Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey
Paul Newton (North Carolina)
Paul Newton (Republican Party) was a member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing District 34. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. He left office on March 26, 2025.
Newton (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent District 34. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Newton began serving as majority leader of the North Carolina State Senate in 2023.
Biography
Paul Newton earned a B.S. in business administration in 1982 and a J.D. in 1985, both from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Newton also attended the advanced management program at Harvard Business School and obtained the emerging leaders' program certification for state legislative leadership from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. His career experience includes working as an attorney and as a professional (senior vice president and general counsel; senior vice president and special advisor to the chairman; and president) at Duke Energy.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Newton was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources Committee
- Commerce and Insurance Committee
- Senate Finance Committee, Chair
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Redistricting and Elections Committee, Chair
- Rules and Operations of the Senate Committee
- Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee
2019-2020
Newton was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources Committee
- Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee
- Commerce and Insurance Committee
- Education/Higher Education Committee
- Senate Finance Committee, Chair
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Redistricting and Elections Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| North Carolina committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources |
| • Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources |
| • Commerce and Insurance |
| • Health Care |
| • Judiciary |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: North Carolina State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for North Carolina State Senate District 34
Incumbent Paul Newton defeated Kim Sexton-Lewter and Thomas B. Hill in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 34 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Paul Newton (R) | 52.9 | 58,166 |
 | Kim Sexton-Lewter (D)  | 44.2 | 48,558 | |
 | Thomas B. Hill (L) | 2.9 | 3,171 | |
| Total votes: 109,895 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Kim Sexton-Lewter advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 34.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Paul Newton advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 34.
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Thomas B. Hill advanced from the Libertarian primary for North Carolina State Senate District 34.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Newton in this election.
2022
See also: North Carolina State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for North Carolina State Senate District 34
Incumbent Paul Newton defeated Keshia Sandidge in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 34 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Newton (R) | 56.9 | 40,991 |
 | Keshia Sandidge (D) | 43.1 | 31,044 | |
| Total votes: 72,035 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Keshia Sandidge advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 34.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Paul Newton advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 34.
Campaign finance
2020
See also: North Carolina State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for North Carolina State Senate District 36
Incumbent Paul Newton defeated Marcus J. Singleton in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 36 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Newton (R) | 57.7 | 69,932 |
| Marcus J. Singleton (D) | 42.3 | 51,249 | ||
| Total votes: 121,181 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Marcus J. Singleton advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 36.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Paul Newton advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 36.
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for North Carolina State Senate District 36
Incumbent Paul Newton defeated Mark Shelley in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 36 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Newton (R) | 56.6 | 44,938 |
 | Mark Shelley (D) | 43.4 | 34,416 | |
| Total votes: 79,354 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 36
Mark Shelley advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 36 on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Shelley |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 36
Incumbent Paul Newton advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 36 on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Newton |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the North Carolina State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016.[2] The candidate filing deadline was December 21, 2015.[3] Incumbent Fletcher Hartsell (R) did not seek re-election.
Paul Newton defeated Robert Brown in the North Carolina State Senate District 36 general election.[4][5]
| North Carolina State Senate, District 36 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Paul Newton |
62.56% | 59,584 | |
| Democratic | Robert Brown | 37.44% | 35,664 | |
| Total Votes | 95,248 | |||
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
Robert Brown defeated Andrew Platek in the North Carolina State Senate District 36 Democratic primary.[6][7]
| North Carolina State Senate, District 36 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Robert Brown |
65.04% | 8,629 | |
| Democratic | Andrew Platek | 34.96% | 4,638 | |
| Total Votes | 13,267 | |||
Paul Newton defeated Amy Blake, Parish Moffitt and Scott Aumuller in the North Carolina State Senate District 36 Republican primary.[8][9]
| North Carolina State Senate, District 36 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Paul Newton |
37.04% | 9,562 | |
| Republican | Amy Blake | 21.34% | 5,509 | |
| Republican | Parish Moffitt | 11.60% | 2,994 | |
| Republican | Scott Aumuller | 30.02% | 7,749 | |
| Total Votes | 25,814 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Paul Newton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Paul Newton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Paul Newton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Newton's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
| “ | Lower Taxes
We must work hard every day to offer new and existing job creators with a compelling value proposition to move here and to stay here. That starts with lower taxes but doesn’t end there. When we get economic development right, everything else falls into place. Better Schools We must offer excellent education choices to our citizens – public, private, and home education. Our public school teachers feel undervalued and under-resourced, and we must respect them for the professionals they are. They have an enormous impact on our children’s and our communities’ well-being. The success of our communities depends on achieving excellence in our public schools. If we get this right, North Carolina can become the first choice of every public school teacher in America. Smaller Government We have too many government regulations infringing on the free market. Raleigh doesn’t know best. Moreover, local cities and counties are closest to their communities and we should respect their governance. Protect the 2nd Amendment Our constitution is clear. Citizens have the right to bear arms. That right is not the root cause of the atrocities we’ve too often seen across the country. We need an honest conversation about the true root causes of these crimes and build our solutions around these causes, not by infringing on law-abiding citizens. Stronger Families Life starts at conception and our laws should protect the sanctity of life. In addition, parental rights are fundamental and should not be usurped by government. Stronger families lead to stronger communities, so any new legislation should be judged by its impact on everyday families. Create Jobs Leading the state’s largest private economic development enterprise, I learned the impact of excessive taxes and regulations. I saw ways state government can foster job growth or kill it. This type of private sector experience is missing from our halls of government. I will work with community economic development leaders to ensure our community fosters job growth — from new businesses as well as existing local job providers.[10][11] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of North Carolina scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2024, the North Carolina State Legislature was in session from April 24 to December 13.
|
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the North Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 11 to October 25.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the North Carolina State Legislature was in session from May 18 to July 1.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the North Carolina State Legislature was in session from January 13 to December 30.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the North Carolina State Legislature was in session from April 28 to September 3. The legislature was in recess from July 8 to September 1 and then reconvened September 2 to September 3.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the General Assembly of North Carolina was in session from January 9 through August 27.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the General Assembly of North Carolina was in session from January 10 through July 4.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the General Assembly of North Carolina was in session from January 11 through June 30. Before the legislature adjourned its regular scheduled session, the legislature scheduled the following additional session dates: August 3, August 18 to August 25, August 28 to August 31, and October 4 to October 17.
|
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Paul Newton," accessed March 15, 2023
- ↑ The primary for U.S. congressional elections was rescheduled to June 7, 2016, following legal challenges to North Carolina's district maps. State races were unaffected.
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "2016 Candidate Filing," archived January 19, 2016
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate Listing," accessed August 23, 2016
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "2016 General Election results lookup," accessd December 21, 2016
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate Listing," accessed January 4, 2016
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "03/15/2016 Official primary results - Statewide," March 15, 2016
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate Listing," accessed January 4, 2016
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "03/15/2016 Official primary results - Statewide," March 15, 2016
- ↑ Newton for Senate, "Principles," accessed March 5, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vickie Sawyer (R) |
North Carolina State Senate District 34 2023-2025 |
Succeeded by Chris Measmer (R) |
| Preceded by Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr. (R) |
North Carolina State Senate District 36 2017-2023 |
Succeeded by Eddie Settle (R) |
