| Paul Newton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Majority Leader of the North Carolina Senate | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Leader | Phil Berger |
| Preceded by | Kathy Harrington |
| Member of the North Carolina Senate | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr. |
| Constituency | 36th district (2017–2023) 34th district (2023–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Robert Newton (1960-06-02) June 2, 1960 (age 64) North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Melanie |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BS, JD) |
Paul Robert Newton (born June 2, 1960) is an American politician and Republican member of the North Carolina State Senate, formerly representing the 36th district.
Political career
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina, Newton was one of five Republican state senators asked Governor Roy Cooper to allow the Coca-Cola 600, a NASCAR race, to be run at Charlotte Motor Speedway, although without a crowd of fans. The following year, Newton sponsored a "liability shield" bill to provide a limited form of immunity to businesses, government agency or nonprofit against lawsuits arising from COVID-19 transmission on their premises.
In 2021, amid nationwide Republican efforts to Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election, Newton proposed legislation that would prevent counties from counting valid mail-in absentee ballots postmarked before or on election day unless they were received by the polling places by 5 p.m. on election day. Newton argued that it was "suspicious" for valid absentee ballots to be counted after election day. In the 2020 elections, 11,000 ballots arrived in the three-day grace period after election day and were counted; under Newton's proposal, they would have been thrown out.
Newton, a retired Duke Energy executive and member of the state Senate's energy committee, opposed natural gas production limitations in North Carolina.
In 2021, as co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Newton sponsored a proposal to reduce the state income tax rate from 5.25% to 4.99%.
In November 2022, Newton was elected by his colleagues to become Senate Majority Leader for the 2023–2024 session.
Electoral history
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Newton (incumbent) | 40,991 | 56.90% | |
| Democratic | Keshia Sandidge | 31,044 | 43.10% | |
| Total votes | 72,035 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Newton (incumbent) | 69,932 | 57.71% | |
| Democratic | Marcus J. Singleton | 51,249 | 42.29% | |
| Total votes | 121,181 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Newton (incumbent) | 44,938 | 56.63% | |
| Democratic | Mark E. Shelley | 34,416 | 43.37% | |
| Total votes | 79,354 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Newton | 9,562 | 37.04% | |
| Republican | Scott C. Aumuller | 7,749 | 30.02% | |
| Republican | Amy Blake | 5,509 | 21.34% | |
| Republican | Parish Moffitt | 2,994 | 11.60% | |
| Total votes | 25,814 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Newton | 59,584 | 62.56% | |
| Democratic | Robert Brown | 35,664 | 37.44% | |
| Total votes | 95,248 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
- "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
- "Meet the candidates: NC Senate District 36 Paul Newton". The Independent Tribune.
- GOP senators ask NC governor to allow racing at Charlotte, Associated Press (April 19, 2020).
- Gary D. Robertson, N.C. lawmakers push reopen bills, virus liability protection, Associated Press (June 16, 2020).
- ^ "'Obstacles in voters' way': Three state bills could drastically change North Carolina's election laws". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- Gary D. Robertson, Experts: 1 pipeline each for NC natural gas, fuel a concern, Associated Press (May 18, 2021).
- Gary D. Robertson, NC Senate nixes environment chief, but Cooper rehires her, Associated Press (June 3, 2021).
- Gary D. Robertson, NC Senate Republicans to pitch more state tax reductions, Associated Press (March 22, 2021).
- "Sen. Paul Newton elected N.C. Senate majority leader; Sen. Blue to serve as Democratic leader". Gray Television, Inc. November 29, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- North Carolina State Board of Elections.
| North Carolina Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byFletcher L. Hartsell Jr. | Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 36th district 2017–2023 |
Succeeded byEddie Settle |
| Preceded byVickie Sawyer | Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 34th district 2023–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded byKathy Harrington | Majority Leader of the North Carolina Senate 2023–present | |
| Statewide political officials of North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators |  | |
| State government | ||
| Senate |
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| House |
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| Supreme Court (elected) | ||