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Buck Newton

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Buck Newton
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Preceded byToby Fitch
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 11th district
In office
January 5, 2011 – January 11, 2017
Preceded byA. B. Swindell
Succeeded byRick Horner
Personal details
Born
Eldon Sharpe Newton III

(1968-07-05) July 5, 1968 (age 56)
Wilson, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseHope
Children3
Residence(s)Wilson, North Carolina
Alma materAppalachian State University (BS)
Campbell University (JD)
OccupationAttorney

Eldon Sharpe "Buck" Newton III (born July 5, 1968) is an American lawyer and politician who serves as a Republican state senator in the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's legislature) representing N.C. Senate District 4 (Wilson, Greene and Wayne counties).[1] Newton originally won a seat in the North Carolina Senate in the 2010 election by defeating the Democratic incumbent, Albin B. Swindell.[2][3]

In 2016, Newton was the Republican nominee for North Carolina Attorney General, losing to Democrat Josh Stein[4] by 25,000 votes, a 0.5% margin.

In 2022, Newton won a seat in North Carolina Senate District 4, defeating incumbent Democrat Toby Fitch by a 16 point margin.[5]

Early life and education

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A native of Wilson, North Carolina, Newton graduated from Hunt High School. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Appalachian State University.[6] After college, Newton was an aide to Senator Jesse Helms on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[7]

Newton is a graduate of the Campbell University School of Law. He has practiced law for 16 years at his firm, Newton and Lee, in Wilson.[8]

State office

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From 2007 to 2011, Newton served as the chairman for the Wilson County Republican Party before taking office in the state capital in early 2011, replacing State Senator Albin B. Swindell.[9]

In response to the state's law on LGBT issues Newton, at a conservative rally supporting the North Carolina's House Bill 2 (a.k.a. "HB2"),[10] said “Go home, tell your friends and family who had to work today what this is all about and how hard we must fight to keep our state straight.” [11] In a later interview, Newton said his remarks at the rally were intended to mean “keep men out of the ladies’ room.” [12] Newton has also said that "folks that wave the rainbow flags” need to get used to “the way things have always been in this state.” [13]

Newton ran as the Republican candidate for the North Carolina Attorney General election in 2016,[14] but lost to Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee.

He was elected to the State Senate again in 2022, defeating incumbent Senator Toby Fitch.[15]

In 2024, Newton sponsored legislation to prohibit the wearing of masks in public. His legislation made no exception for wearing masks for health reasons.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "North Carolina Senators: 2023-2024 Session". ncleg.gov. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Cooper, Geoffrey (November 3, 2010). "Newton ousts longtime legislator Swindell". Rocky Mount Telegram. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "2011–2012 Report for Sen. E. S. (Buck) Newton". North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research. Archived from the original on 2013-07-22.
  4. ^ Campbell, Colin (June 1, 2015). "NC Sen. Buck Newton launches run for attorney general". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  5. ^ "North Carolina Election Results". The New York Times. 8 November 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "Meet Buck Newton". Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  7. ^ Clifton, Brant (May 31, 2015). "Buck Newton: Our next AG?". The Daily Haymaker. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  8. ^ Johnson, Joe (March 1, 2016). "Legislator Faces Prosecutor in GOP Attorney General Primary". Carolina Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  9. ^ Binker, Mark (June 1, 2015). "State Sen. Buck Newton to run for attorney general". WRAL. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  10. ^ Binker, Mark (April 26, 2016). "Newton says Dems 'a little sensitive' in reaction to HB2 comment". WRAL. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  11. ^ Terkel, Amanda (April 26, 2016). "North Carolina Republican Urges People To 'Keep Our State Straight'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  12. ^ Bonner, Lynn (April 26, 2016). "GOP candidate criticized for 'keep our state straight' rally comment explains". The News & Observer. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  13. ^ Tesfaye, Sophia (26 April 2016). "North Carolina Republican rallies support for anti-transgender bathroom ban: "Keep our state straight"". Salon. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  14. ^ Campbell, Colin (June 1, 2015). "NC Sen. Buck Newton launches run for attorney general". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  15. ^ "Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 04 Race - Nov 08, 2022".
  16. ^ Jallow, Ahmed (2024-05-15). "NC Senate panel approves controversial bill that targets protests, bans masks in public". NC Newsline.
[edit]
Party political offices
Vacant
Title last held by
Bob Crumley 		Republican nominee for Attorney General of North Carolina
2016 		Succeeded by
Jim O'Neill
North Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 11th district
2011–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 4th district
2023–present 		Incumbent


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