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Steve Troxler
2005 - Present
2029
20
Steve Troxler (Republican Party) is the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. He assumed office on February 8, 2005. His current term ends on January 1, 2029.
Troxler (Republican Party) ran for re-election for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Troxler was raised in Guilford County, North Carolina. He is the founder, owner, and operator of Troxler Farms, producing tobacco, wheat, vegetables, and soybeans. He graduated from N.C. State University in 1974 with a B.S. in conservation with a concentration in environmental studies.
In September 2012, Troxler assumed presidency of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He served previously as the organization's vice president and has chaired its Tobacco Task Force and Food Regulation and Nutrition Committee.[1]
Education
- B.S., in conservation, North Carolina State University (1974)[2]
Political career
Agriculture Commissioner (2005–Present)
Troxler has served as North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture since February 2005.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner election, 2024
General election
General election for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
Incumbent Steve Troxler defeated Sarah Taber and Sean Haugh in the general election for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Steve Troxler (R) | 52.6 | 2,922,483 |
 | Sarah Taber (D)  | 44.9 | 2,496,474 | |
 | Sean Haugh (L) | 2.4 | 135,513 | |
| Total votes: 5,554,470 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Sarah Taber advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
Incumbent Steve Troxler defeated Colby Hammonds in the Republican primary for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Troxler | 69.1 | 644,720 |
 | Colby Hammonds | 30.9 | 288,347 | |
| Total votes: 933,067 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Sean Haugh advanced from the Libertarian primary for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Troxler in this election.
2020
See also: North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner election, 2020
General election
General election for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
Incumbent Steve Troxler defeated Jenna Wadsworth in the general election for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Troxler (R) | 53.9 | 2,901,849 |
 | Jenna Wadsworth (D) | 46.1 | 2,485,722 | |
| Total votes: 5,387,571 | |||
| = 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 Commissioner of Agriculture
Jenna Wadsworth defeated Walter Smith and Donovan Alexander Watson in the Democratic primary for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jenna Wadsworth | 54.0 | 609,910 |
 | Walter Smith | 30.5 | 344,111 | |
 | Donovan Alexander Watson | 15.5 | 175,207 | |
| Total votes: 1,129,228 | |||
| = 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
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Steve Troxler advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.
Campaign finance
2016
Troxler ran for re-election as North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner in the 2016 elections. Gun rights activist Andrew Stevens filed to run against Troxler in the Republican primary; Troxler won the nomination over Stevens on March 15, 2016.[3] Troxler competed with Democrat Walter Smith, who was unopposed for his party's nomination, in the November general election.
Incumbent Steve Troxler defeated Walter Smith in the North Carolina agriculture commissioner election.
| North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Steve Troxler Incumbent |
55.62% | 2,498,988 | |
| Democratic | Walter Smith | 44.38% | 1,994,038 | |
| Total Votes | 4,493,026 | |||
| Source: ABC11 | ||||
| North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Steve Troxler |
68.8% | 634,100 | ||
| Andy Stevens | 31.2% | 287,948 | ||
| Total Votes | 922,048 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections. | ||||
2012
Troxler won re-election in 2012. He defeated Bill McManus in the Republican primary on May 8.[4] Troxler defeated Walter Smith (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[5]
| North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Walter Smith | 46.8% | 2,025,054 | |
| Republican | Steve Troxler Incumbent |
53.2% | 2,303,586 | |
| Total Votes | 4,328,640 | |||
| Election results via NC State Board of Elections | ||||
| North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner, Republican Primary, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Steve Troxler Incumbent |
68.9% | 532,664 | ||
| Bill McManus | 31.1% | 239,920 | ||
| Total Votes | 772,584 | |||
| Election results via The North Carolina Board of Elections. | ||||
Endorsements
2008
Troxler won re-election in the November 2008 election, defeating Democratic candidate James Ansley.[8]
| North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Steve Troxler Incumbent |
52% | 2,130,146 | |
| Democratic | James Ansley | 48% | 1,962,741 | |
| Total Votes | 4,092,887 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
2004
Troxler won election as North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture in the November 2004 election.[9] Troxler had a 2,300 vote lead over Cobb following the election, but some 4,400 ballots in Carteret County did not get counted. Following a series of attempts to resolve the situation, Cobb finally conceded on February 4, 2005.[10]
| North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Steve Troxler |
50% | 1,666,197 | |
| Democratic | Britt Cobb | 50% | 1,663,910 | |
| Total Votes | 3,330,107 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
2000
On November 7, 2000, Meg Scott Phipps won election to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. She defeated Steve Troxler (R) in the general election.
