | 1% | ||
| 2010 | Elaine Marshall | 1,145,074 | 43% | Richard Burr | 1,458,046 | 55% | Mike Beitler | Libertarian | 55,682 | 2% | ||
| 2016 | Deborah Ross | 2,128,165 | 45% | Richard Burr | 2,395,376 | 51% | Sean Haugh | Libertarian | 167,592 | 4% |
| 2004 U.S. Senate Republican primary election in North Carolina | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +% |
| Republican | Richard Burr | 302,319 | 88% | |
| Republican | John Ross Hendrix | 25,971 | 8% | |
| Republican | Albert Lee Wiley Jr. | 15,585 | 5% | |
| 2016 U.S. Senate Republican primary election in North Carolina | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +% |
| Republican | Richard Burr (inc.) | 627,263 | 61% | |
| Republican | Greg Brannon | 257,296 | 25% | |
| Republican | Paul Wright | 86,933 | 9% | |
| Republican | Larry Holmquist | 50,500 | 5% | |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's 5th congressional district 1995–2005 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromNorth Carolina (Class 3) 2004,2010,2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Senate Republican Chief Deputy Whip 2009–2013 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 3) from North Carolina 2005–2023 Served alongside:Elizabeth Dole,Kay Hagan,Thom Tillis | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theSenate Veterans' Affairs Committee 2007–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theSenate Intelligence Committee 2015–2020 | Succeeded by Marco Rubio Acting |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theSenate Health Committee 2021–2023 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Senator | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Senator | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Senator |
 | ||
| Class 2 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