| North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, 2000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Meg Scott Phipps |
50.6% | 1,418,164 | |
| Republican | Steve Troxler | 49.4% | 1,386,311 | |
| Total Votes | 2,804,475 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Steve Troxler did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Steve Troxler did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Troxler's campaign website pointed to the successes of his administration as qualifications for re-election, which he stated included bringing nearly $20 billion in agriculture business to North Carolina's economy, doubling the value of exports, and conserving over 10,000 acres of forest and farmlands. "[W]e've built the top Department of Agriculture in the county," he said.[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.
Stances on the issues
Agriculture commissioners are responsible for overseeing and regulating practices and policies that affect farmers, consumers of agricultural products, and the broader agricultural industry in their states. Their powers can vary, but they typically have the authority to enforce state laws and regulations pertaining to agriculture and investigate practices related to the agricultural sector that may violate state laws or regulations.[12][13]
This section outlines Troxler's stances on policy issues as they relate to agriculture.
Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
| Environmental, social, and corporate governance |
|---|
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| • What is ESG? • Enacted ESG legislation • Arguments for and against ESG • Opposition to ESG • Federal ESG rules • ESG legislation tracker • Economy and Society: Ballotpedia's weekly ESG newsletter |
Troxler has argued against ESG, which refers to an investment or corporate governance approach that involves considering the extent to which corporations conform to certain standards related to environmental, social, and corporate governance issues (such as net carbon emission or corporate board diversity goals) and making business and investment decisions that promote those standards. Agricultural commissioners have the authority to use their investigative and enforcement powers to scrutinize the effects of financial practices on the agricultural sector, write letters to financial institutions requesting information on their policies and practices, and issue regulations related to fertilizer usage, agricultural fuel usage, and rural electrification.[12][13]
Letter opposing ESG practices at financial institutions
Troxler joined eleven agricultural commissioners from other states on January 29, 2024, in writing a public letter to the CEOs of six large banks, including J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, opposing their ESG commitments.[12][13]
The letter argued that the financial institutions’ commitments to implementing Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) policies could restrict credit access for farmers and coerce agricultural producers into changing their farming practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The officials said such changes would increase costs in the agricultural sector, reduce the availability of food, drive up consumer prices, and eliminate jobs in the industry.[12][13]
The letter requested additional information related to the banks’ ESG commitments, including details on how the banks intended to promote NZBA’s carbon emissions targets for the agricultural sector.[12][13]
See also
| North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
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Candidate North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture |
Officeholder North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services," About N.C. agriculture commissioner Steve Troxler," accessed December 19, 2011
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Steve Troxler's biography," accessed Sept. 30, 2015
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate Listing," accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ WWAY, "Troxler takes GOP bid for NC agriculture head," May 8, 2012
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, November 6, 2012 General Election," accessed Sept. 30, 2015
- ↑ Independent Weekly, "2012 Primary Endorsements," April 18, 2012
- ↑ Charlotte Observer, "Our Council of State endorsements, part 1," October 17, 2012
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "November 2008 General Election Results," accessed March 19, 2011
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "November 2004 General Election Results," accessed March 19, 2011
- ↑ WRAL, "Cobb Concedes Ag Commissioner Race To Troxler," February 4, 2005
- ↑ Steve Troller for NC Commissioner of Agriculture, accessed March 15, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Fox Business, “Dozen state GOP agriculture commissioners launch probe of US banks over ESG investing: 'It must be stopped,'” accessed February 13, 2024
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Georgia Department of Agriculture, “Impact of Net-Zero Banking Alliance on Agriculture & Food Security,” January 29, 2024
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by - |
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture 2005-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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State of North Carolina Raleigh (capital) |
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